<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
     THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF  
 THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 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>                    JUN-30-1997            JUN-30-1996 
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                317,743                281,007
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                     0                      0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                       0                      0
<EQUITIES>                          159,056                102,471
<MORTGAGE>                            8,314                  6,379
<REAL-ESTATE>                             0                      0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                      492,644                396,829 
<CASH>                               18,094                 33,420
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                      191                    178
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>               10,211                  9,605 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,238,250              1,073,511 
<POLICY-LOSSES>                     405,532                362,368            
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                 224,151                216,240 
<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>                          476,483                376,742
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      1,238,250              1,073,511   
<PREMIUMS>                           26,888                 25,007                           
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                   8,763                  6,882                           
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                    1,360                    601
<OTHER-INCOME>                            0                      0 
<BENEFITS>                                0                      0 
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>           7,344                  7,022                   
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                 20,327                 19,242
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      44,718                 39,671
<INCOME-TAX>                         14,274                 13,204
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                      0
<CHANGES>                                 0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                         30,444                 26,466         
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           .41                    .36         
<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