<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements contained on Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31,
1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997 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-31-1997   DEC-31-1997   DEC-31-1997    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                     JAN-01-1997   JAN-01-1997   JAN-01-1997    JAN-01-1996    
<PERIOD-END>                       SEP-30-1997   JUN-30-1997   MAR-31-1997    DEC-31-1996    
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 2,060,521     2,014,684     2,101,914      2,126,120             
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        0             0             0              0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          0             0             0              0
<EQUITIES>                                 261           264           262            262
<MORTGAGE>                                   0             0             0              0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                0             0             0              0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                       2,202,645     2,067,828     2,143,426      2,261,353
<CASH>                                   1,895        87,738        13,986          7,176
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                     294,506       284,465       277,977        257,983
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                  49,033        47,829        53,980         44,006
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       3,066,361     3,085,640     3,114,205      3,117,516
<POLICY-LOSSES>                      1,989,160     2,052,791     2,085,732      2,091,072
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                    239,112       236,169       258,434        205,982
<POLICY-OTHER>                               0             0             0              0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                   10,704        13,407        12,100         12,524
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                        203,000       203,049       203,232        204,699
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0             0             0              0
<PREFERRED>                                  0             0             0              0
<COMMON>                               121,716       121,716       121,716        121,716
<OTHER-SE>                             324,548       293,404       263,250        304,112
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>         3,066,361     3,085,640     3,114,205      3,117,516
<PREMIUMS>                             285,371       222,401       107,950        420,575
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     99,802<F1>    68,459<F1>    35,847<F1>    130,837<F1>
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                       3,600        (1,931)       (1,251)         2,984
<OTHER-INCOME>                          10,722<F1>     5,038<F1>     2,548<F1>     12,288<F1>
<BENEFITS>                             240,919       193,134        94,904        536,623
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>             66,562        46,469        18,339         90,292
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                    65,853        43,522        20,199        114,111
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         14,136         2,620         7,318       (191,394)
<INCOME-TAX>                             1,515       (2,657)         2,561        (56,060)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          0            0              0              0
<DISCONTINUED>                               0            0              0              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        (4,734)       (4,734)       (4,734)              0
<CHANGES>                                   0             0             0               0
<NET-INCOME>                             7,887           543            23        135,334
<EPS-PRIMARY>                             0.33          0.02          0.00          (5.68)
<EPS-DILUTED>                             0.32          0.02          0.00          (5.68)
<RESERVE-OPEN>                               0             0             0      1,808,494<F2>
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                          0             0             0        323,069
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                            0             0             0        156,074<F3> 
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                           0             0             0         72,194
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                             0             0             0        438,427
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                              0             0             0      1,834,496<F2>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                      0             0             0        156,074
<FN> 
<F1> Amounts have been restated to conform to year end 1998 classification.
<F2> Reserve balance is shown net of reinsurance receivables on unpaid losses and lae.
<F3> Excludes impact of accretion of prior year's discount of $57,480.
</FN>
        


</TABLE>