<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF  
 THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 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>                    JUN-30-1996            JUN-30-1995 
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                281,007                168,283
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                     0                 60,268
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                       0                 61,717
<EQUITIES>                          102,471                 72,619
<MORTGAGE>                            6,379                  4,453
<REAL-ESTATE>                             0                      0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                      396,829                310,214 
<CASH>                               33,420                 12,689
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                      178                    406
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                9,605                  9,036 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,073,511                949,884 
<POLICY-LOSSES>                     362,368                355,485            
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                 216,240                195,273 
<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>                          384,572                306,948
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      1,073,511                949,884   
<PREMIUMS>                           25,007                 22,984                           
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                   7,483                  6,008                           
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                      601                    461
<OTHER-INCOME>                            0                      0 
<BENEFITS>                                0                      0 
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>           7,022                  6,592                   
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                 19,242                 18,336
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      39,670                 34,791
<INCOME-TAX>                         13,204                 11,675
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                      0
<CHANGES>                                 0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                         26,466                 23,116         
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           .36                    .31         
<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