<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
financial statements contained in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999
for PMA Capital  Corporation  and is  qualified  in its entirety by reference to
such statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                                                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                         JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                           DEC-31-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                   1,579,640
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                          0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                            0
<EQUITIES>                                                34,966
<MORTGAGE>                                                     0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                  0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                         1,918,035
<CASH>                                                    84,261
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                       658,164<F1>
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                    48,949
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         3,245,087
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                        1,932,601
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                      260,352
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                 0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                     13,782
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                          163,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                 122,214
<OTHER-SE>                                               306,929
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                           3,245,087
<PREMIUMS>                                               540,087
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                      110,057
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                        (7,745)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                            12,718
<BENEFITS>                                               392,473
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                              124,368
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                      85,963
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                           40,092
<INCOME-TAX>                                              11,739
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                            0
<DISCONTINUED>                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                 (2,759)
<NET-INCOME>                                              25,594
<EPS-BASIC>                                                1.11
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              1.08
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                         1,347,194 <F2>
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                      409,554
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                        (32,514)<F3>
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                       103,798
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                         351,495
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                        1,284,374  <F2>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                  (32,514)
<FN>
<F1> Represents reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses.
<F2> Reserve balance is shown net of reinsurance receivables on unpaid
     losses and LAE.
<F3> Excludes impact of accretion of prior years' discount of $15,433.
</FN>


</TABLE>