<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                 MAR-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                               2,027
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                              2,304
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                2,358
<EQUITIES>                                           140
<MORTGAGE>                                             7
<REAL-ESTATE>                                          0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                     4,783
<CASH>                                                22
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                    24
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               126
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     6,949
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                    3,682
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  364
<POLICY-OTHER>                                         0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                 58
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      147
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            1
<COMMON>                                             155
<OTHER-SE>                                         2,057
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       6,949
<PREMIUMS>                                           359
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                   68
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                    20
<OTHER-INCOME>                                        58
<BENEFITS>                                           185
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                           50
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 147
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      118
<INCOME-TAX>                                          37
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   81
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                          81
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        .58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        .58
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                         0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                    0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                     0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                        0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                0