<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
condensed consolidated financial statements contained in the Form 10-Q for the
six months ended June 30, 1998 for the 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
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           13,136
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            0
<EQUITIES>                                     249
<MORTGAGE>                                     13
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 13,979
<CASH>                                         1,058
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             24
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         1,712
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 45,046
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                3,831
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            1
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 29
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          11,084
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       3
<OTHER-SE>                                     1,945
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   45,046
<PREMIUMS>                                     34
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            428
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             7
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 14
<BENEFITS>                                     348
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                96
<INCOME-TAX>                                   28
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            68
<DISCONTINUED>                                 37
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   105
<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