<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000025475 <NAME> CRAWFORD & COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 71,343 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 234,646 <ALLOWANCES> 15,777 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 310,128 <PP&E> 152,342 <DEPRECIATION> 111,428 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 452,610 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 158,950 <BONDS> 3,551 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 49,557 <OTHER-SE> 166,442 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 452,610 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 348,520 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 249,615 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 69,960 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 28,945 <INCOME-TAX> 11,703 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19,747 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,747 <EPS-PRIMARY> .40 <EPS-DILUTED> 0