What FAA Data Shows About Student Pilots and a Younger Pilot Population

New 2025 figures show continued growth in the training pipeline and a milestone for women in aviation.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, April 10, 2026 at 12:27 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

Cessna aircraft [Credit: Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. student pilot population continued significant growth in 2025, reaching 370,286, and contributing to an overall rise in active pilots to 887,519.
The average age of active pilots decreased to 42.1 years, indicating a trend toward a younger pilot population, with the 25-29 age group now being the largest cohort.
The number of women pilots reached over 100,000 for the first time in 2025, continuing an upward trend in female representation in aviation.

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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.