<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 061448
<NAME> PILGRIM MAGNA CAP VARIABLE FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 11
<NAME> CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<CURRENCY> US
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 320086
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 420456
<RECEIVABLES> 637
<ASSETS-OTHER> 62
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 18
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 421173
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3506
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3506
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 286457
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 19185
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 21136
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 873
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 29968
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 100370
<NET-ASSETS> 147668
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 6412
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1359
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 6691
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1080
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 29968
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (35598)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (4550)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1051)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (48878)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 8303
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 11986
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2042
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (25888)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 285070
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3251
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 6692
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 331606
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 17.69
<PER-SHARE-NII> .07
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.08)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 1.79
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 15.84
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.29
</TABLE>
