On the FAA data base there are US summaries for each year, by catagory of certificate. The numbers are eye-watering.
Here:
http://www.faa.gov/data_statistics/a...atistics/2005/
2005 data:
Pilot--Total 609,737 Student 87,213 Recreational 278 Sport 134
Airplane: Private 228,619 Commercial 120,614 Airline Transport 141,992
Rotorcraft (only) 9,518 Glider (only ) 21,369 Lighter-than-air 5
Flight Instructor Certificates 90,555
Instrument Ratings 311,828