<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF SERVICE CORPORATION  INTERNATIONAL AS OF MARCH 31,
1997 AND THE RELATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 </LEGEND>
                    
                       
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
                                  
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                         47,411
<SECURITIES>                                   533,695
<RECEIVABLES>                                  1,052,246
<ALLOWANCES>                                   81,216
<INVENTORY>                                    141,421
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               731,110
<PP&E>                                         1,808,930
<DEPRECIATION>                                 341,182
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 9,081,072
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          574,351
<BONDS>                                        2,128,708
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       239,006
<OTHER-SE>                                     2,065,970
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   9,081,072
<SALES>                                        602,763
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               638,449
<CGS>                                          450,297
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  450,297
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               16,848
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               3,631
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             36,250
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                205,524
<INCOME-TAX>                                   74,377
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            131,147
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                40,802
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   90,345
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .36