<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Financial Statements contained in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 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> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 13,464 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 231 <MORTGAGE> 13 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 14,273 <CASH> 565 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 11 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 1,655 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 40,146 <POLICY-LOSSES> 3,763 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 1 <POLICY-OTHER> 38 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 11,144 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 3 <OTHER-SE> 1,831 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 40,146 <PREMIUMS> 267 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,081 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 36 <OTHER-INCOME> 40 <BENEFITS> 1,128 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 295 <INCOME-TAX> 89 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 205 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 205 <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