<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000857490
<NAME> VANGUARD VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 08
<NAME> HIGH YIELD BOND PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<CURRENCY> US
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 145783
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 134311
<RECEIVABLES> 6260
<ASSETS-OTHER> 28
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 140599
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 3166
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1203
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 4369
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 155084
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 14887
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 15395
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (7382)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (11472)
<NET-ASSETS> 136230
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6580
<OTHER-INCOME> 5
<EXPENSES-NET> 187
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 6398
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1823)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (3348)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1227
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 6398
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2330
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 3519
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 681
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (9977)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (5559)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 43
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 188
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 143282
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.50
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.422
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.350)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.422
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.15
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.26
</TABLE>
