<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
     condensed consolidated financial statements contained in the Form 10-Q for
     the three months ended March 31, 1998 for the Aetna Life Insurance and
     Annuity Company and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
     financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000837010
<NAME>                        Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                13,440
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                    0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                      0
<EQUITIES>                                             260
<MORTGAGE>                                              13
<REAL-ESTATE>                                            0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                      14,228
<CASH>                                                 797
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                      19
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               1,688
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      44,657
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                      3,814
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                      1
<POLICY-OTHER>                                          36
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                               11,158
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                                 3
<OTHER-SE>                                           1,880
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        44,657
<PREMIUMS>                                              62
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                    262
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                      (4)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                          10
<BENEFITS>                                             272
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                              0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                     0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                         62
<INCOME-TAX>                                            20
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                     42
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                            42
<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>