<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
OVERSEAS PARTNERS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE(*)
(*) THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM OPL'S
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND THE STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                 0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          248,080
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            268,109
<EQUITIES>                                   1,487,054
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               2,259,094
<CASH>                                         516,665
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         110,379
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,848,301
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                726,123
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            503,441
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                868,625
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        12,750
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,563,020
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,848,301
<PREMIUMS>                                     835,786
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            168,848
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              92,976
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 202,038
<BENEFITS>                                     454,957
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     94,989
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                238,300
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (6,535)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            231,765
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   231,765
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.84
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.84
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>AMOUNTS FOR SECURITIES ACT INDUSTRY GUIDE 6 AND EXCHANGE ACT INDUSTRY GUIDE 4
DISCLOSURES ARE REQUIRED FOR ANNUAL FILINGS ONLY. ACCORDINGLY, NO AMOUNTS WILL
BE REPORTED FOR INTERIM FILINGS.
</FN>



</TABLE>