<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF  
 THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 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-31-1998            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                    MAR-31-1998            MAR-31-1997 
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                361,655                306,893  
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                     0                      0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                       0                      0
<EQUITIES>                          182,703                134,948   
<MORTGAGE>                            8,360                  8,007   
<REAL-ESTATE>                             0                      0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                      564,517                456,953   
<CASH>                               43,443                 23,273   
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                      155                    182   
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>               10,338                  9,694    
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,346,821              1,191,465    
<POLICY-LOSSES>                     420,367                403,300               
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                 217,849                215,502    
<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>                          570,600                449,283   
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      1,346,821              1,191,465      
<PREMIUMS>                           27,461                 25,851                              
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                  10,320                  8,580                             
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                      997                  1,137   
<OTHER-INCOME>                            0                      0 
<BENEFITS>                                0                      0 
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>           7,536                  7,001                      
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                 18,497                 18,898   
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      46,505                 41,343        
<INCOME-TAX>                         14,806                 13,132        
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                      0
<CHANGES>                                 0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                         31,699                 28,211                 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           .43                    .38                 
<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