<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     The Financial statements contained in the form 10Q for the
     fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1997 for Aetna Life Insurance
     and Annuity Company
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000837010
<NAME>                        Aetna Life Insurance & Annuity Co.
<CURRENCY>                    US
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000,000
       
<S>                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                12,655
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                    0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                      0
<EQUITIES>                                             222
<MORTGAGE>                                              13
<REAL-ESTATE>                                            0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                      13,452
<CASH>                                                 839
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                       9
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               1,594
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      35,730
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                      3,694
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                      1
<POLICY-OTHER>                                          29
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                10,844
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                                 3
<OTHER-SE>                                           1,698
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        35,730
<PREMIUMS>                                             132
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                    535
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                       9
<OTHER-INCOME>                                          17
<BENEFITS>                                             565
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                              0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                     0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        136
<INCOME-TAX>                                            42
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                     94
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                            94
<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>