<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Kemper
Variable Series- Growth And Income Portfolio Semiannual Report for the six
month period ended June 30, 2000 and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000810573
<NAME> KEMPER VARIABLE SERIES
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 024
<NAME> KVS GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<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> 50,661
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 51,273
<RECEIVABLES> 2,250
<ASSETS-OTHER> 21,350
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 74,873
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 3,594
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 118
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3,712
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 71,832
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 62,605
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 13,741
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (85)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (1,200)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 613
<NET-ASSETS> 71,161
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 58
<INTEREST-INCOME> 98
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 241
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (85)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,081)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (397)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (1,563)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (180)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 61,026
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (4,095)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 180
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 55,367
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 61
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 199
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 271
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 41,945
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.15
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.01)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.14
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.15
</TABLE>
