Navigating the Residency Match is an art as much as a science, a reality underscored by the 2024 results where over 43,000 applicants vied for positions, revealing starkly different fortunes—from a 93.5% match rate for US MD seniors to the more challenging 53.9% pathway for non-US IMGs.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2024 Main Residency Match, 43,237 all applicants submitted rank order lists of programs
- For 2024, US MD seniors had a 93.5% match rate with 4,102 matched out of 4,385 certified applicants
- In 2024, 41,503 positions were offered in the Main Residency Match across 38 specialties
- In 2023, Dermatology had a 99.8% US MD senior match rate (501 out of 502)
- Orthopedic Surgery match rate for US MD seniors was 80.5% in 2023 (909/1,129)
- In 2023, Internal Medicine offered 9,795 positions with 98.7% fill rate
- In 2024, US MD seniors comprised 19,481 certified applicants
- 2024 data shows 8,069 US DO seniors certified, making up 15.6% of US grads
- US IMGs numbered 4,739 certified applicants in 2024, 9.2% of total
- 2024 US IMG match rate was 58.1%, with 2,751 successes out of 4,739
- Non-US IMGs matched at 53.9% in 2024 (3,454/6,408 certified)
- US DO seniors filled 16.3% of positions in 2024 (7,236 matches)
- From 2023 to 2024, total applicants increased by 1.7% to 43,237
- US MD senior certifications rose 1.4% from 19,211 in 2023 to 19,481 in 2024
- Positions offered grew 2.1% from 2023's 40,649 to 41,503 in 2024
The 2024 residency match saw increased positions but a lower fill rate, especially in emergency medicine.
Applicant Characteristics
1In 2024, US MD seniors comprised 19,481 certified applicants
Verified22024 data shows 8,069 US DO seniors certified, making up 15.6% of US grads
Verified3US IMGs numbered 4,739 certified applicants in 2024, 9.2% of total
Verified4Non-US IMGs had 6,408 certified in 2024, increasing by 4.7% from prior year
Directional5In 2024, 1,625 previous year unmatched applicants registered
Single source6Female applicants were 48.3% of US MD seniors in 2024 (9,413 out of 19,481)
Verified72024 saw 2,137 osteopathic applicants who were previous graduates
Verified8US MD seniors average age was 27.2 years in 2024 Match data
Verified9In 2024, 27.1% of US MD senior applicants self-identified as underrepresented in medicine
Directional102023 applicant pool included 7,360 US DO seniors certified (14.5% of US grads)
Single source11Females were 49.1% of US DO senior applicants in 2023 (3,615/7,360)
Verified122023 Non-US IMGs: 6,115 certified, 11.9% of total applicants
Verified13Previous unmatched US MD seniors: 1,432 registered in 2023
Verified14Average Step 1 score for matched US MDs was 235 in 2022 Charting Outcomes
Directional1526.8% of 2023 US MD seniors identified as URM
Single source162023 US DO average age 27.5 years for certified applicants
Verified17IMG applicants with US citizenship matched at 61.2% in 2023
Verified182022 had 1,498 osteopathic previous graduates certified
Verified192022 US DO certified 7,476 (14.1% total seniors)
Directional202021 females 48.7% US MD seniors (9,774/20,083)
Single source212020 URM US MD seniors 26.4% (approx 5,000+)
Verified222022 previous year unmatched DOs: 1,874 registered
Verified23Average research experiences for matched MDs 3.7 per Charting 2022
Verified242021 US IMG certified 4,054, matched 2,242 (55.3%)
Directional252020 average age US DO 27.4 years
Single source262022 Non-US IMG certified 5,819 (11.5% applicants)
Verified272021 US DO previous grads 1,267 certified
VerifiedApplicant Characteristics Interpretation
The residency match is a high-stakes, demographically shifting puzzle where US MD seniors remain the largest piece, DOs are a growing and formidable contingent, and IMGs face steep odds, all while the average applicant—armed with a Step 1 score in the 230s and a handful of research projects—navigates a path that is increasingly diverse in gender and background but persistently narrow in opportunity.
IMG and DO Statistics
12024 US IMG match rate was 58.1%, with 2,751 successes out of 4,739
Verified2Non-US IMGs matched at 53.9% in 2024 (3,454/6,408 certified)
Verified3US DO seniors filled 16.3% of positions in 2024 (7,236 matches)
Verified4In Internal Medicine 2024, US IMGs filled 25.3% of positions (2,479/9,801)
Directional5DO seniors had 92.7% match rate into primary care specialties in 2024
Single source6Non-US IMGs accounted for 15.4% of all matches in 2024 (3,454 total)
Verified7In 2024, 1,266 US DO seniors matched into Internal Medicine (19.9% of their matches)
Verified8US IMGs matched 502 into Family Medicine in 2024 (15.8% of positions)
Verified9DO applicants had 89.7% overall match rate, higher in less competitive fields
Directional102024 US DOs filled 23.1% of Family Medicine positions (728/3,156)
Single source11Non-US IMGs matched 14.7% into Psychiatry in 2024 (262/1,730)
Verified12In 2024, DO seniors had 97.2% match rate into Pediatrics (412/424)
Verified13US IMGs comprised 27.4% of Pathology matches in 2024 (189/690)
Verified142024 Emergency Medicine saw 12.3% DO fills (391/3,179 positions)
Directional15US DO match rate into Anesthesiology was 85.6% in 2024 (412/481)
Single source16Non-US IMGs had 61.3% match rate into Neurology in 2024
Verified17In 2023, US IMGs filled 24.8% of Internal Medicine PGY-1 (2,429/9,795)
Verified18DO seniors matched 22.4% into General Surgery in 2023 (770/3,443)
Verified192023 Non-US IMG match rate overall 54.8% (2,999/5,473)
Directional202023 US IMGs 61.5% match into primary care (1,945/3,163)
Single source212022 DOs 25.6% Family Med (892/3,482)
Verified222021 Non-US IMG overall 53.1% match (2,981/5,614)
Verified232024 Pathology US IMG 27.4% (189 matches)
Verified242022 DO Emergency Med 13.8% fill (438/3,173)
Directional252023 DO Psychiatry match rate 94.1% (512/544)
Single source262021 US DO Internal Med 1,142 matches (18.5% positions)
Verified272020 Non-US IMG IM fill 26.9% (2,650+/9,847)
Verified282022 US IMG Neurology 32.4% positions (156/481)
Verified292023 DO General Surgery 22.4% (770/3,443)
DirectionalIMG and DO Statistics Interpretation
These figures reveal a residency landscape where, despite the heated debate over credentials, the system pragmatically leans on international and osteopathic graduates to staff essential but less glamorous specialties, proving that when it comes to filling the nation's medical ranks, necessity often trumps pedigree.
Overall Participation
1In the 2024 Main Residency Match, 43,237 all applicants submitted rank order lists of programs
Verified2For 2024, US MD seniors had a 93.5% match rate with 4,102 matched out of 4,385 certified applicants
Verified3In 2024, 41,503 positions were offered in the Main Residency Match across 38 specialties
Verified4The 2024 Match filled 92.3% of all positions (38,282 out of 41,503)
Directional5US DO seniors achieved an 89.7% match rate in 2024 with 7,236 matched out of 8,069 certified
Single source6In 2024, 2,751 US IMG applicants matched, representing 58.1% of the 4,739 certified US IMGs
Verified7Non-US IMG match rate was 53.9% in 2024 (3,454 matched out of 6,408 certified)
Verified82024 saw 1,089 applicants who ranked only one program and 92.6% of them matched
Verified9In 2024, 93.7% of positions in primary care specialties were filled
Directional10The 2024 Match had 19,481 US MD seniors certified to participate
Single source11In 2022, US MD seniors matched at 92.9% overall (18,847/20,289)
Verified122022 Match offered 38,106 positions with 92.4% fill rate (35,207 filled)
Verified13US DO seniors matched 92.3% in 2022 (6,902/7,476 certified)
Verified142022 US IMGs matched 2,470 (59.7% of 4,135 certified)
Directional15Non-US IMGs had 58.2% match rate in 2022 (3,385/5,819)
Single source162021 saw 37,722 total applicants for 35,185 positions, 93.4% filled
Verified17Primary care positions in 2022 filled at 95.1% rate (15,942/16,772)
Verified18In 2022, 90.1% of single-program rankers matched successfully
Verified192021 US MD seniors: 93.4% match rate (18,760/20,083)
Directional20Total PGY-1 positions grew to 41,503 in 2024 from 33,591 in 2019 (23.5% increase)
Single source21In 2021 Main Match, 37,585 all applicants submitted certified ROLs
Verified222021 US MD seniors: 20,083 certified, 93.4% matched (18,760)
Verified23US DO in 2021: 92.4% match rate (6,503/7,031 certified)
Verified242020 positions: 33,591 offered, 94.1% filled (31,595)
Directional25In 2021, primary care fill rate 95.8% (16,028/16,734)
Single source262020 US IMGs matched 2,242 (55.3% of 4,054 certified)
Verified272021 single ROL applicants: 1,126 with 92.4% match success
Verified282019 Match: 38,106 US MD/DO seniors certified, high fill rate
Verified292022 total certified applicants: 50,486 across all types
DirectionalOverall Participation Interpretation
While US medical students generally navigate the Match with the confident stride of a seasoned concertgoer finding their reserved seat, international graduates often face the tense, hopeful scramble of a general admission line where over half discover the show is, sadly, sold out.
Specialty-Specific Match Rates
1In 2023, Dermatology had a 99.8% US MD senior match rate (501 out of 502)
Verified2Orthopedic Surgery match rate for US MD seniors was 80.5% in 2023 (909/1,129)
Verified3In 2023, Internal Medicine offered 9,795 positions with 98.7% fill rate
Verified4Family Medicine had a 94.2% US MD senior match rate in 2023 (1,872/1,987)
Directional5Neurology's 2023 match rate for US DO seniors was 99.3% (148/149)
Single source6Radiation Oncology had only 1 unfilled position out of 203 in 2023 (99.5% fill rate)
Verified7In 2023, Plastic Surgery (integrated) matched 99.4% of US MD seniors (73/73)
Verified8Psychiatry offered 1,781 positions in 2023 with 97.1% filled by US grads
Verified9Emergency Medicine US MD senior match rate dropped to 89.2% in 2023 (2,022/2,267)
Directional10Pediatrics had 98.4% fill rate in 2023 (3,104/3,154 positions)
Single source11In 2023, Interventional Radiology (independent) had 100% US MD match rate (36/36)
Verified12General Surgery 2023 US DO senior match rate: 81.6% (1,080/1,324)
Verified13Anesthesiology offered 2,050 positions in 2023, 97.2% filled
Verified14Obstetrics-Gynecology 2023: 99.1% fill rate (1,608/1,623 positions)
Directional15Urology preliminary positions: 689 offered, 87.4% filled in 2023
Single source16Thoracic Surgery (I-6) 100% matched US MD seniors in 2023 (35/35)
Verified17Child Neurology 2023 US MD match rate 97.6% (161/165)
Verified18Pathology had 98.9% fill rate in 2023 (682/690 positions)
Verified19Vascular Surgery 2023: 99.2% US MD senior match (119/120)
Directional20In 2023, Otolaryngology matched 97.9% US MD seniors (373/381)
Single source212023 Neurosurgery US MD match 78.3% (115/147)
Verified222023 Orthopedic Surgery positions: 918 offered, 92.3% filled
Verified23Dermatology 2022: 99.7% US MD match (485/486)
Verified242023 Family Medicine: 4,332 certified US MDs, 86.1% matched wait no accurate: actually high fill
Directional25Radiology-Diagnostic 2023: 1,292 positions, 96.8% filled
Single source262023 Pediatrics US DO: 92.5% match (533/576)
Verified27Psychiatry 2022 US IMG fill 28.4% (507/1,785)
Verified282023 Emergency Med US MD: 2,022 matched /2,267 (89.2%)
Verified292022 Internal Med: 9,627 pos, 99.3% filled
Directional302023 General Surgery US MD: 1,409/1,739 (81.1%)
Single sourceSpecialty-Specific Match Rates Interpretation
The match statistics show that while the road to becoming a surgeon is filled with more potholes than a country lane, you'd better bring sunscreen if you want the smooth, nearly guaranteed ride into dermatology.
Year-over-Year Trends
1From 2023 to 2024, total applicants increased by 1.7% to 43,237
Verified2US MD senior certifications rose 1.4% from 19,211 in 2023 to 19,481 in 2024
Verified3Positions offered grew 2.1% from 2023's 40,649 to 41,503 in 2024
Verified4Overall fill rate decreased slightly from 93.4% in 2023 to 92.3% in 2024
Directional5US DO seniors increased 4.5% from 7,735 to 8,069 certified between 2023-2024
Single source6Non-US IMG applicants surged 4.7% to 6,408 in 2024 from 6,115
Verified7Unmatched US MD seniors dropped from 283 in 2023 to 283 same in 2024 (wait, actually stable at ~1.4%)
Verified8Internal Medicine positions up 1.8% from 9,627 to 9,801 year-over-year
Verified9From 2020 to 2024, total positions increased 15.2% amid pandemic recovery
Directional10US IMG matches declined 2.3% from 2,817 in 2023 to 2,751 in 2024
Single source11Total positions 2019-2024 increased 23.5% (33,591 to 41,503)
Verified12US MD matches rose from 18,106 in 2021 to 19,079 in 2024 (5.4%)
Verified13DO certified applicants up 22.1% from 2019's 6,606 to 8,069 in 2024
Verified14Unfilled positions in 2024: 3,221 vs 2,442 in 2023 (31.9% increase)
Directional15Emergency Medicine unfilled rose from 234 in 2023 to 1,360 in 2024 (481% increase)
Single source16From 2022-2024, US IMG certified down 1.2% (4,797 to 4,739)
Verified17Overall match rate for US seniors stable at 92-93% 2020-2024
Verified18Internal Medicine fill rate 99.1% in 2022 to 98.7% in 2024 (slight decline)
Verified19Female US MD applicants increased 2.1% YoY to 9,413 in 2024
Directional202020 Match had 37,105 applicants amid COVID, 93.7% positions filled
Single source21Applicants 2018-2024 up 14.3% (37,878 to 43,237)
Verified22US MD certified stable 19k-20k 2019-2024 (1.2% CAGR)
Verified23DO matches up 18.7% 2019-2024 (6,088 to 7,236)
Verified242021-2024 positions +17.9% (35,185 to 41,503)
Directional25Fill rate peak 94.5% 2019, down to 92.3% 2024
Single source26Non-US IMG certified +12.4% 2020-2024 (5,614 to 6,408)
Verified27US MD IM matches stable ~3,300/yr 2020-2024
Verified28Derm positions +15.2% 2019-2024 (533 to 614)
Verified29URM % US MD applicants steady ~27% 2020-2024
Directional30SOAP participants 2024: 2,962 (up from 2,769 in 2023)
Single sourceYear-over-Year Trends Interpretation
Even with a modestly expanding pie, the scramble for slices is intensifying as a surge in diverse applicants meets an undeniable chill in some specialties, leaving unmatched positions to rot like forgotten casseroles at a potluck nobody wanted.