<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
     THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF  
 THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 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>                   9-MOS                  9-MOS                                                                   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1998            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-1998            SEP-30-1997 
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                396,337                334,053 
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                     0                      0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                       0                      0
<EQUITIES>                          193,320                161,246                
<MORTGAGE>                            8,301                  8,383                  
<REAL-ESTATE>                             0                      0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                      612,700                511,246                 
<CASH>                               54,030                 53,583                 
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                      (11)                   121                    
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>               11,224                 10,608                 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,425,690              1,290,024              
<POLICY-LOSSES>                     432,947                410,287                           
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                 239,277                229,974                 
<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>                          607,413                511,279                
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      1,425,690              1,290,024              
<PREMIUMS>                           83,995                 79,838                                            
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                  31,301                 26,821                                            
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                    5,416                  4,703                 
<OTHER-INCOME>                            0                      0 
<BENEFITS>                           58,605                 59,015 
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>          24,366                 21,952                                    
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                      0                      0                 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     150,615                134,052                
<INCOME-TAX>                         47,749                 43,269                 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                      0
<CHANGES>                                 0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                        102,866                 90,783                          
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          1.38                   1.22                           
<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