<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Independence Holding Company Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1997 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000701869
<NAME> INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       169,980,000
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                  10,885,000
<MORTGAGE>                                     323,000
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             248,548,000
<CASH>                                       6,239,000
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                          64,068,000
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      11,234,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             356,765,000
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            135,434,000
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         12,780,000
<POLICY-OTHER>                              66,466,000
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        2,230,000
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     7,432,000
<OTHER-SE>                                  75,775,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               356,765,000
<PREMIUMS>                                  38,822,000
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          9,717,000
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                            (59,000)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 864,000
<BENEFITS>                                  27,062,000
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                  1,454,000
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              5,907,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                   456,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          5,451,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 5,451,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .76
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0