Just some rough stats to ponder today ...
250 million peope populate the U.S.
There are 600,000 "active" pilot certificates (including student certificates).
There are 300,000 "active" pilots who hold an Instrument Rating.
There are 130,000 "active" pilots who hold commercial certificates.
There are about 110-120,000 "active" ATP certificate holders.
"Active" only means the pilot holds a current medical.
So ... that equals, roughly, less than 1/4th of one-percent of the U.S. population holds any kind of FAA pilot certificate (student to ATP). Of that 1/4 of one-percent less than 1/4th hold a commercial certificate or higher!
In other words the city of Mesa - part of the PHX metro area - has more people (300,000) by almost twice than all the commercial pilots in the U.S. put together! And in comparison there are only roughly 650,000 doctors in the U.S. so even they outnumber commercial pilots but almost four times!
Holding anykind of pilot certificate is a big acomplishment!
Just think about those numbers for a bit. It's staggering sometimes.