<TABLE> <S> <C>


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


Great-West  Life & Annuity  Insurance  Company  as of and for the  period  ended
September 30, 1998 (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-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                          JUL-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                            SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                         1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                                 7053513
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                                2180369
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                                  2309203
<EQUITIES>                                                             39216
<MORTGAGE>                                                           1170519
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                              0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                                      13481506
<CASH>                                                                149262
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                                    140078
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                                240511
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      23197903
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                                     12197680
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                                        0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                             0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                                 482053
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                        99706
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                                0
<COMMON>                                                                7032
<OTHER-SE>                                                           1191392
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        23197903
<PREMIUMS>                                                           1090539
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   669719
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                                     32827
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                             0
<BENEFITS>                                                           1086198
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                                0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                                   57720
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       438474
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          210693
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                    71209
<DISCONTINUED>                                                        139484
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                                               0
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                         139484
<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>