<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Nationwide
Life Insurance Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year ended December
31, 1997, 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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            13,204
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                          80
<MORTGAGE>                                       5,182
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      311
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  19,576
<CASH>                                             176
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           1,665
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  59,791
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 18,703
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             4
<OTHER-SE>                                       2,474
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    59,791
<PREMIUMS>                                         205
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              1,409
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  11
<OTHER-INCOME>                                      47
<BENEFITS>                                       1,195
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        167
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               385
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    430
<INCOME-TAX>                                       150
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                280
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       280
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     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