<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM JUNE
30, 1995 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995   
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1995
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           483,368
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        1,657,405
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          1,699,863
<EQUITIES>                                      29,755
<MORTGAGE>                                     194,732
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   17,586
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               2,684,809
<CASH>                                          18,155
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               1,684
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         280,776
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,020,447
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              2,499,784
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  12,326
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           10,178
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  3,301
<COMMON>                                         3,488
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     292,438
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 3,020,447
<PREMIUMS>                                      20,915<F1>
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             50,849
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 168
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     126
<BENEFITS>                                      44,229<F2>
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      7,840
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             7,122
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 11,462
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,052
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              7,410
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,410
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.12
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Consists of $3,827 revenues from traditional contracts subject to FAS
60 accounting treatment and $17,088 revenues from universal life and
investment annuity contracts subject to FAS 97 accounting treatment.
<F2>Consists of $8,670 benefits paid to policyholders, $(618) decrease in
reserves on traditional contracts and $36,177 interest on universal life
and investment annuity contracts.
</FN>