<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000025475 <NAME> CRAWFORD & COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 45,309 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 220,557 <ALLOWANCES> 16,730 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 263,864 <PP&E> 148,829 <DEPRECIATION> 108,841 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 413,378 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 118,922 <BONDS> 680 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 49,370 <OTHER-SE> 166,283 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 413,378 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 166,133 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 123,782 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 23,831 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,520 <INCOME-TAX> 7,113 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,420 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,420 <EPS-PRIMARY> .23 <EPS-DILUTED> .23