<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF  
 THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 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                  3-MOS                                                                   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1996            DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                    MAR-31-1996            MAR-31-1995 
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                264,353                157,624
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                     0                 60,282
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                       0                 60,993
<EQUITIES>                           93,901                 57,569
<MORTGAGE>                            4,421                  4,861
<REAL-ESTATE>                             0                      0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                      369,310                284,961 
<CASH>                               36,647                 24,013
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                      196                    503
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                9,166                  8,591 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,039,371                910,806 
<POLICY-LOSSES>                     355,860                351,526            
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                 204,751                182,955 
<POLICY-OTHER>                            0                      0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                     0                      0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                           0                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0                      0
<PREFERRED>                               0                      0
<COMMON>                              2,170                  2,170
<OTHER-SE>                          364,937                280,288
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      1,039,371                910,806     
<PREMIUMS>                           24,552                 21,823                           
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                   6,586                  5,286                           
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                      483                    (83)
<OTHER-INCOME>                            0                      0 
<BENEFITS>                                0                      0 
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>           6,798                  5,581                   
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                 23,571                 18,040
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      31,939                 29,722
<INCOME-TAX>                          8,441                  9,625
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                      0
<CHANGES>                                 0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                         23,498                 20,097         
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           .32                    .27         
<EPS-DILUTED>                             0                      0     
<RESERVE-OPEN>                            0                      0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                       0                      0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                         0                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                        0                      0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                          0                      0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                           0                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                   0                      0