<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET OF SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND
THE RELATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS 
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                          44,131
<SECURITIES>                                   565,145
<RECEIVABLES>                                  997,736
<ALLOWANCES>                                    75,102
<INVENTORY>                                    139,019
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               714,040
<PP&E>                                       1,776,534
<DEPRECIATION>                                 319,459
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               8,869,770
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          607,543
<BONDS>                                      2,048,737
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       236,193
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,999,124
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 8,869,770
<SALES>                                      2,171,496
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,294,194
<CGS>                                        1,680,246
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,689,742
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                63,798
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                12,147
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             147,470
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                413,881
<INCOME-TAX>                                   148,583
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            265,298
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   265,298
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.07