<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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           1,973
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          2,270
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            2,281
<EQUITIES>                                       150
<MORTGAGE>                                         7
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 4,699
<CASH>                                            19
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                31
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           153
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 6,904
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                3,522
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                              371
<POLICY-OTHER>                                     0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                             52
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  150
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                         156
<OTHER-SE>                                     2,086
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   6,904
<PREMIUMS>                                     1,173
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              196
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                26
<OTHER-INCOME>                                    21
<BENEFITS>                                       614
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      165
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             548
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  249
<INCOME-TAX>                                      73
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              177
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                     177
<EPS-BASIC>                                   1.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   1.35
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                     0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                  0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                 0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                   0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                    0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                            0