<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL AS OF MARCH
31, 1999 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-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   Mar-31-1999

<CASH>                                         181,684
<SECURITIES>                                 1,242,139
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,260,346  
<ALLOWANCES>                                   111,592
<INVENTORY>                                    207,242
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,083,698
<PP&E>                                       2,491,750
<DEPRECIATION>                                 527,135
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              14,736,517
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          793,909
<BONDS>                                      4,049,215
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       271,969
<OTHER-SE>                                   3,412,003
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                14,736,517
<SALES>                                        845,533
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               904,056
<CGS>                                          646,390
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  685,185
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               144,088
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 6,793
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              61,749
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 66,417
<INCOME-TAX>                                    24,534
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             41,883
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  1,885
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    43,768
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .16