<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001013149 <NAME> ICT GROUP, INC <CURRENCY> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 1 <CASH> 17,711,028 18,298,031 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 17,684,071 13,539,085 <ALLOWANCES> 345,897 354,525 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 37,441,502 32,804,466 <PP&E> 32,802,737 21,269,690 <DEPRECIATION> 13,359,126 9,637,805 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 61,577,770 49,111,777 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 11,911,864 5,738,409 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 115,423 115,383 <OTHER-SE> 43,252,778 40,904,961 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 61,577,770 49,111,777 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 91,652,978 71,599,435 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 50,662,062 38,536,578 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 37,008,848 42,951,150 <LOSS-PROVISION> 315,539 446,289 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (397,942) 179,882 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,380,010 (10,514,464) <INCOME-TAX> 1,708,204 (2,997,748) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,671,806 (7,516,716) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,671,806 (7,516,716) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.23 (0.72) <EPS-DILUTED> 0.22 (0.72)