<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
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
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         3,701,617
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      13,200
<MORTGAGE>                                     216,636
<REAL-ESTATE>                                    1,532
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               5,129,581
<CASH>                                          15,966
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             259,688
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         351,042
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,318,553
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              4,571,021
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 482,049
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                107,994
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           466<F1>
<OTHER-SE>                                     748,011
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 6,318,553
<PREMIUMS>                                   1,016,420
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            301,780
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               3,092
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  23,200
<BENEFITS>                                     951,148
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     66,282
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           122,189
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                138,047
<INCOME-TAX>                                    49,055
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             89,709
<DISCONTINUED>                                (27,628)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    62,081
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.50<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.48<F1>
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Item adjusted for three-for-two stock split on February 26, 1999
</FN>