<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CRAWFORD AND COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 AND CRAWFORD AND COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 25,690 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 225,447 <ALLOWANCES> 20,159 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 267,824 <PP&E> 161,311 <DEPRECIATION> 114,410 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 471,423 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 155,638 <BONDS> 16,121 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 50,765 <OTHER-SE> 195,134 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 471,423 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 510,699 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 373,624 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 90,655 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 46,420 <INCOME-TAX> 17,825 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 28,595 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 28,595 <EPS-BASIC> 0.57 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.57