4 points
In the US, you do not have to pass separate tests. As long as you show you can drive whichever car you take the test in, you’ll get a license.
People just find automatics easier and prefer to drive those here, I guess
2 points
It’s certainly a lot harder to drive a manual if you’ve never had a teacher next to you.
2 points
Oh 100%, usually self-taught manual drivers end up needing to replace clutches pretty soon, stalling out the engine, and just shifting rough for the first little while. Having someone there to teach you goes a long way, especially when you’re a teenager or young adult with your first car or something.