<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
    THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL AS OF JUNE 30,
 1997 AND THE RELATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE SIX MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS
                          QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
                     REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
                        
                       
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                         31,557
<SECURITIES>                                   528,256
<RECEIVABLES>                                  1,060,733
<ALLOWANCES>                                   90,509
<INVENTORY>                                    150,803
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               719,268
<PP&E>                                         1,876,020
<DEPRECIATION>                                 354,764
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 9,408,557
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          539,692
<BONDS>                                        2,268,369
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       251,469
<OTHER-SE>                                     2,316,405
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   9,408,557
<SALES>                                        1,180,906
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,239,590
<CGS>                                          884,041
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  888,255
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               32,935
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               7,364
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             71,350
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                326,814
<INCOME-TAX>                                   116,866
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            209,948
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                40,802
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   169,146
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .67