<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM JOHN
HANCOCK VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY'S STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND UNASSIGNED DEFICIT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     1,185,808,405
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                 121,365,735
<MORTGAGE>                                 388,104,672
<REAL-ESTATE>                               41,023,556
<TOTAL-INVEST>                           1,736,302,368
<CASH>                                      19,935,166
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             649,293
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           8,599,002,589
<POLICY-LOSSES>                          1,664,761,643
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                       25,421,558
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                             61,903,673
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     2,500,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 328,280,043
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             8,599,002,589
<PREMIUMS>                               1,272,286,181
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        122,810,553
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           (593,241)
<OTHER-INCOME>                             618,506,821
<BENEFITS>                               1,661,922,493
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             48,696,238
<INCOME-TAX>                                33,130,167
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                15,566,071
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0