<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000770906
<NAME> FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 02
<NAME> DISCOVERY 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> 125861
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 161890
<RECEIVABLES> 3421
<ASSETS-OTHER> 483
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 165794
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 468
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 131
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 599
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 120918
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5039
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4350
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (229)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 8476
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 36029
<NET-ASSETS> 165195
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 140
<INTEREST-INCOME> 274
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (642)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (228)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 8803
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2190
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 10765
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (17615)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 270
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 68
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 487
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 17465
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 17288
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (601)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (648)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 161183
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 33.96
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.050)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.880
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (4.010)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 32.78
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .80
</TABLE>
