Since the mid-90s, the number of residency applicants and residency positions offered via ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) has steadily increased. The transition to a single NRMP (National Residency Match Program) residency match for osteopathic and allopathic medical school graduates has also contributed to these increases. In 2019, there were 44,603 registrants and 38,376 active applicants (those who submitted rank lists) who competed for 35,185 positions. The number of PGY-1 (first year residency) positions was 32,194. Historically, the PGY-1 match rate for U.S. seniors has been excellent with between 92% and 95% matching. Osteopathic medical graduates saw the highest match rate in history in 2019 with 84.6% matching to a first year position. U.S. IMGs had a match rate of 59.0% and non-U.S citizen IMGs had a match rate of 58.6 percent, both the highest in history.

Residency Match Statistics

Residency Match Statistics: NRMP Match Data Rates By Residency Specialty

Listed below are the largest specialties in medicine, the total numbers of positions available in the match and the percent of US seniors that successfully matched in to that specialty. By reviewing this data, you can see that the most competitive specialties are: Dermatology, Neurological Surgery, Otolaryngology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Psychiatry.

Residency Match Statistics: Couples Match Rates

In the 2019 Match, 2,152 individuals participated in the match as couples, 178 fewer than 2018, and the first decrease in numbers of couples since 2005. U.S. seniors made up 69% of the couples in the match. Couples continued to have great success in the 2019 match with a PGY-1 match rate of 95.0 percent. Be sure to contact MedEdits for a residency couples match strategy.

Residency Match Statistics: Osteopathic vs. Allopathic Match Rates

Overall match rates are higher for U.S. allopathic medical school seniors and range from 92% to 95% every year. In 2019, 84.5% of osteopathic candidates matched and this was the highest match rate in history, As all AOA programs transition to a single accreditation system in 2020, we expect this match rate will continue to increase.

Residency Match Statistics: International Medical School Graduate (U.S. and non-U.S. Citizen) Match Rates

It is certainly more difficult to match as an international medical student or graduate. The data for this group of students is broken up in to U.S. and non-U.S. citizens. In 2019, 5,080 U.S. international medical students/graduates submitted rank order lists and 2,997 matched to PGY-1 positions for a match rate of 59.0 percent. Of the 6,869 non-U.S citizen international medical students/graduates who submitted rank order lists, 4,028 matched to PGY-1 positions for a match rate of 58.6 percent. This was the highest match rate for both groups since the early 1990’s.

Residency Match Statistics: Easiest Specialties For International Students

The following specialties are the most “friendly” for International Medical Students and Graduates because they match the lowest percentage of U.S. Allopathic Seniors.

Residency Match Statistics: Most Difficult Specialties For International Students

In contrast, the following specialities are the most difficult for International Medical Graduates because more than 90% of matches are U.S. Allopathic Seniors.

Residency Match Statistics: SOAP Statistics

In 2019, 12,472 applicants were eligible to participate in SOAP, 704 fewer than in 2018. In total, 1,652 of the 1,768 unfilled positions were offered during SOAP. The following numbers of applicant types were eligible for the SOAP and accepted positions through SOAP in 2019.

By reviewing the data, it becomes obvious that presenting your self in a competitive fashion to a residency program director and obtaining a position through SOAP is not likely. Only 35% of the most successful group, senior U.S. allopathic students, obtained a position through SOAP.