
<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     THE SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
     ALLSTATE  CORPORATION  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  INCLUDED  IN  SUCH  COMPANY'S
     QUARTERLY  REPORT FOR THE QUARTER  ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS  QUALIFIED IN
     ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                     899051
<NAME>                        THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            48853
<EQUITIES>                                     5924
<MORTGAGE>                                     3073
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  716
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 59816
<CASH>                                         182
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             2084
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         2767
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 77106
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                23950
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            6143
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          20364
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                175
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       5
<OTHER-SE>                                     14313
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   77106
<PREMIUMS>                                     9913
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            1911
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             428
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 0
<BENEFITS>                                     7923
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    1348
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           944
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                1989
<INCOME-TAX>                                   577
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            1412
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   1410
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  3.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  3.20
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                              0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                             0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                               0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                        0
        


</TABLE>
