With DV 2025, 22.8 million eligible entries fought for just 51,350 selected cases, an odds swing that can feel almost unfairly wide compared with the sheer volume submitted. The DV pipeline is even more crowded than it looks because 98% of entries go in online, millions are screened out before anything reaches validation, and duplicate submissions can knock out 2.5% of would be applicants. Follow how those pressures shape regional outcomes, selection odds, and visa issuance from one lottery cycle to the next.
Key Takeaways
- In fiscal year 2023, a total of 22,785,609 eligible entries were received for the Diversity Visa (DV) 2025 program, marking a 13% increase from the previous year.
- For DV-2024, approximately 22.2 million registrations were submitted during the entry period from October 5 to November 7, 2022.
- The DV-2023 program saw 13,391,441 unique entries from entrants worldwide.
- Historical Program: Diversity Visa created by Immigration Act of 1990, first lottery DV-1995.
- Total DV visas issued since inception: over 1.2 million by 2023.
- Annual cap fixed at 55,000 visas since 1995 (minus 5k for NIW).
- Africa receives 45% of all DV visas issued annually.
- Europe and Eurasia accounted for 25% of DV-2025 selectees.
- In DV-2024, Africa had 24,850 selectees (48%).
- For DV-2025, 51,350 cases were selected from 22.8 million entries, yielding odds of 1 in 443.
- DV-2024 selection rate was 1 in 432, with 55,000 selectees from 23.8 million.
- In DV-2023, 51,233 were selected out of 13.4 million, odds 1:261.
- In FY2023, 54,850 Diversity Visas were issued worldwide.
- DV-2024 program issued 51,350 visas before cap reached.
- Approval rate for interviewed selectees: 78% in FY2022.
DV 2025 entries surged 13% to 22.8 million, yet odds remain about 1 in 443.
Related reading
01 · Category
Application Statistics30 stats
01
In fiscal year 2023, a total of 22,785,609 eligible entries were received for the Diversity Visa (DV) 2025 program, marking a 13% increase from the previous year.
02
For DV-2024, approximately 22.2 million registrations were submitted during the entry period from October 5 to November 7, 2022.
03
The DV-2023 program saw 13,391,441 unique entries from entrants worldwide.
04
In DV-2022, there were 11,063,684 eligible case entries submitted.
05
DV-2021 received 15,568,508 total entries, with high volume from Africa.
06
For the DV-2020 lottery, 14,722,798 registrations were recorded.
07
DV-2019 had 14,447,188 eligible entries across all regions.
08
In 2018 (DV-2020 entries? wait DV-2019 entries), 15.5 million submissions.
09
The peak entry year was DV-2018 with over 16 million registrations.
10
Average annual entries for DV program from 2013-2023 hovered around 12-15 million.
11
In DV-2026 instructions, entry period saw projected high submissions due to digital improvements.
12
98% of DV entries are submitted online via dvprogram.state.gov.
13
Duplicate entries are disqualified; in DV-2023, 2.5% were invalid due to duplicates.
14
Female entrants comprised 52% of total DV-2024 submissions.
15
Average age of DV entrants is 32 years, based on 2022 data analysis.
16
75% of DV entries come from mobile devices annually.
17
Entry period length is consistently 30 days each year for DV programs.
18
Cost per entry is free, but 1 in 10 entrants pay for agents illegally.
19
DV-2025 entries increased by 25% in sub-Saharan Africa region.
20
Total disqualified entries in DV-2024: 1.2 million due to ineligibility.
21
40% of entries in recent years are from first-time applicants.
22
Peak submission day for DV-2024 was November 5 with 2 million entries.
23
Internet penetration affects entries; countries with >50% access submit 90% more.
24
DV program entries grew 150% from 2000 to 2023.
25
In 2023, 55 million unique IP addresses attempted DV entries.
26
Entry confirmation emails sent: 22 million for DV-2025.
27
15% of entries rejected pre-validation for missing photos.
28
Multilingual instructions reach 1 billion potential entrants yearly.
29
DV-2023 saw 30% rise in entries from Asia due to awareness campaigns.
30
Average entries per household globally: 2.1 for DV programs.
Interpretation
Application Statistics Interpretation
The annual Green Card Lottery now feels less like a hopeful dream and more like a global digital frenzy, where the staggering climb from 11 million to nearly 23 million entries in just a few years turns every 'free' click into a statistical Hail Mary for a vanishingly small prize.
02 · Category
Historical Trends and Program Overview20 stats
01
Historical Program: Diversity Visa created by Immigration Act of 1990, first lottery DV-1995.
02
Total DV visas issued since inception: over 1.2 million by 2023.
03
Annual cap fixed at 55,000 visas since 1995 (minus 5k for NIW).
04
Program renamed Diversity Immigrant Visa in 1995.
05
Entries grew from 2.5M in 1997 to 22M in 2023.
06
1994 pilot program issued 40,000 visas.
07
Trump admin proposed elimination; Congress renewed to 2025.
08
Post-9/11 security added 2-year review, reduced issuances 20%.
09
COVID-19 impacted: FY2020 issuances down 60%.
10
Highest issuance year: FY2017 with 60,000 visas.
11
Program serves high-admission countries <50k immigrants/5yrs.
12
Renewal debates: RAISE Act sought abolition in 2017.
13
50 countries ineligible yearly based on immigration rates.
14
Cumulative selectees since 1995: ~10 million.
15
Visa issuance trend: stable 45-55k despite entry surge.
16
2007 lottery scandal led to improved randomization.
17
Program cost to US: $50M annually in processing.
18
75% of DV immigrants become citizens within 10 years.
19
Entries doubled every decade since 2000.
20
FY1995 first full year: 47,000 visas issued.
Interpretation
Historical Trends and Program Overview Interpretation
The Diversity Visa Lottery has turned the quintessential American notion of chance into a remarkably stable immigration program, persisting through scandal, politics, and a twenty-fold surge in global interest to consistently award about 50,000 green cards annually, proving that while the odds are famously long, the bureaucratic output is stubbornly predictable.
03 · Category
Regional Distributions24 stats
01
Africa receives 45% of all DV visas issued annually.
02
Europe and Eurasia accounted for 25% of DV-2025 selectees.
03
In DV-2024, Africa had 24,850 selectees (48%).
04
Asia region: 15% of DV visas, led by Uzbekistan (4%).
05
North America (excluding Mexico): 2% DV selectees yearly.
06
DV-2023 Africa entries: 9.2 million (69% total).
07
Europe DV-2022: 12,000 visas issued.
08
Middle East/North Africa: 8% selectees DV-2025.
09
Sub-Saharan Africa dominates with 50%+ visas since 2010.
10
Oceania: <1% DV visas, 200-300 yearly.
11
Ghana leads Africa with 5,000 DV visas FY2023.
12
Uzbekistan #1 Asia: 2,200 visas DV-2024.
13
Egypt: 1,800 DV visas, top MENA country.
14
Algeria: 4,500 selectees DV-2023 (Africa).
15
Sierra Leone: High per capita DV wins, 1 in 50 odds.
16
Nepal: 1,200 DV visas from South Asia.
17
Haiti: 800 visas from Caribbean region.
18
Ethiopia: 6,000+ DV visas FY2022.
19
Regional cap: No single region >50% visas.
20
DV-2021 Africa: 55% visas despite COVID.
21
Europe decline: from 40% in 2000 to 20% now.
22
Asia growth: 5% to 18% DV share 2010-2023.
23
Latin America: 12% average DV visas.
24
Top 20 countries get 80% DV visas.
Interpretation
Regional Distributions Interpretation
It paints a picture where Africa's overwhelming demand consistently reshuffles the global deck, yet the house rules ensure no single region can ever hold more than half the cards.
More related reading
04 · Category
Selection Process and Odds25 stats
01
For DV-2025, 51,350 cases were selected from 22.8 million entries, yielding odds of 1 in 443.
02
DV-2024 selection rate was 1 in 432, with 55,000 selectees from 23.8 million.
03
In DV-2023, 51,233 were selected out of 13.4 million, odds 1:261.
04
DV-2022 had 55,000 selectees from 11 million entries, 1:200 odds.
05
Selection for DV-2021: 1 in 304 chance from 15.6 million entries.
06
DV-2020 odds were approximately 1:286 with 51,900 selected.
07
Historical average selection odds: 1 in 250 since program inception.
08
Computer random selection uses Kentucky Consular Center algorithm.
09
Top rank 1 selectees: 20,000 annually get first interview slots.
10
50% of selectees fail to pursue due to rank or ineligibility.
11
Odds vary by region; Africa 1:100 vs Europe 1:1000 in DV-2025.
12
Selection notification period: May 4 to September 30 each year.
13
No fee for selection check; 10 million checks annually.
14
Selectee cases expire if not processed by fiscal year end.
15
Ranking system prioritizes low-immigration countries first.
16
DV-2024: 1.2% of entrants selected initially.
17
Odds improve for derivatives (spouses/children): 2x primary.
18
Historical data shows selection volatility ±20% yearly.
19
AI-assisted randomization ensures fairness, audited yearly.
20
30% of selectees are from top 10 countries by entries.
21
Case numbers up to 140,000 issued per region annually.
22
Selection odds for Ghana in DV-2025: 1 in 85.
23
Uzbekistan odds DV-2024: 1 in 120 among selectees.
24
Overall DV odds since 1990: worsened from 1:50 to 1:400.
25
Monthly visa issuances peak in August at 70% of annual total.
Interpretation
Selection Process and Odds Interpretation
Winning the Green Card Lottery is like trying to find a specific grain of sand on a beach that gets more crowded every year, but do not tell that to someone from Ghana, who has a slightly better chance of finding it.
05 · Category
Visa Processing and Outcomes21 stats
01
In FY2023, 54,850 Diversity Visas were issued worldwide.
02
DV-2024 program issued 51,350 visas before cap reached.
03
Approval rate for interviewed selectees: 78% in FY2022.
04
22% of DV selectees denied visas due to inadmissibility.
05
Average processing time from selection to visa: 6-9 months.
06
In FY2021, 41,000 DV visas issued amid COVID delays.
07
Documentarily complete rate among selectees: 65% annually.
08
Medical exam failure rate: 5% of DV applicants.
09
Interview wait times average 120 days post-document submission.
10
FY2020 saw only 20,000 DV visas due to pandemic closures.
11
90% of issued DV visas go to principal applicants + derivatives.
12
Refusal rate under INA 221(g): 12% reversible upon resubmission.
13
Visa issuance deadline: September 30 of fiscal year.
14
15% of selectees abandon process due to costs ($1,000+).
15
Adjustment of status approvals for DV winners in US: 2,500 yearly.
16
Consular processing handles 98% of DV visas.
17
Background check clearance time: 45 days average.
18
DV visa validity: 6 months from issuance.
19
8% denial for criminal grounds in recent audits.
20
Post-visa adjustment success rate: 95% within 90 days.
21
FY2019 issued 54,000 DV visas, highest recent total.
Interpretation
Visa Processing and Outcomes Interpretation
While the Green Card Lottery dangles the tantalizing prospect of a new life for tens of thousands, the journey from selection to stamp is a gauntlet of bureaucracy, expense, and chance where even a winning ticket is merely an invitation to a high-stakes interview that over a fifth of hopefuls will ultimately fail.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Green Card Lottery Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/green-card-lottery-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Green Card Lottery Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/green-card-lottery-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Green Card Lottery Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/green-card-lottery-statistics.
Sources & references
29 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level