<TABLE> <S> <C>



<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>


Exhibit 27                                     Financial Data Schedule


Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company as of and for the period ended March
31, 1999 (000s)
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000744455
<NAME>                        Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company
<MULTIPLIER>                                            1,000
<CURRENCY>                                              U.S.>
                                                         
<S>                                                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                           3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                       DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                          JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                            MAR-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                         1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                                 6972586
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                                2117130
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                                  2178395
<EQUITIES>                                                             49472
<MORTGAGE>                                                           1085320
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                              0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                                      13121467
<CASH>                                                                242325
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                                    180034
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                                251370
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      25166882
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                                     12125460
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                                        0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                             0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                                 268216
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                        39703
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                                0
<COMMON>                                                                7032
<OTHER-SE>                                                           1181298
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        25166882
<PREMIUMS>                                                            471790
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   216113
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                                    (6043)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                             0
<BENEFITS>                                                            408774
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                                0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                                    7108
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       195186
<INCOME-TAX>                                                           70792
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                    25388
<DISCONTINUED>                                                         45404
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                                               0
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          45404
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                          0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                     0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                       0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                      0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                        0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                         0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                 0
        

</TABLE>