<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