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

<CASH>                                         116,980
<SECURITIES>                                 1,241,460
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,170,662
<ALLOWANCES>                                    93,594
<INVENTORY>                                    183,039
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               962,845
<PP&E>                                       2,225,758
<DEPRECIATION>                                 451,515
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              12,053,975
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          656,117
<BONDS>                                      3,365,982
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       257,821
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,745,844
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                12,053,975
<SALES>                                      1,957,340
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,101,598
<CGS>                                        1,516,242
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,524,070
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                50,137
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                20,747
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             133,362
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                437,119
<INCOME-TAX>                                   154,172
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            282,947
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   282,947
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.11
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.08