<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES; STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS; STATEMENT
OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS; CASH FLOWS; PER SHARE TABLE AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 02
   <NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL VARIABLE CONTRACT REAL PROPERTY PARTNERSHIP
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      177,274,154
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     151,632,394
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,559,610
<ASSETS-OTHER>                              53,820,140
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             208,012,144
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                            0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          6,467,720
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                             0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       11,848,275
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       11,848,275
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             0
<NET-ASSETS>                               201,544,424
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              774,424
<OTHER-INCOME>                               5,530,131
<EXPENSES-NET>                               2,430,955
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      3,873,600
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       (2,225)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      416,255
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        4,287,630
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       4,287,630
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          625,218
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              94,113
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              2,430,955
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                           16.649
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   .327
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           .035
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                             17.011
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   .012
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>