WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  


This schedule contains summary financial extracted from the interim 
consolidated balance sheet and income statement of Allmerica Financial 
Corporation as of September 30, 1998 and for the period then ended, and 
is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                     SEP-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             7918
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                               0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                 0
<EQUITIES>                                        372
<MORTGAGES>                                       562
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      25
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                   9169
<CASH>                                            410
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               1155
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           1108
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  25245
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                  2749
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                               883
<POLICY-OTHER>                                   2856
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                            2567
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                   258
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                             300
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                            1
<OTHER-SE>                                       2479
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    25245
<PREMIUMS>                                       1730
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                               463
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 51
<OTHER-INCOME>                                    321
<BENEFITS>                                       1550
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                       344
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                              478
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   192
<INCOME-TAX>                                       34
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               159
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                      135
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    2.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    2.24
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                   2615
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                              1220
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                (93)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                552
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                  588
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                  2586
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                             0