<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
March 31, 1999, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such unaudited
consolidated financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            14,094
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                         124
<MORTGAGE>                                       5,365
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      244
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  20,701
<CASH>                                              21
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           2,143
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  77,032
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 19,901
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             4
<OTHER-SE>                                       2,780
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    77,032
<PREMIUMS>                                          54
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                363
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 (5)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                      20
<BENEFITS>                                         314
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                         61
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               104
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    148
<INCOME-TAX>                                        49
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 99
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                        99
<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