<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     The Financial statements contained in the form 10Q for the
     fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1997 for Aetna Life Insurance
     and Annuity Company
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000837010
<NAME>                        Aetna Life Insurance & Annuity Co.
<CURRENCY>                    US
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1
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<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                    0
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<REAL-ESTATE>                                            0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                      13,452
<CASH>                                                 839
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                       9
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<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      35,730
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<POLICY-OTHER>                                          29
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                10,844
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<COMMON>                                                 3
<OTHER-SE>                                           1,698
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        35,730
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