<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>                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             2,005
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                            1,806
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                              1,802
<EQUITIES>                                         138
<MORTGAGE>                                           9
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                   4,253
<CASH>                                              25
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                  29
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                             107
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   6,549
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                  3,758
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                389
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                               66
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    119
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               19
<PREFERRED>                                         55
<COMMON>                                            95
<OTHER-SE>                                       1,682
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     6,549
<PREMIUMS>                                         661
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                129
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                   7
<OTHER-INCOME>                                      85
<BENEFITS>                                         376
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                         93
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               254
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    160
<INCOME-TAX>                                        51
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                110
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     (4)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       106
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .80
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .73
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0 
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0