<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000025475 <NAME> CRAWFORD & COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 68,871 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 230,547 <ALLOWANCES> 16,064 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 301,093 <PP&E> 152,578 <DEPRECIATION> 112,264 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 444,810 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 152,894 <BONDS> 20,721 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 49,244 <OTHER-SE> 167,984 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 444,810 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 527,416 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 376,592 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 96,324 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 54,500 <INCOME-TAX> 21,670 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 34,633 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 34,633 <EPS-PRIMARY> .70 <EPS-DILUTED> .67