<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<edgarSubmission xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:ncom="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ncencommon" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common" xmlns:sccom="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/sccommon" xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ncen">
  <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>N-CEN</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
      <filer>
        <issuerCredentials>
          <cik>0000751482</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </issuerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <flags>
        <returnCopyFlag>false</returnCopyFlag>
        <overrideInternetFlag>false</overrideInternetFlag>
        <confirmingCopyFlag>false</confirmingCopyFlag>
      </flags>
      <investmentCompanyType>N-4</investmentCompanyType>
    </filerInfo>
    <seriesClass>
      <reportClass>
        <rptIncludeAllClassesFlag>true</rptIncludeAllClassesFlag>
      </reportClass>
    </seriesClass>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <generalInfo isReportPeriodLt12="N" reportEndingPeriod="2018-12-31"/>
    <registrantInfo>
      <registrantFullName>FIRST VARIABLE ANNUITY FUND E</registrantFullName>
      <investmentCompFileNo>811-04092</investmentCompFileNo>
      <registrantCik>0000751482</registrantCik>
      <registrantLei>549300B6287Q1UGVYD95</registrantLei>
      <registrantstreet1>2801 Highway 280 South</registrantstreet1>
      <registrantcity>Birmingham</registrantcity>
      <registrantzipCode>35223-2488</registrantzipCode>
      <registrantstate>US-AL</registrantstate>
      <registrantcountry>US</registrantcountry>
      <registrantphoneNumber>205-268-1000</registrantphoneNumber>
      <websites>
        <website webpage="www.protective.com"/>
      </websites>
      <locationBooksRecords>
        <locationBooksRecord>
          <officeName>Protective Life Insurance Company</officeName>
          <officeAddress1>2801 Highway 280 South</officeAddress1>
          <officeCity>Birmingham</officeCity>
          <officeStateCountry officeState="US-AL" officeCountry="US"/>
          <officeRecordsZipCode>35223-2488</officeRecordsZipCode>
          <officePhone>205-268-1000</officePhone>
          <booksRecordsDesc>Records maintained include customer account information, transactions, daily account values, accumulation unit value
calculations, general and auxiliary ledgers, corporate charters, by-laws and minute books.</booksRecordsDesc>
        </locationBooksRecord>
      </locationBooksRecords>
      <isRegistrantFirstFiling>Y</isRegistrantFirstFiling>
      <isRegistrantLastFiling>N</isRegistrantLastFiling>
      <registrantFamilyInvComp familyInvCompFullName="Protective Life Insurance Company" isRegistrantFamilyInvComp="Y"/>
      <registrantClassificationType>N-4</registrantClassificationType>
      <isSecuritiesActRegistration>Y</isSecuritiesActRegistration>
      <chiefComplianceOfficers>
        <chiefComplianceOfficer>
          <ccoName>Steve Callaway</ccoName>
          <crdNumber>002863190</crdNumber>
          <ccoStreet1>2801 Highway 280 South</ccoStreet1>
          <ccoCity>Birmingham</ccoCity>
          <ccoStateCountry ccoState="US-AL" ccoCountry="US"/>
          <ccoZipCode>35223-2488</ccoZipCode>
          <ccoPhone>XXXXXX</ccoPhone>
          <isCcoChangedSinceLastFiling>N</isCcoChangedSinceLastFiling>
          <ccoEmployers>
            <ccoEmployer ccoEmployerName="N/A" ccoEmployerId="N/A"/>
          </ccoEmployers>
        </chiefComplianceOfficer>
      </chiefComplianceOfficers>
      <isRegistrantSubmittedMatter>N</isRegistrantSubmittedMatter>
      <isPreviousLegalProceeding>N</isPreviousLegalProceeding>
      <isPreviousProceedingTerminated>N</isPreviousProceedingTerminated>
      <isFinancialSupportDuringPeriod>N</isFinancialSupportDuringPeriod>
      <isExemptionFromAct>N</isExemptionFromAct>
      <principalUnderwriters>
        <principalUnderwriter>
          <principalUnderwriterName>Investment Distributors, Inc.</principalUnderwriterName>
          <principalUnderwriterFileNumber>008-46802</principalUnderwriterFileNumber>
          <principalUnderwriterCrdNumber>000035490</principalUnderwriterCrdNumber>
          <principalUnderwriterLei>N/A</principalUnderwriterLei>
          <principalUnderWriterStateCountry principalUnderWriterState="US-TN" principalUnderWriterCountry="US"/>
          <isPrincipalUnderwriterAffiliatedWithRegistrant>Y</isPrincipalUnderwriterAffiliatedWithRegistrant>
        </principalUnderwriter>
      </principalUnderwriters>
      <isUnderwriterHiredOrTerminated>N</isUnderwriterHiredOrTerminated>
      <publicAccountants>
        <publicAccountant>
          <publicAccountantName>PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</publicAccountantName>
          <pcaobNumber>238</pcaobNumber>
          <publicAccountantLei>N/A</publicAccountantLei>
          <publicAccountantStateCountry publicAccountantState="US-AL" publicAccountantCountry="US"/>
        </publicAccountant>
      </publicAccountants>
      <isPublicAccountantChanged>N</isPublicAccountantChanged>
      <isOpinionOffered>N</isOpinionOffered>
      <isMaterialChange>N</isMaterialChange>
      <isAccountingPrincipleChange>N</isAccountingPrincipleChange>
    </registrantInfo>
    <unitInvestmentTrust>
      <depositors>
        <depositor>
          <depositorName>Protective Life Insurance Company</depositorName>
          <depositorCrdNo>N/A</depositorCrdNo>
          <depositorLei>41W01VBG8F2D0X56VL51</depositorLei>
          <depositorStateCountry depositorState="US-TN" depositorCountry="US"/>
          <depositorUltimateParentname>Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc.</depositorUltimateParentname>
        </depositor>
      </depositors>
      <isUitAdminHiredTerminated>N</isUitAdminHiredTerminated>
      <registrantSeparateInsuranceAccount isRegistrantSeparateInsuranceAccount="Y" separateAccountSeriesId="S000010928"/>
      <numOfContracts>336</numOfContracts>
      <contractSecurities>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Capital No Load VA" separateAccountContractId="C000030256" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="1" separateAccountTotalAsset="4833595.00" grossPremiumReceived="600.00" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="379422.13" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="71738.51"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Capital Five VA" separateAccountContractId="C000030257" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0" separateAccountTotalAsset="3654838.00" grossPremiumReceived="25780.00" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="531270.93" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Capital Six Load VA" separateAccountContractId="C000030258" numContractsSold="0" numContractsAffected="0" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="1" separateAccountTotalAsset="1965420.00" grossPremiumReceived="4639.92" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0" contractValueRedeemed="329889.35" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="81070.83"/>
      </contractSecurities>
      <isRule6C7Reliance>N</isRule6C7Reliance>
      <isRule11A2Reliance>N</isRule11A2Reliance>
    </unitInvestmentTrust>
    <attachmentsTab>
      <isLegalProceedings>false</isLegalProceedings>
      <isProvisionFinancialSupport>false</isProvisionFinancialSupport>
      <isIPAReportInternalControl>false</isIPAReportInternalControl>
      <isChangeAccPrinciples>false</isChangeAccPrinciples>
      <isInfoRequiredEO>false</isInfoRequiredEO>
      <isOtherInfoRequired>false</isOtherInfoRequired>
    </attachmentsTab>
    <signature registrantSignedName="FIRST VARIABLE ANNUITY FUND E" signature="Mark L. Drew" title="Executive Vice President and General Counsel " signedDate="2019-03-11"/>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
