<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEET OF SERVICE CORPORATION  INTERNATIONAL AS OF JUNE 30,
1998 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-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1998

<CASH>                                              75,526
<SECURITIES>                                       609,739  
<RECEIVABLES>                                    1,035,549
<ALLOWANCES>                                        91,709
<INVENTORY>                                        183,920
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   885,645
<PP&E>                                           2,150,880
<DEPRECIATION>                                     432,195
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  11,244,662
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              525,206
<BONDS>                                          3,077,286
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                           257,186
<OTHER-SE>                                       2,679,799
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    11,244,662
<SALES>                                          1,265,834
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 1,354,588
<CGS>                                              945,610
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      950,770
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    34,647
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    15,863
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  82,946
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    308,564
<INCOME-TAX>                                       108,830
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                199,734
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                       199,734
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .78
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .77