<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000813383
<NAME> DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 005
<NAME> SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 990509
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1481663
<RECEIVABLES> 2704
<ASSETS-OTHER> 89
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1484456
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 9247
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 4020
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 13267
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 841089
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 19346
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 19533
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 971
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 137975
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 491154
<NET-ASSETS> 1471189
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 3779
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2500
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 5309
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 970
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 154108
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 34365
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 189443
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (871)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1923
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2122)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 12
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 175491
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 873
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (16134)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 5106
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5309
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1369051
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 66.34
<PER-SHARE-NII> .05
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 9.71
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.05)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 76.05
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .004
</TABLE>
