[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000880583
[NAME] THE TRAVELERS SERIES TRUST
[SERIES]
   [NUMBER] 8
   [NAME] MFS EMERGING GROWTH PORTFOLIO
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   YEAR
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          DEC-31-1997
[PERIOD-END]                               DEC-31-1997
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                       65,714,985
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                      71,499,856
[RECEIVABLES]                                  466,490
[ASSETS-OTHER]                                       0
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                           343,806
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                              72,310,152
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                     1,912,359
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                       50,740
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                          1,963,099
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                    65,169,197
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                        5,600,999
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                        1,225,164
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                            0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                               0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                      (606,979)
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                             0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                     5,784,835
[NET-ASSETS]                                70,347,053
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                               61,092
[INTEREST-INCOME]                              148,911
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                                 364,020
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                      (154,017)
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                       716,837
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                    5,804,059
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                        6,366,879
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                            0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                     1,166,235
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                           28,057
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                      4,341,790
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                     67,367
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                            101,412
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                      57,423,207
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                     (10,311)
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                           0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                          287,384
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                                404,399
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                        38,475,691
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            10.55
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                 (00.03)
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                          02.26
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                        00.21
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                             00.01
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              12.56
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  00.95
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>