Direct answer: The total number of air traffic controllers varies by country and over time, but the U.S. FAA reported roughly 14,000+ certified air traffic controllers as of recent years, with ongoing hiring plans to reach higher totals in coming years. Global totals are not centralized in a single public figure, and estimates depend on how “controller” is defined (certified, in training, or active on the job) and which countries are included. For up-to- date, country-specific counts and global totals, refer to official aviation authorities (e.g., FAA for the United States) and aviation industry analyses. If you’d like, I can gather the latest country-by-country figures and provide a concise comparison.