Most people I know drive cars with manual transmission. Almost everyone I know passed their test in one - I can think of only one friend who took his test in an automatic. His mum also drives an automatic, but I don't know if she's driven a manual in the past or not.

Over there, is your choice restricted by what you use for the test?
Here (in the UK), if you take your test in a manual, you're allowed to drive both. If you take your test in an automatic, you're not allowed to drive a manual.