<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 statement.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                 1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             2,026
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                            2,329
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                              2,437
<EQUITIES>                                         150
<MORTGAGE>                                           7
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                   4,851
<CASH>                                              26
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                  24
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                             138
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   7,062
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                  3,647
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                363
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                               55
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    145
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          1
<COMMON>                                           156
<OTHER-SE>                                       2,145
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     7,062
<PREMIUMS>                                       1,161
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                204
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  32
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     200
<BENEFITS>                                         583
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        160
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               502
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    341
<INCOME-TAX>                                       106
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                236
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       236
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.69
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0