Basic Match Statistics
A quick look at orthopaedic surgery match trends over time. Use this page to get a feel for overall competitiveness and how applicant outcomes have differed across degree types and applicant backgrounds.
At a Glance
Quick Takeaways
These cards give a fast snapshot before you dive into the full table.
Overall Match Rate
58.3%
In 2026, 963 of 1,652 total applicants matched.
MD vs DO Match Rate
MD
67.8%
DO
42.8%
The gap remains noticeable, with MD applicants matching at a higher rate than DO applicants in the most recent cycle.
Applicant Volume Trend
+460
Total applicants increased from 1,192 in 2020 to 1,652 in 2026.
Full Data
Orthopaedic Match Statistics by Year
Scroll horizontally on smaller screens. Percentages are rounded for readability.
| Year | Total Applicants | Total Matched | Match % Total | MD Applicants | MD Matched | Match % MD | DO Applicants | DO Matched | Match % DO | Matched MD Grad | Matched DO Grad | Matched US IMG | Matched Non-US IMG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,652 | 963 | 58.3% | 1,129 | 765 | 67.8% | 283 | 121 | 42.8% | 53 | 14 | 5 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1,590 | 929 | 58.4% | 1,045 | 724 | 69.3% | 295 | 131 | 44.4% | 43 | 9 | 8 | 14 |
| 2024 | 1,492 | 916 | 61.4% | 1,008 | 726 | 72.0% | 256 | 117 | 45.7% | 53 | 11 | 6 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1,425 | 899 | 63.1% | 947 | 690 | 72.9% | 237 | 119 | 50.2% | 69 | 7 | 8 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1,470 | 875 | 59.5% | 1,086 | 705 | 64.9% | 205 | 111 | 54.1% | 36 | 4 | 8 | 11 |
| 2021 | 1,289 | 868 | 67.3% | 934 | 699 | 74.8% | 172 | 107 | 62.2% | 40 | 12 | 5 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1,192 | 849 | 71.2% | 867 | 686 | 79.1% | 177 | 112 | 63.3% | 28 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
2026
Overall 58.3%
Total Applicants
1,652
Total Matched
963
MD Match Rate
67.8%
DO Match Rate
42.8%
MD applicants1,129
MD matched765
DO applicants283
DO matched121
Matched MD grad53
Matched DO grad14
Matched US IMG5
Matched Non-US IMG5
2025
Overall 58.4%
Total Applicants
1,590
Total Matched
929
MD Match Rate
69.3%
DO Match Rate
44.4%
MD applicants1,045
MD matched724
DO applicants295
DO matched131
Matched MD grad43
Matched DO grad9
Matched US IMG8
Matched Non-US IMG14
2024
Overall 61.4%
Total Applicants
1,492
Total Matched
916
MD Match Rate
72.0%
DO Match Rate
45.7%
MD applicants1,008
MD matched726
DO applicants256
DO matched117
Matched MD grad53
Matched DO grad11
Matched US IMG6
Matched Non-US IMG2
2023
Overall 63.1%
Total Applicants
1,425
Total Matched
899
MD Match Rate
72.9%
DO Match Rate
50.2%
MD applicants947
MD matched690
DO applicants237
DO matched119
Matched MD grad69
Matched DO grad7
Matched US IMG8
Matched Non-US IMG4
2022
Overall 59.5%
Total Applicants
1,470
Total Matched
875
MD Match Rate
64.9%
DO Match Rate
54.1%
MD applicants1,086
MD matched705
DO applicants205
DO matched111
Matched MD grad36
Matched DO grad4
Matched US IMG8
Matched Non-US IMG11
2021
Overall 67.3%
Total Applicants
1,289
Total Matched
868
MD Match Rate
74.8%
DO Match Rate
62.2%
MD applicants934
MD matched699
DO applicants172
DO matched107
Matched MD grad40
Matched DO grad12
Matched US IMG5
Matched Non-US IMG3
2020
Overall 71.2%
Total Applicants
1,192
Total Matched
849
MD Match Rate
79.1%
DO Match Rate
63.3%
MD applicants867
MD matched686
DO applicants177
DO matched112
Matched MD grad28
Matched DO grad6
Matched US IMG5
Matched Non-US IMG7
How to Use This
A few practical takeaways
Stats are helpful, but they work best when paired with a thoughtful application strategy.
Look at trends, not just one year
Single-cycle changes can be noisy. The bigger picture is that orthopaedics remains highly competitive over time.
Be realistic and intentional
Use these numbers to frame your application strategy, away rotations, program list, and backup planning early.
Context matters
Your mentors, letters, research, audition performance, and personal story still matter a lot beyond raw percentages.