<ARTICLE>                                            7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extractd from
Old Republic International's consolidated balance sheet and consolidated
statement of income and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                 1,000,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           2,194
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          2,062
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            2,062
<EQUITIES>                                       268
<MORTGAGE>                                         8
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 4,873
<CASH>                                            27
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                37
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           149
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 7,093
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                3,499
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                              391
<POLICY-OTHER>                                     0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                             46
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  225
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                         120
<OTHER-SE>                                     2,208
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   7,903
<PREMIUMS>                                     1,144
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              203
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 8
<OTHER-INCOME>                                    18
<BENEFITS>                                       565
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      177
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             462
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  291
<INCOME-TAX>                                      88
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              204
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                     204
<EPS-BASIC>                                   1.72
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   1.71
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                     0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                  0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                 0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                   0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                    0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                            0