<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
     THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF  
 THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 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>                   9-MOS                  9-MOS                                                                   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1997            DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-1997            SEP-30-1996 
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                334,053                291,617
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                     0                      0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                       0                      0
<EQUITIES>                          161,246                118,315
<MORTGAGE>                            8,383                  6,375
<REAL-ESTATE>                             0                      0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                      511,246                423,419 
<CASH>                               53,583                 24,189
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                      121                    172
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>               10,608                  9,884 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,290,024              1,131,769 
<POLICY-LOSSES>                     410,287                382,918            
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                 229,974                226,273 
<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>                          511,279                401,142
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      1,290,024              1,131,769   
<PREMIUMS>                           79,838                 75,300                           
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                  26,964                 20,999                           
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                    4,703                  3,365
<OTHER-INCOME>                            0                      0 
<BENEFITS>                                0                      0 
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>          21,952                 20,992                   
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                 59,015                 64,101
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     134,052                114,423
<INCOME-TAX>                         43,269                 35,272
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                      0
<CHANGES>                                 0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                         90,783                 79,151         
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          1.22                   1.06         
<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