<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-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                JUN-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                              2,020
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                             2,341
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                               2,397
<EQUITIES>                                          144
<MORTGAGE>                                            7
<REAL-ESTATE>                                         0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                    4,781
<CASH>                                               25
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   24
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                              131
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    6,959
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                   3,645
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                 359
<POLICY-OTHER>                                        0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                57
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                     146
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                           1
<COMMON>                                            155
<OTHER-SE>                                        2,092
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                      6,959
<PREMIUMS>                                          751
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                 136
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                   25
<OTHER-INCOME>                                      129
<BENEFITS>                                          374
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                         105
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                320
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     235
<INCOME-TAX>                                         74
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 161
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                        161
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      1.17
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      1.15
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                        0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                   0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                     0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                      0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                               0