<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000770906
<NAME> FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 12
<NAME> TARGET MATURITY 2015 FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-1-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1461
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1521
<RECEIVABLES> 16
<ASSETS-OTHER> 94
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1631
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1540
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 155
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 92
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 33
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (4)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 60
<NET-ASSETS> 1629
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 38
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (5)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 33
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (4)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 92
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 121
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (4)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 63
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 758
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 4
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (5)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (6)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1241
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.51
<PER-SHARE-NII> .210
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .850
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.030)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.54
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .82
</TABLE>