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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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<PAGE> PAGE 11
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<PAGE> PAGE 12
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<PAGE> PAGE 13
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<PAGE> PAGE 14
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<PAGE> PAGE 15
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<PAGE> PAGE 16
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<PAGE> PAGE 19
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<PAGE> PAGE 20
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<PAGE> PAGE 21
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SIGNATURE JOHN H. COSTELLO
TITLE ASSISTANT TREASURER
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<TABLE> <S> <C>
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<NAME> Variable Insurance Products Fund III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 41
<NAME> Balanced Portfolio
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<S>
<C>
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3
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0
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5,313
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215
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.440
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61
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0
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0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
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<NAME> Variable Insurance Products Fund III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 42
<NAME> Balanced Portfolio
- Service Class
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S>
<C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>
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3
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0
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14,875
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15,083
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0
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0
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5,298
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0
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2,085
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4,195
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0
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967
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5,313
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8,597
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16,950
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30,860
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0
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111,438
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2,678
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0
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0
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723
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0
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981
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14.160
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</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
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<NAME> Variable Insurance Products Fund III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 51
<NAME> Growth Opportunities Portfolio
Initial Class
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<S>
<C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>
year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>
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1,036,641
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6,333
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0
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0
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1,042,974
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13,483
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0
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1,135
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14,618
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0
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804,843
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53,221
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24,876
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11,667
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0
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41,679
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0
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1,028,356
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9,137
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7,817
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0
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5,147
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11,807
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41,932
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124,026
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177,765
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0
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9,259
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0
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29,803
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2,470
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1,012
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645,270
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6,366
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9,002
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0
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0
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4,186
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0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>
5,208
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703,147
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15.400
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.290
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4.180
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0
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0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>
0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
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<CIK> 0000927384
<NAME> Variable Insurance Products Fund III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 52
<NAME> Growth Opportunities Portfolio
Service Class
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S>
<C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>
year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>
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0
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0
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804,843
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134
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0
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11,667
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41,679
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1,028,356
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7,817
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11,807
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0
</TABLE>
