<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>                                1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                              JUN-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            2,027
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                           2,097
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                             2,111
<EQUITIES>                                        111
<MORTGAGE>                                          8
<REAL-ESTATE>                                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  4,609
<CASH>                                             31
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                 32
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                            116 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  6,826
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 3,705 
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                               363
<POLICY-OTHER>                                      0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                              59
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                   235
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              20
<PREFERRED>                                         1
<COMMON>                                           96
<OTHER-SE>                                      1,921
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    6,826
<PREMIUMS>                                        707
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                               133
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 16
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     24
<BENEFITS>                                        385
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        91
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                              261
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   215
<INCOME-TAX>                                       62
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               153
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                      153
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    1.62
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    1.62
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                      0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                 0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                  0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                    0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                     0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                             0