<ARTICLE>                     7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information 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.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             1,954
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                            2,332
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                              2,422
<EQUITIES>                                         164
<MORTGAGE>                                           7
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                   4,854
<CASH>                                              22
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                  31
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                             143
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   7,019
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                  3,594
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                360
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                               52
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    145
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          1
<COMMON>                                           156
<OTHER-SE>                                       2,147
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     7,019
<PREMIUMS>                                       1,568
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                273
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  53
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     307
<BENEFITS>                                         782
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        231
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               691
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    466
<INCOME-TAX>                                       145
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                323
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       323
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.33
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                   1,845
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                728
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                 (123)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                 322
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                   385
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                  1,741
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0