<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
The schedule contains summary financial  information extracted from General Re's
consolidated  balance sheets and  consolidated  statements of income included in
Item 1 of Part I of the  September 30, 1997 Form 10-Q. Reference  should also be
made to these financial statements and related notes.
    
</LEGEND>
<CIK>0000317745                         
<NAME>General Re Corporation                        

                                                               Exhibit 27




<MULTIPLIER>                                      1,000,000
<CURRENCY>                                              USD
       
<S>                                                     <C> 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                         9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               Dec-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                   Jan-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   Sep-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                           1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                 19,118
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                     0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                       0
<EQUITIES>                                            5,694
<MORTGAGE>                                                0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                             0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                       26,878
<CASH>                                                  358
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                       85 
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                  479
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       40,940
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                      13,488 
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                   1,997
<POLICY-OTHER>                                          646 
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                     0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                       1,143 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     1
<PREFERRED>                                               0
<COMMON>                                                 51
<OTHER-SE>                                            7,980
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         40,940
<PREMIUMS>                                            4,989 
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                     955
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                        7
<OTHER-INCOME>                                          271
<BENEFITS>                                            3,519 
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                           1,081 
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                    609
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                         991
<INCOME-TAX>                                            230
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                     721
                                         


<DISCONTINUED>                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                            721
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          8.97
<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>