DataState of the U.S. pilot population, 2025
The FAA’s annual airmen census shows nine straight years of growth, a generational age shift, and the first time women pilots have topped 100,000. Click any chart element to drill down.
Total active pilots
887,519
+4.6% year over year
Women pilots
100,704
+9.8% year over year
Avg. pilot age
42.1 yrs
Down from 44.9 in 2016
Remote pilot certs
492,311
+15.1% year over year
Historical trend explorer← select categories
2016–2025 · Toggle certificate categories on and off to compare
Age distribution← click a bar for details
Click any age group to see certificate breakdown
Women in aviation
Women crossed 100,000 active pilot certificates for the first time
Women pilots% of total
Average age trends
The pilot population has dropped nearly 3 years in average age
ATPAllWomenStudents
Checkride pass rates← click a row
Calendar year 2025 · Examiner-administered practical tests
| Certificate | Tests | Pass rate | Distribution |
|---|
Pilots by state← click a state
U.S.-based pilots · Click any state for certificate breakdown
| State | Total pilots | Women | % women | Composition |
|---|
Categories in decline
Indexed to 2016 = 100%
Flt. engineerRotorcraftRecreationalFlt. navigator
The drone crossover
Remote pilots approaching parity with non-student traditional pilots
Remote pilotsNon-student pilots
Source: FAA 2025 U.S. Civil Airmen Statistics, Aeronautical Center, Oklahoma City, Okla. Remote pilot certificates are not included in FAA pilot totals. Student certificate counts are cumulative (certificates no longer expire as of April 2016). Checkride pass rates reflect examiner-administered original practical tests only.
