<ARTICLE> 6 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary information extracted from the financial statements of Protective Variable Life Separate Account and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000948923 <NAME> PROTECTIVE VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT <SERIES> <NUMBER> 2 <NAME> GROWTH AND INCOME SUB ACCOUNT <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,497,669 <INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,632,015 <RECEIVABLES> 7,840 <ASSETS-OTHER> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,639,855 <PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0 <SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0 <SENIOR-EQUITY> 0 <PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 0 <SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 92,633 <SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0 <ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0 <OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0 <ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0 <OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0 <ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0 <NET-ASSETS> 1,639,855 <DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0 <INTEREST-INCOME> 0 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <EXPENSES-NET> 0 <NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 0 <REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1 <APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 152,883 <NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 152,884 <EQUALIZATION> 0 <DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0 <DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0 <DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0 <NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 30,397 <NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,055 <SHARES-REINVESTED> 0 <NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 636,425 <ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0 <ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0 <OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0 <OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0 <GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <GROSS-EXPENSE> 57,469 <AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 0 <PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 15.850 <PER-SHARE-NII> 0 <PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0 <PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0 <PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0 <RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0 <PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.618 <EXPENSE-RATIO> 0 <AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0 <AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0