<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN REFERENCE TO THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000922621 <NAME> ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 521,010 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 218,178 <MORTGAGE> 6,617 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 812,613 <CASH> 34,392 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 846 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 13,043 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,676,301 <POLICY-LOSSES> 464,282 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 270,552 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,170 <OTHER-SE> 849,887 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,676,301 <PREMIUMS> 31,194 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 15,042 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 3,944 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 25,216 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> (972) <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 9,692 <INCOME-PRETAX> 60,361 <INCOME-TAX> 19,370 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 40,991 <EPS-BASIC> .57 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0