<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001013149 <NAME> ICT GROUP, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S.DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 SEP-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 1 <CASH> 14,199 16,787 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 25,083 15,557 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 42,251 34,580 <PP&E> 45,781 30,253 <DEPRECIATION> 17,298 12,440 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 75,751 57,042 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 16,529 8,461 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 116 115 <OTHER-SE> 44,772 42,476 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 75,751 57,042 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 85,582 65,072 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 50,004 35,861 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 32,954 26,682 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 204 (344) <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,420 2,873 <INCOME-TAX> 943 1,123 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,477 1,750 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,477 1,750 <EPS-PRIMARY> .13 .15 <EPS-DILUTED> .12 .15