<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORM 10-Q FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000765880 <NAME> HEALTH CARE PROPERTY INVESTORS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 83,027 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 1,133,913 <DEPRECIATION> 188,796 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,239,292 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 585,930 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 187,847 <COMMON> 30,972 <OTHER-SE> 374,052 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,239,292 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 116,448 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 26,859 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 9,503 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 26,727 <INCOME-PRETAX> 60,101 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 60,101 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 60,101 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.82 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.81