<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE Article 7 of Regulation S-X Pruco Life Insurance Company </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,563,852 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 338,848 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 350,056 <EQUITIES> 1,982 <MORTGAGE> 22,787 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 3,949,096 <CASH> 71,358 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 25,882 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 655,242 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 12,851,467 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2,282,191 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 570,729 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,500 <OTHER-SE> 1,503,017 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 12,851,467 <PREMIUMS> 49,496 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 259,634 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 10,974 <OTHER-INCOME> 33,801 <BENEFITS> 290,234 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 149,851 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 75,870 <INCOME-PRETAX> 168,242 <INCOME-TAX> 61,868 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 106,374 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 106,374 <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