<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000025475 <NAME> CRAWFORD & COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 64,640 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 236,736 <ALLOWANCES> 15,005 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 302,198 <PP&E> 154,416 <DEPRECIATION> 112,402 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 445,154 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 147,584 <BONDS> 4,330 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 49,963 <OTHER-SE> 165,746 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 445,154 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 165,951 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 119,594 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 40,075 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,282 <INCOME-TAX> 3,166 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,315 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,315 <EPS-PRIMARY> .13 <EPS-DILUTED> 0