<ARTICLE>                         7

<LEGEND>
                             FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
                           Article 7 of Regulation S-X
                          Pruco Life Insurance Company
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                     1,000
       
                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   9-MOS

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                 DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                    JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                      SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                                2,306,363
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                                 317,107
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                                   327,215
<EQUITIES>                                                              4,738
<MORTGAGE>                                                             25,780
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                               0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                                      3,845,522
<CASH>                                                                 84,392
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                                     27,014
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                                599,877
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     11,969,891
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                                     2,246,638
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                                         0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                        591,472
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                                 0
<COMMON>                                                                2,500
<OTHER-SE>                                                          1,443,056
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                       11,969,891
<PREMIUMS>                                                             38,920
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                   193,142
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                                     13,415
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                         21,648
<BENEFITS>                                                            213,606
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                            96,662
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                                  114,686
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                        74,005
<INCOME-TAX>                                                           27,560
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                    46,445
<DISCONTINUED>                                                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                                           46,445
<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