<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements contained in Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000
for PMA Capital Corporation and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                         JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                           MAR-31-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                         1,553,337
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                                      46,869
<MORTGAGE>                                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                               1,949,701
<CASH>                                                          11,040
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                             702,875<F1>
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                          53,658
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               3,283,358
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                              1,927,755
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                            305,350
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                           14,636
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                163,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                0
<PREFERRED>                                                          0
<COMMON>                                                       122,214
<OTHER-SE>                                                     316,410
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                 3,283,358
<PREMIUMS>                                                     125,822
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                             28,193
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                              (5,461)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                   3,387
<BENEFITS>                                                      94,288
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                     26,697
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                            21,142
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                  6,739
<INCOME-TAX>                                                     2,361
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                      0
<CHANGES>                                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                                     4,378
<EPS-BASIC>                                                       0.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                     0.19
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                              0
<FN>
<F1> - Represents reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses.
</FN>