[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-31-1996
[PERIOD-END]                               DEC-31-1996
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                       12,362,283
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                      12,343,059
[RECEIVABLES]                                  335,647
[ASSETS-OTHER]                                 269,334
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                                 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                              12,948,040
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                             0
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                       24,194
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                             24,194
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                    12,967,050
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                                0
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                                0
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                            0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                          26,090
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                          3,166
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                             0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                      (20,280)
[NET-ASSETS]                                12,923,846
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                               32,401
[INTEREST-INCOME]                               20,837
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                                  19,843
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                         33,395
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                         3,166
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                     (20,280)
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                           16,281
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                           59
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                             0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                                0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                      1,219,525
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                          0
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                              5,638
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                       1,225,164
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                            0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                           0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                           16,919
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                                 43,169
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                         6,217,309
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            10.00
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                  00.03
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                          00.57
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                             00.05
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                            0
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              10.55
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  00.32
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>