<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
  Exhibit 27                                     Financial Data Schedule

Great-West  Life & Annuity  Insurance  Company as of and for the  Period  Ending
September 30, 1997 (000s)
-----------------------------------------------------------

</LEGEND>
<CIK>                        0000744455
<NAME>                        GREAT-WEST LIF & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JUN-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           6,410,905
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          2,127,717
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            2,187,858
<EQUITIES>                                     42,426
<MORTGAGE>                                     1,307,599
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 13,050,983
<CASH>                                         101,210
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             69,608
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         257,942
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 21,639,591
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                11,464,895
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          437,695
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                74,517
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    121,800
<COMMON>                                       7,032
<OTHER-SE>                                     1,028,316
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   21,639,591
<PREMIUMS>                                     1,000,570
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            664,776
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             (1,828)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 0
<BENEFITS>                                     1,437,203
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    34,069
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                192,246
<INCOME-TAX>                                   75,006
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            117,240
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   117,240
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 0
<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>