The figures have been rounded.
* The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) changed the validity of student pilot certificates in 2010 through an amendment to 14 CFR 61.19(b)(1), resulting in the duration of validity for student pilot certificates for pilots under 40 years of age, increasing from 36 to 60 months. This created an increase in the active student pilot population to 119,119 active airmen at the end of 2010 compared to 72,280 the prior year.
Values are as of December 31 each year.
To retrieve the data click on 2020 Active Civil Airmen Statistics.
Citation formats
U.S. student certificated pilots - number 1990-2020
This statistic represents the number of student pilot certificates active in the United States from 1990 through 2020. In 2020, there were over ** active student pilots in the United States.
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Federal Aviation Administration. (May 18, 2021). Number of student pilot certificates active in the United States from 1990 to 2020 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 01, 2026, from /statistics/909999/number-of-student-pilots-in-the-united-states/
Federal Aviation Administration. "Number of student pilot certificates active in the United States from 1990 to 2020 (in 1,000s)." Chart. May 18, 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 01, 2026. /statistics/909999/number-of-student-pilots-in-the-united-states/
Federal Aviation Administration. (2021). Number of student pilot certificates active in the United States from 1990 to 2020 (in 1,000s). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 01, 2026. /statistics/909999/number-of-student-pilots-in-the-united-states/
Federal Aviation Administration. "Number of Student Pilot Certificates Active in The United States from 1990 to 2020 (in 1,000s)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 18 May 2021, /statistics/909999/number-of-student-pilots-in-the-united-states/
Federal Aviation Administration, Number of student pilot certificates active in the United States from 1990 to 2020 (in 1,000s) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/909999/number-of-student-pilots-in-the-united-states/ (last visited August 01, 2026)
Number of student pilot certificates active in the United States from 1990 to 2020 (in 1,000s) [Graph], Federal Aviation Administration, May 18, 2021. [Online]. Available: /statistics/909999/number-of-student-pilots-in-the-united-states/
