<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
National Western Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries consolidated
financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           712,117
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        2,138,688
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          2,063,393
<EQUITIES>                                      16,069
<MORTGAGE>                                     202,024
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   12,355
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               3,250,302
<CASH>                                           2,638
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               6,650
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         392,123
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,717,084
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              3,146,581
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  15,026
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           10,835
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 23,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         3,502
<OTHER-SE>                                     479,426
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 3,717,084
<PREMIUMS>                                      51,559
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            106,555
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             (6,412)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     254
<BENEFITS>                                      85,511
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     22,178
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            14,077
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 30,190
<INCOME-TAX>                                    10,264
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             19,926
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    19,926
<EPS-BASIC>                                       5.69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     5.66
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                             00

<F1>Consists of $5,272 revenues from traditional contracts subject to FAS 60
accounting treatment and $46,287 revenues from universal life and investment
annuity contracts subject to FAS 97 accounting treatment.
<F2>Consists of $19,593 benefits paid to policyholders, $(3,493) decrease in
reserves on traditional contracts and $69,411 interest on universal life
and investment annuity contracts.