<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000770906
<NAME> FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 01
<NAME> HIGH YIELD 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> 67821
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 60076
<RECEIVABLES> 1465
<ASSETS-OTHER> 166
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 61707
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 200
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 176
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 376
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 66614
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6162
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6035
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 3170
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (709)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (7745)
<NET-ASSETS> 61329
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 26
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3406
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (259)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 3173
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (143)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (3856)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (826)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (6526)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 114
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 634
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 646
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (6194)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 6524
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (566)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (239)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (262)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 64020
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.19
<PER-SHARE-NII> .540
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.670)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.110)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.95
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .82
</TABLE>
