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

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         62,114
<SECURITIES>                                   537,379
<RECEIVABLES>                                  1,067,750
<ALLOWANCES>                                   95,677
<INVENTORY>                                    151,418
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               755,471
<PP&E>                                         1,936,922
<DEPRECIATION>                                 372,213
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 9,737,921
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          606,688
<BONDS>                                        2,317,259
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       251,837
<OTHER-SE>                                     2,365,706
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   9,737,921
<SALES>                                        1,725,269
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,824,408
<CGS>                                          1,314,846
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1,321,301
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               49,813
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               10,790
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             106,222
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                438,407
<INCOME-TAX>                                   155,735
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            282,672
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                40,802
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   241,870
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .97
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .95