<ARTICLE>                     7
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 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>                    YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>         DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>            JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>              DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                     1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>           12,067
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>               0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                 0
<EQUITIES>                        305
<MORTGAGE>                         13
<REAL-ESTATE>                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                 12,725
<CASH>                            608
<RECOVER-REINSURE>              2,960
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>            864
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 47,279
<POLICY-LOSSES>                 3,815
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                 1
<POLICY-OTHER>                     19
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>          11,305
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                     0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>               0
<PREFERRED>                         0
<COMMON>                            3
<OTHER-SE>                      1,355
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   47,279
<PREMIUMS>                         79
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>               878
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                 10
<OTHER-INCOME>                     30
<BENEFITS>                        714
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>       107
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                   187
<INCOME-TAX>                       47
<INCOME-CONTINUING>               140
<DISCONTINUED>                    121
<EXTRAORDINARY>                     0
<CHANGES>                           0
<NET-INCOME>                      260
<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