<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE FORM 10-Q FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                11,355
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                    0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                      0
<EQUITIES>                                             222
<MORTGAGE>                                              10
<REAL-ESTATE>                                            0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                      11,933
<CASH>                                                 797
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   2,958
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               1,008
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      50,759
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                      3,842
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                      1
<POLICY-OTHER>                                          35
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                               11,117
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                                 3
<OTHER-SE>                                           1,376
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        50,759
<PREMIUMS>                                              87
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                    669
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                      (5)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                          83
<BENEFITS>                                             564
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                             78
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                     0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        210
<INCOME-TAX>                                            69
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    141
<DISCONTINUED>                                           4
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                           145
<EPS-BASIC>                                            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