Currently, involvement in the Peace Corps is approximately 6,500. Leach noted the importance of the contributions made by Peace Corps volunteers, both to the countries in which they served and to the United States. As an institution, the Peace Corps is in constant transition.
Volunteers serve for two year terms, staff for a maximum of five.
Since the Peace Corps was established in 1961, some 151,000 people have served their country in 132 countries. According to Congressional Research Service, there were some 6,612 Peace Corps volunteers in 87 countries as of September 1997.