<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001013149 <NAME> ICT GROUP, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 MAR-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 1 <CASH> 16,651 18,298 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 15,404 13,539 <ALLOWANCES> 262 212 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 33,423 32,805 <PP&E> 24,325 21,270 <DEPRECIATION> 10,446 9,638 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 51,980 49,112 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 7,643 5,739 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 116 115 <OTHER-SE> 41,362 40,905 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 51,980 49,112 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 20,492 16,220 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 11,415 8,767 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 8,381 6,754 <LOSS-PROVISION> 59 42 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (138) 233 <INCOME-PRETAX> 775 424 <INCOME-TAX> 302 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 473 424 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 473 424 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.04 0.03 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.04 0.03