<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE FORM 10K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 FOR AETNA LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000837010 <NAME> AETNA LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 12,906 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 200 <MORTGAGE> 13 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 13,553 <CASH> 459 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 10 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 1,515 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 31,693 <POLICY-LOSSES> 3,617 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 1 <POLICY-OTHER> 28 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 10,664 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 3 <OTHER-SE> 1,607 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 31,693 <PREMIUMS> 134 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,046 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 20 <OTHER-INCOME> 45 <BENEFITS> 969 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 199 <INCOME-TAX> 58 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 141 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 141 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0