[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000808244
[NAME] SMITH BARNEY VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
[SERIES]
   [NUMBER] 3
   [NAME] U.S. GOVERNMENT/HIGH QUALITY PORTFOLIO
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   YEAR
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          DEC-31-1997
[PERIOD-END]                               DEC-31-1997
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                          371,000
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                         371,000
[RECEIVABLES]                                   15,201
[ASSETS-OTHER]                               1,243,733
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                               109
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                               1,630,043
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                            58
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                       12,820
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                             12,878
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                     1,424,128
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                          127,737
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                          222,969
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                            0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                          88,295
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                        104,742
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                             0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                             0
[NET-ASSETS]                                 1,617,165
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                                    0
[INTEREST-INCOME]                              111,450
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                                  21,001
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                         90,449
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                       104,975
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                     (83,469)
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                          111,955
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                       90,206
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                     1,210,791
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                                0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                         20,511
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                    124,615
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                              8,832
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                         111,955
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                         38,858
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                      145,254
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                          2,604
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                     106,821
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                            9,382
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                                 21,001
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                         2,087,259
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            12.90
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                  00.72
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                        (00.02)
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                             00.04
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                        00.90
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              12.66
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  01.00
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>