As many IMGs may know, geographical location is an important factor that International Medical Graduates (IMGs) seeking US residency must consider. Primarily, IMG residency applicants need to research individual programs, but they also need to be aware of state limitations and the overall IMG friendliness of whole states. Learning more about IMG Friendly states from the 2023 Match can help IMGs better focus their research and resources.
Based on the 2023 NRMP Main Residency Match®: Match Rates by Specialty and State study, the Top 12 Most IMG Friendly States from Match 2023 are:
- New York (1557)
- Florida (717)
- Pennsylvania (600)
- Michigan (561)
- New Jersey (511)
- Texas (490)
- California (473)
- Illinois (366)
- Ohio (349)
- Massachusetts (258)
- Connecticut (247)
- Georgia (243)
IMG Match 2023 Statistics by State
| State | US-IMG | Non-US IMG | Total |
| Alabama | 37 | 96 | 133 |
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona | 40 | 50 | 90 |
| Arkansas | 63 | 52 | 115 |
| California | 321 | 152 | 473 |
| Colorado | 6 | 9 | 15 |
| Connecticut | 53 | 194 | 247 |
| Delaware | 14 | 7 | 21 |
| D.C. | 25 | 79 | 104 |
| Florida | 424 | 293 | 717 |
| Georgia | 102 | 141 | 243 |
| Hawaii | 7 | 16 | 23 |
| Idaho | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Illinois | 135 | 231 | 366 |
| Indiana | 30 | 56 | 86 |
| Iowa | 15 | 24 | 39 |
| Kansas | 9 | 23 | 32 |
| Kentucky | 20 | 20 | 40 |
| Louisiana | 70 | 100 | 170 |
| Maine | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Maryland | 47 | 161 | 208 |
| Massachusetts | 46 | 212 | 258 |
| Michigan | 181 | 380 | 561 |
| Minnesota | 26 | 58 | 84 |
| Mississippi | 34 | 40 | 74 |
| Missouri | 45 | 90 | 135 |
| Montana | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Nebraska | 10 | 27 | 37 |
| Nevada | 32 | 15 | 47 |
| New Hampshire | 7 | 24 | 31 |
| New Jersey | 243 | 268 | 511 |
| New Mexico | 13 | 27 | 40 |
| New York | 537 | 1020 | 1557 |
| North Carolina | 38 | 50 | 88 |
| North Dakota | 6 | 22 | 28 |
| Ohio | 108 | 241 | 349 |
| Oklahoma | 15 | 31 | 46 |
| Oregon | 10 | 9 | 19 |
| Pennsylvania | 161 | 439 | 600 |
| Puerto Rico | 65 | 2 | 67 |
| Rhode Island | 9 | 23 | 32 |
| South Carolina | 30 | 15 | 45 |
| South Dakota | 2 | 12 | 14 |
| Tennessee | 31 | 36 | 67 |
| Texas | 202 | 288 | 490 |
| Utah | 3 | 10 | 13 |
| Vermont | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Virginia | 61 | 39 | 100 |
| Washington | 24 | 21 | 45 |
| West Virginia | 21 | 51 | 72 |
| Wisconsin | 37 | 43 | 80 |
| Wyoming | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Comparison of % Change Since 2022
As you’ll see, while many states didn’t see drastic changes in the number of IMGs, some gained or lost a large portion of their IMGs. Surprisingly, New Hampshire tops the chart with a 158% gain. In contrast, Vermont lost 80% of their IMGs. The top 12 IMG friendly states have remained mostly consistent since 2022. However, this year Georgia entered the list at 12th most IMGs, and Maryland was eliminated.
| State | US-IMG | Non-US IMG | total change from 2022 to 2023 |
| Alabama | -5.1% | 41.2% | 24.3% |
| Alaska | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Arizona | 0.0% | 22.0% | 11.1% |
| Arkansas | 3.3% | 4.0% | 3.6% |
| California | 10.7% | 28.8% | 15.9% |
| Colorado | 0.0% | -30.8% | -21.1% |
| Connecticut | 10.4% | 23.6% | 20.5% |
| Delaware | 133.3% | -22.2% | 40.0% |
| D.C. | 38.9% | 5.3% | 11.8% |
| Florida | 45.7% | 2.1% | 24.0% |
| Georgia | -12.8% | 605.0% | 77.4% |
| Hawaii | -36.4% | 33.3% | 0.0% |
| Idaho | -20.0% | -50.0% | -28.6% |
| Illinois | 33.7% | -2.5% | 8.3% |
| Indiana | -16.7% | 86.7% | 30.3% |
| Iowa | 7.1% | 14.3% | 11.4% |
| Kansas | 28.6% | 15.0% | 18.5% |
| Kentucky | 0.0% | -37.5% | -23.1% |
| Louisiana | 4.5% | 37.0% | 21.4% |
| Maine | -42.9% | -66.7% | -59.1% |
| Maryland | 17.5% | 3.2% | 6.1% |
| Massachusetts | -4.2% | 11.6% | 8.4% |
| Michigan | -15.4% | 18.0% | 4.7% |
| Minnesota | 13.0% | -14.7% | -7.7% |
| Mississippi | -22.7% | 29.0% | -1.3% |
| Missouri | 55.2% | -6.3% | 8.0% |
| Montana | 200.0% | -66.7% | 0.0% |
| Nebraska | 66.7% | 12.5% | 23.3% |
| Nevada | 28.0% | 66.7% | 38.2% |
| New Hampshire | 75.0% | 200.0% | 158.3% |
| New Jersey | -2.8% | 12.1% | 4.5% |
| New Mexico | -13.3% | 68.8% | 29.0% |
| New York | -0.9% | 9.0% | 5.3% |
| North Carolina | -7.3% | 2.0% | -2.2% |
| North Dakota | 50.0% | -8.3% | 0.0% |
| Ohio | -7.7% | 4.3% | 0.3% |
| Oklahoma | 15.4% | 29.2% | 24.3% |
| Oregon | -23.1% | 0.0% | -13.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 8.8% | 12.6% | 11.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 12.1% | 0.0% | 11.7% |
| Rhode Island | -10.0% | 21.1% | 10.3% |
| South Carolina | 0.0% | -16.7% | -6.3% |
| South Dakota | -33.3% | 9.1% | 0.0% |
| Tennessee | -3.1% | -2.7% | -2.9% |
| Texas | 15.4% | 1.4% | 6.8% |
| Utah | 300.0% | -33.3% | -13.3% |
| Vermont | -50.0% | -100.0% | -80.0% |
| Virginia | 5.2% | 11.4% | 7.5% |
| Washington | 20.0% | 23.5% | 21.6% |
| West Virginia | 31.3% | 8.5% | 14.3% |
| Wisconsin | 2.8% | 0.0% | 1.3% |
| Wyoming | 50.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Did you know?
Match A Resident makes filtering by state incredibly easy. You can click “State” at the top of your Customized Residency List to group programs by state. Surprised by any of this data? Let us know in the comments below!
