<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000770906
<NAME> FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 04
<NAME> GROWTH 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> 192553
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 292987
<RECEIVABLES> 1837
<ASSETS-OTHER> 127
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 294951
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1404
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 253
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1657
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 175479
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6857
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6092
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (19)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 17400
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 100434
<NET-ASSETS> 293294
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 778
<INTEREST-INCOME> 294
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1093)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (21)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 17869
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2393
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 20241
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (302)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (19975)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 355
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 97
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 507
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 30960
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 304
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 19505
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (1015)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (1096)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 273079
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 43.06
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.000
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.050)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 42.77
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .8
</TABLE>
