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The U.S. student pilot population continued to grow in 2025, according to newly released FAA airmen data, while the overall pilot population trended younger and the number of women pilots continued to increase.
The FAA counted 370,286 active student pilots at the end of 2025, up from 345,495 in 2024 and 222,629 in 2020. Total active pilots also rose to 887,519, compared with 848,770 a year earlier.
At the same time, the average age of active pilots fell to 42.1 in 2025 from 42.5 in 2024 and 43.9 in 2020. The average age of student pilots, however, edged up to 35.8, indicating growth in the training pipeline is coming from both younger entrants and older newcomers.
Women Pilot Growth Reaches Six Figures
Women also made up a larger share of the pilot population. The FAA reported 100,704 active women pilots in 2025, up from 91,694 in 2024 and 58,541 in 2020. Among student pilots, women totaled 60,764, or 16.4 percent of the category.
Elsewhere, the FAA reported 118,314 active commercial pilots in 2025, up from 109,727 a year earlier, while the number of instrument-rated pilots increased to 355,473 from 342,400.
Certificate issuance data showed a mixed picture. Original private and commercial certificates both increased in 2025, but student pilot certificates issued declined to 58,761 from 61,353, even as the active student pilot population continued to expand.
Explore FLYING’s interactive dashboard below for a closer look at the FAA’s 2025 airmen data.
DataState of the U.S. pilot population, 2025
Key findings from the FAA’s annual airmen census
