<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted 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>                                  1000000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                              MAR-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            1,995
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                           2,072
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                             2,062
<EQUITIES>                                         99
<MORTGAGE>                                          8
<REAL-ESTATE>                                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  4,435
<CASH>                                             27
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                 29
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                            113
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  6,662
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 3,715
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                               372
<POLICY-OTHER>                                      0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                              66
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                   164
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              19
<PREFERRED>                                         1
<COMMON>                                           96
<OTHER-SE>                                      1,819
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    6,662
<PREMIUMS>                                        345
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                67
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  5
<OTHER-INCOME>                                      5
<BENEFITS>                                        193
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        46
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                              127
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    94
<INCOME-TAX>                                       29
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                65
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                       65
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     .68 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     .68
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                      0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                 0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                  0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                    0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                     0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                             0