<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME OF PICO
HOLDINGS, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            71,385
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      70,876
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 153,534
<CASH>                                          37,735
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               1,100
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           5,840
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 402,670
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                129,525
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             23,381
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            17
<OTHER-SE>                                     209,488
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   402,670
<PREMIUMS>                                      23,464
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              5,999
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             (7,588)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   4,187
<BENEFITS>                                      18,307
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      7,343
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            17,371
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (14,321)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (7,171)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (7,149)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (7,149)
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.63)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.63)
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  98,800
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                              8,914
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                2,211
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                               7,183
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                18,892
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 91,033
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                          2,211