<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements contained on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1998 and Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998 and
September 30, 1998 for PMA Capital Corporation and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such statements.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998             JUN-30-1998             MAR-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,875,910               1,995,653               1,984,800               1,929,518
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                       0                       0                       0
<EQUITIES>                                          15                      15                      14                      13
<MORTGAGE>                                           0                       0                       0                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               2,432,154<F1>           2,686,599<F1>           2,725,500<F1>           2,194,738
<CASH>                                           7,595                   7,585                   2,267                  32,148
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             604,108                 347,821                 354,113                 332,406
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          55,958                  53,363                  56,562                  45,288
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,598,926<F1>           3,604,228<F1>           3,655,309<F1>           3,057,258
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              1,951,497               1,939,568               1,989,115               2,003,187
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            253,216                 243,012                 261,045                 211,455
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                            9,605                  10,779                   9,317                  10,200
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                203,000                 203,000                 203,000                 203,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                       122,214                 122,214                 122,214                 122,214
<OTHER-SE>                                     395,366                 374,169                 357,279                 356,133
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 3,598,926<F1>           3,604,228<F1>           3,655,309<F1>           3,057,258
<PREMIUMS>                                     335,593                 221,576                 106,922                 375,951
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             92,260<F2>              63,850<F2>              31,930<F2>             133,392<F2>
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              15,362                  11,263                   7,514                   8,598
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   9,385<F2>               6,440<F2>               3,020<F2>              13,617<F2>
<BENEFITS>                                     256,230                 172,757                  84,857                 307,281
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     77,748                  51,763                  22,703                  93,501
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            69,291                  45,630                  23,384                  89,855
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 38,100                  25,516                  14,741                  25,153
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,103                   4,071                   2,653                   5,400
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0                       0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                 (4,734)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    31,997                  21,445                  12,088                  15,019
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.35                    0.90                    0.51                    0.63
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.30                    0.87                    0.49                    0.61
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0                       0                       0               1,834,496<F3>
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0                       0                       0                 341,880
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0                       0                       0                (86,006)<F4>
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0                       0                       0                  72,399
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0                       0                       0                 398,475
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0                       0                       0               1,670,903<F3>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0                       0                (86,006)
<FN>
<F1>Amounts have been restated to reflect the adoption of SFAS No. 125, "Accounting
for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of
Liabilities."
<F2>Amounts have been restated to conform to year end 1998 classification.
<F3>Reserve balance is shown net of reinsurance receivables on unpaid losses and
LAE.
<F4>Excludes impact of accretion of prior years' discount of $51,407.
</FN>
        


</TABLE>