Facts and Figures

See how we've grown.

Recruiting a diverse group of Volunteers is a high priority for the Peace Corps. Since its establishment in 1961, people of color have played a central role in building the agency's great legacy of service.

The information below shows the increase in diversity of the Volunteers corps during the past several years. The numbers show how many diverse Volunteers joined each year.

2008	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	215	3%	18%
Asian Americans	380	5%	32%
Hispanic/Latinos	373	5%	31%
American Indians	20	<1%	2%
Mixed ethnicity	212	3%	18%
All People of Color	1,200	15%	100%

2007	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	239	3%	19%
Asian Americans	391	5%	32%
Hispanic/Latinos	326	4%	26%
American Indians	27	<1%	2%
Mixed ethnicity	251	3%	20%
All People of Color	1,234	17%	100%

2006	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	238	3%	19%
Asian Americans	382	5%	31%
Hispanic/Latinos	275	4%	22%
American Indians	29	*	2%
Mixed ethnicity	307	4%	25%
All People of Color	1,231	16%	100%

2005	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	231	3%	19%
Asian Americans	380	5%	31%
Hispanic/Latinos	223	3%	18%
American Indians	27	*	2%
Mixed ethnicity	374	5%	30%
All People of Color	1,235	15.8%	100%

2004	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	234	3%	20%
Asian Americans	333	4%	29%
Hispanic/Latinos	224	3%	19%
American Indians	19	*	2%
Mixed ethnicity	356	5%	30%
All People of Color	1,166	15.1%	100%

2003	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	218	3%	20%
Asian Americans	295	4%	26%
Hispanic/Latinos	240	3%	21%
American Indians	18	*	2%
Mixed ethnicity	346	5%	31%
All People of Color	1,117	14.8%	100%

2002	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	197	3%	20%
Asian Americans	264	4%	26%
Hispanic/Latinos	221	3%	22%
American Indians	17	*	2%
Mixed ethnicity	298	4%	30%
All People of Color	997	14.9%	100%

2001	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	195	3%	20%
Asian Americans	265	4%	27%
Hispanic/Latinos	214	3%	22%
American Indians	21	*	2%
Mixed ethnicity	286	4%	29%
All People of Color	981	14.8%	100%

2000	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	194	3%	18%
Asian Americans	298	4%	28%
Hispanic/Latinos	245	3%	23%
American Indians	19	*	2%
Mixed ethnicity	296	4%	28%
All People of Color	1052	14.4%	100%

1999	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	206	3%	20%
Asian Americans	321	5%	31%
Hispanic/Latinos	211	3%	21%
American Indians	15	*	2%
Mixed ethnicity	269	4%	26%
All People of Color	1022	14.6%	100%

1998	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	192	3%	20%
Asian Americans	300	4%	32%
Hispanic/Latinos	185	3%	20%
American Indians	17	*	2%
Mixed ethnicity	250	4%	26%
All People of Color	944	14.7%	100%

1997	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	189	3%	21%
Asian Americans	283	4%	31%
Hispanic/Latinos	186	3	21%
American Indians	15	*	2%
Mixed ethnicity	229	3%	25%
All People of Color	902	13.6%	100%

1996	Volunteers	% of All Volunteers	% of Ethnically Diverse Volunteers
African Americans	178	3%	20%
Asian Americans	285	4%	32%
Hispanic/Latinos	211	3%	23%
American Indians	13	*	1%
Mixed ethnicity	216	3%	24%
All People of Color	903	13.1%	100%

* Starting for FY 2007, the data excludes non-responses in the calculations

Last updated Aug 28 2008