Foreign Medical Graduates in the USA

FMGs make up 23% of the US physician workforce, and 24% of residents. The heaviest concentrations of FMGs are in New Jersey (40.3% of the workforce), New York (4.0.28%), Illinois (33.7%) and Florida (33.1%). Almost half of all FMGs (48%) train in primary care specialties vs. 33% of U.S. graduates. The largest national groups are from India 20%. Of the 154.576 total FMG population, 85% are involved in patient care, 5% are in medical teaching, administration or research, and the remainder are not classified, are inactive. totla physician opulatioin increased by 104.9% from 1970 and 1994 while IMGs accounted for 27.8%. In this 24-year period,

2003 Match statistics for FMGs

Some 8,763 FMGs applied to the NRMP in 2002-3. Of these 1,713 were excluded as they had not completed ECFMG certification by match day. Of the 5,029 FMGs who had certification and submitted a rank order list, 2,799 (56%) were successful in matching. US citizens who completed their medical education abroad had a very similar matching result to FMGs. By comparison, 93% of graduates of US medical schools successfully matched. Nearly half (47%) of all FMGs matched into categorical internal medicine residencies. Family practice took 15% of the FMG applicants, pediatrics took 9%, psychiatry 5% and preliminary surgery 5%.

Source: AMA Membership Department
As of December 31, 2003

Facts about IMG in US

IMGs By Country

IMGs by State

IMGs by Specialty

Residency Applicant Statistic