<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000770906
<NAME> FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 13
<NAME> FOCUSED EQUITY 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> 6515
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 6855
<RECEIVABLES> 846
<ASSETS-OTHER> 78
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 7779
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 238
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 243
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 7312
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 727
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 195
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (3)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (114)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 340
<NET-ASSETS> 7535
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 5
<INTEREST-INCOME> 13
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (20)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (2)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (84)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 249
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 163
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 548
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 16
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5539
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (29)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (19)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (21)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 5130
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.25
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .110
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.36
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .80
</TABLE>
