The 2026 Match set records across the board. 44,344 positions offered, 41,482 filled, the largest Match in history. But those numbers don't tell you much on their own. What matters is what happened inside each specialty.
We went through the NRMP Advance Data Tables and pulled the data for every major specialty. Below is the full breakdown: how many spots were offered, how many filled, and who got them.
How to Read These Tables
Every table breaks down matched applicants by four groups:
- MD — US allopathic graduates
- DO — US osteopathic graduates
- US IMG — US citizens who attended medical school outside the US
- Non-US IMG — Non-US citizens who attended medical school outside the US
"Unfilled" means the position went through the Match without being filled. Most unfilled spots enter SOAP (Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program) afterward.
Some specialties (Dermatology, Radiology, IR, Radiation Oncology) are PGY-2 entry, meaning applicants match into a preliminary year first. Those are noted.
Primary Care
Primary care had over 20,000 positions in 2026. These specialties depend heavily on IMGs — without them, the math doesn't work.
Internal Medicine (Categorical)
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
11,194 |
10,657 |
537 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
4,176 |
39% |
| DO |
1,973 |
19% |
| US IMG |
1,060 |
10% |
| Non-US IMG |
3,448 |
32% |
Internal medicine is the largest specialty in the Match by a wide margin. 42% of positions went to IMGs. Non-US IMGs alone filled nearly a third of all IM residency spots. No other major specialty comes close to that level of international representation.
Family Medicine
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
5,491 |
4,592 |
899 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
1,588 |
35% |
| DO |
1,457 |
32% |
| US IMG |
585 |
13% |
| Non-US IMG |
962 |
21% |
Family medicine left 899 seats unfilled, more than any other specialty in the entire Match. DOs make up nearly a third of FM residents. This is one of the most evenly distributed specialties across all four applicant groups.
Pediatrics (Categorical)
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
3,126 |
2,951 |
175 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
1,430 |
48% |
| DO |
623 |
21% |
| US IMG |
213 |
7% |
| Non-US IMG |
684 |
23% |
30% of pediatrics residents are IMGs. Non-US IMGs fill nearly a quarter of spots, making pediatrics one of the more accessible primary care paths for international graduates.
Med-Peds
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
404 |
404 |
0 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
327 |
81% |
| DO |
55 |
14% |
| US IMG |
8 |
2% |
| Non-US IMG |
14 |
3% |
100% fill rate. Med-Peds is the most competitive primary care track and by far the most MD-dominated. Only 22 IMGs matched across the entire country.
Medicine-Primary
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
438 |
421 |
17 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
249 |
59% |
| DO |
36 |
9% |
| US IMG |
31 |
7% |
| Non-US IMG |
105 |
25% |
Medicine-Primary is designed to train internists who stay in outpatient general medicine. A quarter of positions went to Non-US IMGs.
Primary Care: The Big Picture
Combined, primary care offered 20,653 positions in 2026. IMGs filled 7,089 of them, about 34%. Without international medical graduates, the US primary care pipeline would have a gap of over 7,000 doctors in a single year.
Family medicine's 899 unfilled seats are the starkest sign that the pipeline isn't keeping up with demand, even with IMG participation.
Surgical Specialties
Surgery is the opposite end of the spectrum. These are overwhelmingly MD-dominated, with IMG access in the single digits for most specialties.
General Surgery (Categorical)
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
1,807 |
1,804 |
3 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
1,247 |
69% |
| DO |
344 |
19% |
| US IMG |
85 |
5% |
| Non-US IMG |
128 |
7% |
General surgery is the most accessible surgical specialty for IMGs, but even here, only 12% of positions went to international graduates. 69% MD.
Orthopedic Surgery
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
963 |
963 |
0 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
818 |
85% |
| DO |
135 |
14% |
| US IMG |
5 |
0.5% |
| Non-US IMG |
5 |
0.5% |
963 positions. 10 IMGs. That's 1% combined. Ortho is one of the most difficult specialties to enter as an international graduate.
Neurosurgery
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
280 |
280 |
0 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
254 |
91% |
| DO |
9 |
3% |
| US IMG |
2 |
0.7% |
| Non-US IMG |
15 |
5% |
91% MD. Two US IMGs matched in the entire country. Neurosurgery is the most MD-concentrated specialty in the Match.
Plastic Surgery
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
230 |
228 |
2 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
218 |
96% |
| DO |
4 |
2% |
| US IMG |
1 |
0.4% |
| Non-US IMG |
5 |
2% |
One US IMG matched into plastics this year. 96% MD.
Otolaryngology (ENT)
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
403 |
402 |
1 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
364 |
91% |
| DO |
25 |
6% |
| US IMG |
5 |
1% |
| Non-US IMG |
8 |
2% |
91% MD. 13 IMGs in total.
Vascular Surgery
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
110 |
110 |
0 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
95 |
86% |
| DO |
8 |
7% |
| US IMG |
3 |
3% |
| Non-US IMG |
4 |
4% |
100% fill rate. Small specialty, very competitive.
Thoracic Surgery
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
56 |
56 |
0 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
52 |
93% |
| DO |
1 |
2% |
| US IMG |
1 |
2% |
| Non-US IMG |
2 |
4% |
The smallest surgical specialty. 56 spots, zero unfilled, 93% MD.
Surgical Specialties: The Big Picture
Combined, surgical specialties offered 3,849 positions in 2026. MDs filled 3,048 of them (79%). All IMGs combined got 275 spots (7%). Ortho, neurosurgery, vascular, and thoracic all had zero unfilled seats. Every spot was fought for.
Emergency Medicine, OB/GYN, Psychiatry, Anesthesiology & Dermatology
Five specialties that don't fall neatly into "primary care" or "surgical." Each one tells a different story.
Emergency Medicine
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
3,198 |
3,058 |
140 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
1,486 |
49% |
| DO |
1,160 |
38% |
| US IMG |
319 |
10% |
| Non-US IMG |
93 |
3% |
140 unfilled seats makes EM one of the specialties with the most leftover positions outside of primary care. EM is also the most DO-friendly major specialty at 38% of all positions. The shift from a decade ago, when EM was fully filled and highly competitive, has been significant.
Obstetrics & Gynecology
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
1,638 |
1,636 |
2 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
1,181 |
72% |
| DO |
359 |
22% |
| US IMG |
51 |
3% |
| Non-US IMG |
45 |
3% |
Two unfilled seats in the entire country. OB/GYN has a 99.9% fill rate, making it one of the tightest matches in medicine. IMG access is limited at 6% combined.
Psychiatry
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
2,516 |
2,451 |
65 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
1,464 |
60% |
| DO |
587 |
24% |
| US IMG |
177 |
7% |
| Non-US IMG |
222 |
9% |
Psychiatry added 128 new positions since 2025, the fastest growth of any major specialty. 16% IMG, making it one of the more accessible non-primary-care options for international graduates. The growth reflects increasing demand for mental health providers.
Anesthesiology
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
1,865 |
1,865 |
0 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
1,374 |
74% |
| DO |
352 |
19% |
| US IMG |
56 |
3% |
| Non-US IMG |
82 |
4% |
Zero unfilled. All 1,865 positions taken. Anesthesiology is large, competitive, and leaves no room for error. 74% MD, with IMG access at 7% combined.
Dermatology (PGY-2 Entry)
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
546 |
545 |
1 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
492 |
90% |
| DO |
40 |
7% |
| US IMG |
9 |
2% |
| Non-US IMG |
4 |
0.7% |
546 spots. 13 IMGs. Dermatology remains one of the least accessible specialties for international graduates. 90% of positions went to MDs.
Diagnostic & Niche Specialties
These specialties get less attention in Match conversations, but they represent thousands of positions and some of the most interesting access patterns for DOs and IMGs.
Neurology
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
1,003 |
999 |
4 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
587 |
59% |
| DO |
188 |
19% |
| US IMG |
49 |
5% |
| Non-US IMG |
175 |
17% |
17% Non-US IMG makes neurology one of the more IMG-accessible specialties outside primary care. Over 1,000 positions and nearly a full fill rate.
Pathology
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
636 |
634 |
2 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
290 |
46% |
| DO |
124 |
20% |
| US IMG |
50 |
8% |
| Non-US IMG |
170 |
27% |
27% Non-US IMG. Pathology is the most IMG-accessible non-primary-care specialty in the Match. It's also one of the few specialties where MDs are under 50% of the total.
Radiology-Diagnostic (PGY-2 Entry)
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
1,083 |
1,066 |
17 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
785 |
74% |
| DO |
160 |
15% |
| US IMG |
30 |
3% |
| Non-US IMG |
91 |
9% |
Radiology is 74% MD. Competitive, but not as locked down as surgical specialties or derm. 17 unfilled positions.
Interventional Radiology (PGY-2 Entry)
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
64 |
64 |
0 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
55 |
86% |
| DO |
5 |
8% |
| US IMG |
2 |
3% |
| Non-US IMG |
2 |
3% |
One of the smallest specialties in the entire Match. 64 positions, zero unfilled.
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R)
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
253 |
253 |
0 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
138 |
55% |
| DO |
107 |
42% |
| US IMG |
3 |
1% |
| Non-US IMG |
5 |
2% |
42% DO. PM&R is one of the most DO-friendly specialties in the Match. IMG access is very limited at 3% combined, but this is a strong path for osteopathic graduates.
Radiation Oncology (PGY-2 Entry)
|
Positions |
Filled |
Unfilled |
| Total |
171 |
167 |
4 |
| Group |
Matched |
% of Filled |
| MD |
131 |
78% |
| DO |
18 |
11% |
| US IMG |
2 |
1% |
| Non-US IMG |
16 |
10% |
Small field with an interesting IMG pattern. 10% Non-US IMG despite the specialty's size, higher than many larger specialties.
What Stands Out
A few patterns cut across all 22 specialties:
IMG access varies wildly. Internal medicine is 42% IMG. Orthopedic surgery is 1%. If you're an international graduate, the specialty you choose changes everything about your odds.
DOs are gaining ground. Emergency medicine (38%), PM&R (42%), and family medicine (32%) all have strong DO representation. The merger of the MD and DO match systems continues to expand opportunities, especially in primary care and procedural specialties.
Unfilled seats are concentrated. Family medicine (899), internal medicine (537), pediatrics (175), and EM (140) account for the vast majority of unfilled positions. Surgical specialties left almost nothing on the table.
Psychiatry is growing faster than anything. 128 new positions in one year. The specialty is expanding to meet mental health demand, and it's one of the few growing fields that remains reasonably accessible to both DOs and IMGs.
The "nobody talks about" specialties are worth talking about. Pathology (27% Non-US IMG), neurology (17% Non-US IMG), and PM&R (42% DO) offer real career paths that get overlooked in Match conversations dominated by surgery and primary care.
All data from the NRMP 2026 Main Residency Match Advance Data Tables. AspireMed compiled and analyzed the specialty-level breakdowns. For overall Match statistics, see our 2026 Match Results overview.
