<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM STATEMENT OF
ASSETS & LIABILITIES; STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS; STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET
ASSETS; CASH FLOWS; PER SHARE TABLE AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000801348
<NAME> PRUCO LIFE VARIABLE CONTRACT REAL PROPERTY ACCOUNT
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 002
   <NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL VARIABLE CONTRACT REAL PROPERTY PARTNERSHIP
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      180,069,684
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     152,658,519
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,986,573
<ASSETS-OTHER>                              46,742,226
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             201,387,318
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                            0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          6,993,435
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                             0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       11,848,275
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       12,036,684
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             0
<NET-ASSETS>                               201,387,318
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,469,594
<OTHER-INCOME>                              17,521,575
<EXPENSES-NET>                               7,486,552
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     11,504,617
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (478,638)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  (3,253,955)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        7,772,024
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        188,409
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       4,772,024
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        1,848,541
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             372,344
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              7,486,552
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                           15.754
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   .966
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (.314)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                             16.407
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   3.92
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0