<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF  
 THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 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>                   9-MOS                  9-MOS                                                                   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1996            DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-1996            SEP-30-1995 
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                291,616                168,129
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                     0                 60,267
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                       0                 62,099
<EQUITIES>                          118,315                 73,809
<MORTGAGE>                            6,357                  4,443
<REAL-ESTATE>                             0                      0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                      423,419                311,225 
<CASH>                               24,189                 66,347
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                      172                    299
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                9,884                  9,339 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,131,769                994,530 
<POLICY-LOSSES>                     382,913                357,660            
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                 226,273                207,063 
<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>                          388,702                308,976
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      1,131,769                994,530   
<PREMIUMS>                           75,300                 68,883                           
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                  20,999                 17,793                           
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                    3,365                  2,892
<OTHER-INCOME>                            0                      0 
<BENEFITS>                                0                      0 
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>          20,992                 19,034                   
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                 64,101                 54,327
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     114,423                104,948
<INCOME-TAX>                         35,272                 34,466
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                      0
<CHANGES>                                 0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                         79,151                 70,482         
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          1.06                    .95         
<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