<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL AS OF MARCH 31,
1998 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-31-1998

<CASH>                                         241,587
<SECURITIES>                                   575,633
<RECEIVABLES>                                  997,593
<ALLOWANCES>                                    90,621
<INVENTORY>                                    170,410
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,023,070
<PP&E>                                       2,499,468
<DEPRECIATION>                                 412,240
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,798,760
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          570,288
<BONDS>                                      2,842,697
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       255,903
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,574,521
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                10,798,760
<SALES>                                        638,118
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               682,684
<CGS>                                          464,124
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  466,556
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                17,146
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                10,426
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              40,004
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                168,061
<INCOME-TAX>                                    59,275
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            108,786
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   108,786
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .43
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .42