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    <submissionType>13F-HR</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
      <flags>
        <confirmingCopyFlag>false</confirmingCopyFlag>
        <returnCopyFlag>true</returnCopyFlag>
        <overrideInternetFlag>false</overrideInternetFlag>
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      <filer>
        <credentials>
          <cik>0000108572</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
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      <periodOfReport>03-31-2017</periodOfReport>
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      <reportCalendarOrQuarter>03-31-2017</reportCalendarOrQuarter>
      <filingManager>
        <name>WRIGHT INVESTORS SERVICE INC</name>
        <address>
          <ns1:street1>177 WEST PUTNAM AVENUE</ns1:street1>
          <ns1:city>GREENWICH</ns1:city>
          <ns1:stateOrCountry>CT</ns1:stateOrCountry>
          <ns1:zipCode>06830</ns1:zipCode>
        </address>
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      <reportType>13F HOLDINGS REPORT</reportType>
      <form13FFileNumber>028-00825</form13FFileNumber>
      <provideInfoForInstruction5>N</provideInfoForInstruction5>
    </coverPage>
    <signatureBlock>
      <name>Amit S. Khandwala</name>
      <title>Co-Chief Executive Officer &amp; Chief Investment Officer</title>
      <phone>203-783-4350</phone>
      <signature>Amit S. Khandwala</signature>
      <city>Greenwich</city>
      <stateOrCountry>CT</stateOrCountry>
      <signatureDate>04-25-2017</signatureDate>
    </signatureBlock>
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      <tableEntryTotal>307</tableEntryTotal>
      <tableValueTotal>246979</tableValueTotal>
      <isConfidentialOmitted>true</isConfidentialOmitted>
      <otherManagers2Info>
        <otherManager2>
          <sequenceNumber>1</sequenceNumber>
          <otherManager>
            <form13FFileNumber>28-01974</form13FFileNumber>
            <name>Atalanta Sosnoff Capital, LLC</name>
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