<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000025475 <NAME> CRAWFORD & COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 41,851 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 225,667 <ALLOWANCES> 17,014 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 268,331 <PP&E> 150,410 <DEPRECIATION> 110,163 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 427,852 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 127,856 <BONDS> 659 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 51,241 <OTHER-SE> 204,451 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 427,852 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 336,161 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 246,361 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 52,551 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 37,249 <INCOME-TAX> 14,302 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 23,434 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,434 <EPS-PRIMARY> .47 <EPS-DILUTED> .47