<ARTICLE>                     7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial informatin extracted from Old Republic
International Corporation's consolidated balance sheet and consolidated state-
ment of income and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements. This schedule has been restated to reflect the adoption of FAS 128.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             2,080
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                            2,109
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                              2,150
<EQUITIES>                                         117
<MORTGAGE>                                           8
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                   4,639
<CASH>                                              33
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                  25
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                             122
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   6,864
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                  3,739
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                370
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                               58
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    151
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          1
<COMMON>                                           103
<OTHER-SE>                                       2,001
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     6,864
<PREMIUMS>                                       1,080
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                202
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  17
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     147
<BENEFITS>                                         587
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        140
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               393
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    316
<INCOME-TAX>                                        94
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                222
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       222
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.57
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0 
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0