<ARTICLE>   7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
condensed consolidated financial statements of the registrant and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements
</LEGEND>
<CIK>       0000898174
<NAME>      REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA
<MULTIPLIER>      1,000
<CURRENCY>        U.S. DOLLAR
       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                 DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                    JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                      JUN-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                             1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                3,218,245
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                         0
<EQUITIES>                             11,541
<MORTGAGE>                            214,076
<REAL-ESTATE>                           1,633
<TOTAL-INVEST>                      4,366,545
<CASH>                                 26,714
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                    323,456
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                326,411
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      5,537,108
<POLICY-LOSSES>                     3,821,556
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         0
<POLICY-OTHER>                        384,530
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                       108,052
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       0
<PREFERRED>                                 0
<COMMON>                                  310
<OTHER-SE>                            760,431
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        5,537,108
<PREMIUMS>                            546,513
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                   135,904
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                      2,719
<OTHER-INCOME>                         10,655
<BENEFITS>                            502,427
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>            36,065
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                   68,297
<INCOME-PRETAX>                        55,237
<INCOME-TAX>                           19,797
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                    35,440
<DISCONTINUED>                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                             0
<CHANGES>                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                           35,127
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            1.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                            1.34
<RESERVE-OPEN>                              0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                         0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                           0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                          0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                             0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                     0