<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001013149 <NAME> ICT GROUP, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 JUN-30-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 1 <CASH> 16,611 20,070 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 16,359 13,716 <ALLOWANCES> 563 289 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 34,617 35,111 <PP&E> 26,703 17,432 <DEPRECIATION> 11,387 8,178 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 54,689 49,708 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 8,489 6,384 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 115 115 <OTHER-SE> 41,846 41,100 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 54,689 49,708 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 43,357 34,581 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 24,171 18,653 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 17,557 26,982 <LOSS-PROVISION> 139 133 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (267) 480 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,757 (11,667) <INCOME-TAX> 688 (4,215) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,069 (8,221) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,069 (8,221) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.09 (0.81) <EPS-DILUTED> 0.09 (0.81)