<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000025475 <NAME> CRAWFORD & COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 10,990 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 141,708 <ALLOWANCES> 17,845 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 239,929 <PP&E> 157,446 <DEPRECIATION> 114,686 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 421,684 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 135,679 <BONDS> 2,020 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 51,012 <OTHER-SE> 190,014 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 421,684 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 501,277 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 370,362 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 78,110 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 32,701 <INCOME-TAX> 12,561 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 21,317 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,317 <EPS-PRIMARY> .43 <EPS-DILUTED> .42