<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
September 30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
unaudited consolidated financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000205695
<NAME> NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            13,977
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                         125
<MORTGAGE>                                       5,187
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      264
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  20,292
<CASH>                                               4
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           1,871
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  65,475
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 19,235
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             4
<OTHER-SE>                                       2,774
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    65,475
<PREMIUMS>                                         154
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              1,106
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  27
<OTHER-INCOME>                                      49
<BENEFITS>                                         930
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        159
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               315
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    415
<INCOME-TAX>                                       142
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                274
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       274
<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