WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000808490
<NAME> VARIABLE INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 6
<NAME> WORLD EQUITY PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 20842
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 23709
<RECEIVABLES> 910
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 24
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 24643
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 268
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 912
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1180
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 9269
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1042
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1197
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 46
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 11417
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2823
<NET-ASSETS> 23463
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 118
<INTEREST-INCOME> 18
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (159)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (23)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 7413
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (5726)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1664
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 210
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (364)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1483)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 4004
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 22
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 93
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 190
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 26714
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 20.84
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.02)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.70
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 22.52
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.20
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
