<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the KVS
Money Market Portfolio Semiannual Report for the six months ended 6/30/00 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000810573
<NAME> KEMPER VARIABLE SERIES
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> KVS MONEY MARKET 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> 222,245
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 222,245
<RECEIVABLES> 674
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 1
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 222,920
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 9,813
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 9,813
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 213,107
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 213,105
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 231,099
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 213,107
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 7,060
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 665
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 6,395
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 6,395
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 6,395
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 591,799
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (616,280)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 6,489
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (17,992)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 564
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 665
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 226,171
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.03
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.03)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.59
</TABLE>
