<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
                            W.R. GRACE & CO.
                         FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
                       PERIOD ENDING JUNE 30, 1997
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                          43,200
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  635,100<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    376,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,259,400<F2>
<PP&E>                                       3,293,500
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,478,900
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,312,300<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,144,900
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           800
<OTHER-SE>                                     421,100
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,312,300
<SALES>                                      1,627,600
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,651,200
<CGS>                                          993,200
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  993,200
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              39,400
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                263,400<F3>
<INCOME-TAX>                                    99,600
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            163,800<F3>
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   163,800
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.15
<FN>
<F1>Amount shown is net of allowances.
<F2>Included within current assets and total assets are net assets of
discontinued operations of $56,800.
<F3>Includes a pretax gain of $103,100 ($63,000 after-tax) on the sale of
Grace's specialty polymer business, and a pretax provision of $12,400
($8,000 after-tax) relating to restructuring costs.
</FN>