<ARTICLE> 7 <CIK> 0000084246 <NAME> RLI CORP. <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 40,557,934 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 305,645,516 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 305,393,269 <EQUITIES> 277,838,043 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 675,714,361 <CASH> 0 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 94,861,750 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 34,805,430 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,186,299,148 <POLICY-LOSSES> 532,148,836 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 165,676,663 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 79,539,568 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 12,804,558 <OTHER-SE> 273,979,180 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,186,299,148 <PREMIUMS> 144,453,076 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 19,165,187 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 4,522,892 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 70,203,818 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 48,938,152 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 12,253,391 <INCOME-PRETAX> 32,885,046 <INCOME-TAX> 8,814,982 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 24,070,064 <EPS-BASIC> 2.36 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.34 <RESERVE-OPEN> 415,523,392 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 532,148,836 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0