<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000025475 <NAME> CRAWFORD & COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 45,816 <SECURITIES> 2,260 <RECEIVABLES> 189,221 <ALLOWANCES> 10,611 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 245,978 <PP&E> 124,074 <DEPRECIATION> 90,326 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 383,092 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 105,790 <BONDS> 8,827 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 34,090 <OTHER-SE> 188,870 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 383,092 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 319,192 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 229,996 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 54,574 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 34,622 <INCOME-TAX> 13,963 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 20,659 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 20,659 <EPS-PRIMARY> .60 <EPS-DILUTED> 0