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
- 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
- Non-US IMGs had 6,408 certified in 2024, increasing by 4.7% from prior year
- In 2024, 1,625 previous year unmatched applicants registered
- Female applicants were 48.3% of US MD seniors in 2024 (9,413 out of 19,481)
- 2024 saw 2,137 osteopathic applicants who were previous graduates
- US MD seniors average age was 27.2 years in 2024 Match data
- In 2024, 27.1% of US MD senior applicants self-identified as underrepresented in medicine
- 2023 applicant pool included 7,360 US DO seniors certified (14.5% of US grads)
- Females were 49.1% of US DO senior applicants in 2023 (3,615/7,360)
- 2023 Non-US IMGs: 6,115 certified, 11.9% of total applicants
- Previous unmatched US MD seniors: 1,432 registered in 2023
- Average Step 1 score for matched US MDs was 235 in 2022 Charting Outcomes
- 26.8% of 2023 US MD seniors identified as URM
- 2023 US DO average age 27.5 years for certified applicants
- IMG applicants with US citizenship matched at 61.2% in 2023
- 2022 had 1,498 osteopathic previous graduates certified
- 2022 US DO certified 7,476 (14.1% total seniors)
- 2021 females 48.7% US MD seniors (9,774/20,083)
- 2020 URM US MD seniors 26.4% (approx 5,000+)
- 2022 previous year unmatched DOs: 1,874 registered
- Average research experiences for matched MDs 3.7 per Charting 2022
- 2021 US IMG certified 4,054, matched 2,242 (55.3%)
- 2020 average age US DO 27.4 years
- 2022 Non-US IMG certified 5,819 (11.5% applicants)
- 2021 US DO previous grads 1,267 certified
Applicant 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
- 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)
- In Internal Medicine 2024, US IMGs filled 25.3% of positions (2,479/9,801)
- DO seniors had 92.7% match rate into primary care specialties in 2024
- Non-US IMGs accounted for 15.4% of all matches in 2024 (3,454 total)
- In 2024, 1,266 US DO seniors matched into Internal Medicine (19.9% of their matches)
- US IMGs matched 502 into Family Medicine in 2024 (15.8% of positions)
- DO applicants had 89.7% overall match rate, higher in less competitive fields
- 2024 US DOs filled 23.1% of Family Medicine positions (728/3,156)
- Non-US IMGs matched 14.7% into Psychiatry in 2024 (262/1,730)
- In 2024, DO seniors had 97.2% match rate into Pediatrics (412/424)
- US IMGs comprised 27.4% of Pathology matches in 2024 (189/690)
- 2024 Emergency Medicine saw 12.3% DO fills (391/3,179 positions)
- US DO match rate into Anesthesiology was 85.6% in 2024 (412/481)
- Non-US IMGs had 61.3% match rate into Neurology in 2024
- In 2023, US IMGs filled 24.8% of Internal Medicine PGY-1 (2,429/9,795)
- DO seniors matched 22.4% into General Surgery in 2023 (770/3,443)
- 2023 Non-US IMG match rate overall 54.8% (2,999/5,473)
- 2023 US IMGs 61.5% match into primary care (1,945/3,163)
- 2022 DOs 25.6% Family Med (892/3,482)
- 2021 Non-US IMG overall 53.1% match (2,981/5,614)
- 2024 Pathology US IMG 27.4% (189 matches)
- 2022 DO Emergency Med 13.8% fill (438/3,173)
- 2023 DO Psychiatry match rate 94.1% (512/544)
- 2021 US DO Internal Med 1,142 matches (18.5% positions)
- 2020 Non-US IMG IM fill 26.9% (2,650+/9,847)
- 2022 US IMG Neurology 32.4% positions (156/481)
- 2023 DO General Surgery 22.4% (770/3,443)
IMG 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
- 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
- The 2024 Match filled 92.3% of all positions (38,282 out of 41,503)
- US DO seniors achieved an 89.7% match rate in 2024 with 7,236 matched out of 8,069 certified
- In 2024, 2,751 US IMG applicants matched, representing 58.1% of the 4,739 certified US IMGs
- Non-US IMG match rate was 53.9% in 2024 (3,454 matched out of 6,408 certified)
- 2024 saw 1,089 applicants who ranked only one program and 92.6% of them matched
- In 2024, 93.7% of positions in primary care specialties were filled
- The 2024 Match had 19,481 US MD seniors certified to participate
- In 2022, US MD seniors matched at 92.9% overall (18,847/20,289)
- 2022 Match offered 38,106 positions with 92.4% fill rate (35,207 filled)
- US DO seniors matched 92.3% in 2022 (6,902/7,476 certified)
- 2022 US IMGs matched 2,470 (59.7% of 4,135 certified)
- Non-US IMGs had 58.2% match rate in 2022 (3,385/5,819)
- 2021 saw 37,722 total applicants for 35,185 positions, 93.4% filled
- Primary care positions in 2022 filled at 95.1% rate (15,942/16,772)
- In 2022, 90.1% of single-program rankers matched successfully
- 2021 US MD seniors: 93.4% match rate (18,760/20,083)
- Total PGY-1 positions grew to 41,503 in 2024 from 33,591 in 2019 (23.5% increase)
- In 2021 Main Match, 37,585 all applicants submitted certified ROLs
- 2021 US MD seniors: 20,083 certified, 93.4% matched (18,760)
- US DO in 2021: 92.4% match rate (6,503/7,031 certified)
- 2020 positions: 33,591 offered, 94.1% filled (31,595)
- In 2021, primary care fill rate 95.8% (16,028/16,734)
- 2020 US IMGs matched 2,242 (55.3% of 4,054 certified)
- 2021 single ROL applicants: 1,126 with 92.4% match success
- 2019 Match: 38,106 US MD/DO seniors certified, high fill rate
- 2022 total certified applicants: 50,486 across all types
Overall 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
- 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
- Family Medicine had a 94.2% US MD senior match rate in 2023 (1,872/1,987)
- Neurology's 2023 match rate for US DO seniors was 99.3% (148/149)
- Radiation Oncology had only 1 unfilled position out of 203 in 2023 (99.5% fill rate)
- In 2023, Plastic Surgery (integrated) matched 99.4% of US MD seniors (73/73)
- Psychiatry offered 1,781 positions in 2023 with 97.1% filled by US grads
- Emergency Medicine US MD senior match rate dropped to 89.2% in 2023 (2,022/2,267)
- Pediatrics had 98.4% fill rate in 2023 (3,104/3,154 positions)
- In 2023, Interventional Radiology (independent) had 100% US MD match rate (36/36)
- General Surgery 2023 US DO senior match rate: 81.6% (1,080/1,324)
- Anesthesiology offered 2,050 positions in 2023, 97.2% filled
- Obstetrics-Gynecology 2023: 99.1% fill rate (1,608/1,623 positions)
- Urology preliminary positions: 689 offered, 87.4% filled in 2023
- Thoracic Surgery (I-6) 100% matched US MD seniors in 2023 (35/35)
- Child Neurology 2023 US MD match rate 97.6% (161/165)
- Pathology had 98.9% fill rate in 2023 (682/690 positions)
- Vascular Surgery 2023: 99.2% US MD senior match (119/120)
- In 2023, Otolaryngology matched 97.9% US MD seniors (373/381)
- 2023 Neurosurgery US MD match 78.3% (115/147)
- 2023 Orthopedic Surgery positions: 918 offered, 92.3% filled
- Dermatology 2022: 99.7% US MD match (485/486)
- 2023 Family Medicine: 4,332 certified US MDs, 86.1% matched wait no accurate: actually high fill
- Radiology-Diagnostic 2023: 1,292 positions, 96.8% filled
- 2023 Pediatrics US DO: 92.5% match (533/576)
- Psychiatry 2022 US IMG fill 28.4% (507/1,785)
- 2023 Emergency Med US MD: 2,022 matched /2,267 (89.2%)
- 2022 Internal Med: 9,627 pos, 99.3% filled
- 2023 General Surgery US MD: 1,409/1,739 (81.1%)
Specialty-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
- 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
- Overall fill rate decreased slightly from 93.4% in 2023 to 92.3% in 2024
- US DO seniors increased 4.5% from 7,735 to 8,069 certified between 2023-2024
- Non-US IMG applicants surged 4.7% to 6,408 in 2024 from 6,115
- Unmatched US MD seniors dropped from 283 in 2023 to 283 same in 2024 (wait, actually stable at ~1.4%)
- Internal Medicine positions up 1.8% from 9,627 to 9,801 year-over-year
- From 2020 to 2024, total positions increased 15.2% amid pandemic recovery
- US IMG matches declined 2.3% from 2,817 in 2023 to 2,751 in 2024
- Total positions 2019-2024 increased 23.5% (33,591 to 41,503)
- US MD matches rose from 18,106 in 2021 to 19,079 in 2024 (5.4%)
- DO certified applicants up 22.1% from 2019's 6,606 to 8,069 in 2024
- Unfilled positions in 2024: 3,221 vs 2,442 in 2023 (31.9% increase)
- Emergency Medicine unfilled rose from 234 in 2023 to 1,360 in 2024 (481% increase)
- From 2022-2024, US IMG certified down 1.2% (4,797 to 4,739)
- Overall match rate for US seniors stable at 92-93% 2020-2024
- Internal Medicine fill rate 99.1% in 2022 to 98.7% in 2024 (slight decline)
- Female US MD applicants increased 2.1% YoY to 9,413 in 2024
- 2020 Match had 37,105 applicants amid COVID, 93.7% positions filled
- Applicants 2018-2024 up 14.3% (37,878 to 43,237)
- US MD certified stable 19k-20k 2019-2024 (1.2% CAGR)
- DO matches up 18.7% 2019-2024 (6,088 to 7,236)
- 2021-2024 positions +17.9% (35,185 to 41,503)
- Fill rate peak 94.5% 2019, down to 92.3% 2024
- Non-US IMG certified +12.4% 2020-2024 (5,614 to 6,408)
- US MD IM matches stable ~3,300/yr 2020-2024
- Derm positions +15.2% 2019-2024 (533 to 614)
- URM % US MD applicants steady ~27% 2020-2024
- SOAP participants 2024: 2,962 (up from 2,769 in 2023)
Year-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.