<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000813383
<NAME> DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 008
<NAME> INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 66132
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 74182
<RECEIVABLES> 85
<ASSETS-OTHER> 763
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 75030
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 290
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 121
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 411
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 57687
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3700
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3098
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 191
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 8696
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 8045
<NET-ASSETS> 74619
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 428
<INTEREST-INCOME> 102
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 359
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 171
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 9015
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (10571)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (1385)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (6191)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 599
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (285)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 289
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5411
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 20
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 5873
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 274
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 359
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 73504
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 22.34
<PER-SHARE-NII> .05
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.37)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (1.85)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 20.17
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .005
</TABLE>