<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF  
 THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 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                                                                         
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                    MAR-31-1999 
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                463,381  
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                     0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                       0
<EQUITIES>                          216,660   
<MORTGAGE>                            8,325   
<REAL-ESTATE>                             0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                      707,727   
<CASH>                               36,186   
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                      921   
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>               10,859    
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,493,035    
<POLICY-LOSSES>                     441,049               
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                 224,801    
<POLICY-OTHER>                            0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                     0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                           0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0
<PREFERRED>                               0
<COMMON>                              2,170   
<OTHER-SE>                          664,085   
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      1,493,035      
<PREMIUMS>                           28,606                              
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                  11,521                            
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                    3,249   
<OTHER-INCOME>                            0 
<BENEFITS>                                0 
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>           7,823                     
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                 21,391   
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      48,530        
<INCOME-TAX>                         15,122        
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<CHANGES>                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                         33,408                 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           .45                
<EPS-DILUTED>                             0     
<RESERVE-OPEN>                            0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                         0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                        0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                          0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                           0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                   0