FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Peace Corps Announces Top Volunteer-Producing States and Metropolitan Areas for 2013

Vermont reclaims top spot among states with the most volunteers per capita, also ranks among top metro areas per capita

WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 11, 2013 – The Peace Corps today released the 2013 rankings of the top volunteer-producing states and metropolitan areas across the country. Vermont reclaimed the No. 1 spot among states with the most Peace Corps volunteers per capita with 7.8 volunteers for every 100,000 residents, a position it last held in 2010. Vermont also ranked among the top metro areas per capita. The Burlington-South Burlington metro area ranked second behind Ithaca, N.Y., where volunteers accounted for 11.7 of every 100,000 residents.

California, New York and Texas continue to be the Peace Corps’ top states, and New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana held their positions as Peace Corps’ top metro areas.

“Americans from all across our great country and all walks of life are drawn to the Peace Corps by a spirit of service and a passion for helping others,” Peace Corps Acting Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “No matter where they start their journey, through their experience Peace Corps volunteers show the world the compassion, tolerance and dedication to service that has always characterized the American people.”

Since the Peace Corps was established in 1961, more than 215,000 Americans representing all 50 states have served in 139 countries worldwide. Service in the Peace Corps is a life-defining, hands-on leadership experience that offers volunteers the opportunity to travel to the farthest corners of the world and make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Volunteers live and work at the community level to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world and promote a better understanding between Americans and the people they serve. When they return home, volunteers bring their knowledge and experiences – and a global outlook – that enrich the lives of those around them and give them a competitive edge for job opportunities in today’s global economy.

The Peace Corps has eight regional recruitment offices across the United States that work closely with prospective Peace Corps volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to ensure that all Americans who want to serve have the opportunity to do so. Below find the top ten volunteer-producing states and metropolitan areas across the United States:

2013 Top States – Total Volunteers: 1. California 973 2. New York 420 3. Texas 342 4. Washington 328 5. Florida 309 6. Illinois 300 7. Ohio 290 8. Pennsylvania 284 9. Michigan 271 10. Virginia 267

Top States Infographic (PDF) Top States Infographic (JPG)

2013 Top States – Per Capita (# of volunteers per 100,000 residents): 1. Vermont 7.8 2. District of Columbia 7.6 3. New Hampshire 5.5 4. Oregon 5.2 5. Colorado 4.8 5. Washington 4.8 7. Idaho 4.4 8. Minnesota 3.8 9. Wisconsin 3.7 10. Montana 3.6 2013 Top Metropolitan Areas – Total Volunteers: 1. New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA 330 2. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 304 3. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA 296 4. Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI 239 5. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 180 6. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 173 7. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH 170 8. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 160 9. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 150 10. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 142 2013 Top Metropolitan Areas – Per Capita (# of volunteers per 100,000 residents): 1. Ithaca, NY 11.7 2. Burlington-South Burlington, VT 10.8 3. Holland-Grand Haven, MI 9.8 4. Fort Collins-Loveland, CO 9.3 4. Olympia, WA 9.3 6. Missoula, MT 9.0 7. Ann Arbor, MI 8.3 8. Boulder, CO 8.2 9. Lawrence, KS 8.0 10. Whitewater, WI 7.8

Top States Per Capita Infographic (PDF) Top States Per Capita Infographic (JPG) Top Metro Areas Infographic (PDF) Top Metro Areas Infographic (JPG) Top Metro Areas Per Capita Infographic (PDF) Top Metro Areas Per Capita Infographic (JPG)

To view a list of volunteer numbers from all 50 states, click here.

A list of the 2012 Top States and Metropolitan Areas can be found here.

About the Peace Corps: As the preeminent international service organization of the United States, the Peace Corps sends Americans abroad to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. Peace Corps volunteers work at the grassroots level with local governments, schools, communities, small businesses and entrepreneurs to develop sustainable solutions that address challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. When they return home, volunteers bring their knowledge and experiences – and a global outlook – back to the United States that enriches the lives of those around them. President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961 to foster a better understanding among Americans and people of other countries. Since then, more than 215,000 Americans of all ages have served in 139 countries worldwide. Visit www.peacecorps.gov to learn more.

*Peace Corps data current as of September 30, 2013. The metropolitan area data used to determine Peace Corps’ rankings are derived from the most current U.S. Census Bureau “Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area” data. Volunteers self-report their home city and state on their Peace Corps application.

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