<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
 THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS
 QUALIFIED IN REFERENCE TO THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q

<CIK>   0000922621
<NAME>  ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000

                             

<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                521,010
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                     0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                       0
<EQUITIES>                          218,178
<MORTGAGE>                            6,617
<REAL-ESTATE>                             0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                      812,613
<CASH>                               34,392
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                      846
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>               13,043
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,676,301
<POLICY-LOSSES>                     464,282
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                 270,552
<POLICY-OTHER>                            0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                     0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                           0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0
<PREFERRED>                               0
<COMMON>                              2,170
<OTHER-SE>                          849,887
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      1,676,301
<PREMIUMS>                           31,194
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                  15,042
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                    3,944
<OTHER-INCOME>                            0
<BENEFITS>                           25,216
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>            (972)
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                  9,692
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      60,361
<INCOME-TAX>                         19,370
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<CHANGES>                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                         40,991
<EPS-BASIC>                           .57
<EPS-DILUTED>                             0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                            0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                         0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                        0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                          0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                           0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                   0