<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000813383
<NAME> DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 009
<NAME> SMALL COMPANY STOCK PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 28450
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 33565
<RECEIVABLES> 68
<ASSETS-OTHER> 12
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 33645
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 48
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 48
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 29153
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1918
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1949
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 33
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (704)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 5115
<NET-ASSETS> 33597
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 142
<INTEREST-INCOME> 24
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 157
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 9
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 2251
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (690)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1570
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (63)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 236
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (272)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 4
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 1067
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 88
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (2956)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 125
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 157
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 33423
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 16.69
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .86
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.03)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.52
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .005
</TABLE>