<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND> 
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Nationwide
Life Insurance Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended
June 30, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
consolidated financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000205695 
<NAME> NATIONWIDE INSURANCE
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. CURRENCY 
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        12,319,848
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      66,497
<MORTGAGE>                                   5,141,839
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  292,935
<TOTAL-INVEST>                              18,522,241
<CASH>                                          86,387
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                       1,537,814
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              53,625,943
<POLICY-LOSSES>                             17,536,264
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 366,681
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           59,153
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         3,815
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,215,587
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                53,625,943
<PREMIUMS>                                     105,741
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            692,296
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               9,113
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  25,742
<BENEFITS>                                     593,419
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     82,988
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           188,092
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                196,312
<INCOME-TAX>                                    68,209
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            127,103
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   127,103
<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