<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ALLIED GROUP, INC.'S DECEMBER 31, 1995 FORM 10-K AND IS 
     QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                      0000774624                         
<NAME>                             ALLIED GROUP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                    1,000  
<CURRENCY>                         US DOLLARS                       
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1995 
<PERIOD-START>                  JAN-01-1995 
<PERIOD-END>                    DEC-31-1995
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1.00000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           754,547
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                       7,948
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 772,299
<CASH>                                           1,465
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              19,293
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          41,688
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,010,598
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                341,864
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            196,461
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 39,465
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     83,648
<COMMON>                                         9,445
<OTHER-SE>                                     258,493
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,010,598
<PREMIUMS>                                     455,499
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             47,242
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 505
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  49,519
<BENEFITS>                                     317,940
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    100,120
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            20,583
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 73,848
<INCOME-TAX>                                    21,471
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             52,377
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    52,377
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    4.910
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    3.520
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 292,674
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            315,956
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                1,984
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                             169,254
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                               116,421
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                324,939
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                           (292)