<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF  
 THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 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-31-1997            DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                    MAR-31-1997            MAR-31-1996 
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                306,893                310,176
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                     0                      0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                       0                      0
<EQUITIES>                          134,948                 93,901
<MORTGAGE>                            8,007                  4,421
<REAL-ESTATE>                             0                      0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                      456,953                369,310 
<CASH>                               23,273                 36,647
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                      182                    196
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                9,694                  9,166 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,191,465              1,039,371 
<POLICY-LOSSES>                     403,300                355,860            
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                 215,502                204,751 
<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>                          449,283                364,937
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      1,191,465              1,039,371   
<PREMIUMS>                           25,851                 24,552                           
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                   8,580                  6,586                           
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                    1,137                    483
<OTHER-INCOME>                            0                      0 
<BENEFITS>                                0                      0 
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>           7,001                  6,798                   
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                 18,898                 23,571
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      41,343                 31,939
<INCOME-TAX>                         13,132                  8,441
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                      0
<CHANGES>                                 0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                         28,211                 23,498         
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           .38                    .32         
<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