<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Nationwide
Life Insurance Company's Annual Report on Form 10-Q for the Year ended
December 31, 2000, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
consolidated financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            15,443
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                         109
<MORTGAGE>                                       6,168
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      311
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  23,138
<CASH>                                              18
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           2,866
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  92,567
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 22,184
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             4
<OTHER-SE>                                       3,199
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    92,567
<PREMIUMS>                                         240
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              1,655
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                (19)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                      17
<BENEFITS>                                       1,424
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        352
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               479
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    683
<INCOME-TAX>                                       208
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                475
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       475
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0