<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-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                              JUN-30-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            1,895
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                           2,330
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                             2,348
<EQUITIES>                                        156
<MORTGAGE>                                          7
<REAL-ESTATE>                                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  4,687
<CASH>                                             22
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                 30
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                            151
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  6,866
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 3,477
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                               359
<POLICY-OTHER>                                      0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                              53
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                   140
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                          156
<OTHER-SE>                                      2,128
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    6,866
<PREMIUMS>                                        783
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                               130
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 21
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     15
<BENEFITS>                                        394
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                       108
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                              363
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   195
<INCOME-TAX>                                       59
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               137
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                      137
<EPS-BASIC>                                    1.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    1.03
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                      0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                 0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                  0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                    0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                     0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                             0