How many countries are left-hand drive?

About 140 sovereign countries—roughly 165 jurisdictions in total—are left-hand-drive (they drive on the right-hand side of the road). By contrast, about 54 sovereign countries—around 76 jurisdictions when territories and special regions are included—drive on the left and therefore predominantly use right-hand-drive vehicles. This distinction matters because “left-hand drive” can refer either to the side of the steering wheel (LHD) or the side of the road (right-hand traffic, RHT); here’s how to interpret and count them accurately as of 2025.

What “left-hand drive” actually means

In automotive terms, “left-hand drive” (LHD) describes vehicles with the steering wheel on the left, which are used in places where traffic keeps to the right (right-hand traffic, RHT). Conversely, “right-hand drive” (RHD) cars are used where traffic keeps to the left (left-hand traffic, LHT). Many casual references to “left-hand-drive countries” really mean “countries that drive on the right.”

The counts at a glance

Using widely cited international tallies and transport authority data:

• Left-hand drive (LHD) countries/jurisdictions (drive on the right): about 165 worldwide; approximately 140 if you count only sovereign states.
• Right-hand drive (RHD) countries/jurisdictions (drive on the left): about 76 worldwide; approximately 54 if you count only sovereign states.

These figures vary slightly by source because some counts include or exclude overseas territories, dependencies, and special administrative regions.

Where people drive on the left (use right-hand-drive vehicles)

The following examples highlight major regions and countries that keep left on the road (LHT), and therefore predominantly use right-hand-drive vehicles.

• Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta.
• Asia: Japan; South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives); Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Timor-Leste); special regions Hong Kong and Macau.
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu.
• Africa: Southern and East Africa including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda; island states Mauritius and Seychelles.
• Americas and Caribbean: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada; mainland South America’s Guyana and Suriname. Some territories such as the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands also drive on the left.

Taken together, these account for roughly a quarter of the world by population and road length, with historical ties (notably to the UK and Japan) explaining much of the geographic pattern.

Where people drive on the right (use left-hand-drive vehicles)

Most of the world keeps right on the road (RHT) and uses left-hand-drive vehicles.

• Europe: All of continental Europe (e.g., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden) drives on the right.
• Americas: The United States, Canada, Mexico, and virtually all of Central and South America (except Guyana and Suriname) drive on the right.
• Africa: Most of West, Central, and North Africa are right-hand traffic (e.g., Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt).
• Asia: Mainland China, both Koreas, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and most of the Middle East (e.g., Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Jordan, Iran) drive on the right.
• Oceania and Pacific: Many U.S.-associated and French territories (e.g., Guam, French Polynesia), plus countries like Vanuatu, drive on the right.

In total, right-hand traffic jurisdictions comprise the clear global majority, which is why left-hand-drive vehicles are the most common worldwide.

Why the numbers vary by source

Counts differ slightly because some lists include overseas territories, dependencies, special administrative regions, and small islands, while others count only UN-recognized sovereign states. A few jurisdictions are notable exceptions (e.g., U.S. Virgin Islands drive on the left despite U.S. association). Also, “left-hand drive” can be misread as “drives on the left,” so precise definitions are key.

Recent changes and outlook

Shifts are rare. The last widely noted change was Samoa’s 2009 switch from right-hand to left-hand traffic to align with nearby suppliers of right-hand-drive vehicles. As of 2025, no major national switches are underway, though policy discussions occasionally surface in regions seeking cross-border harmonization.

Methodology and data notes

Figures here synthesize international transport references and widely cited compilations as of 2025. Totals are approximate because of how different sources treat territories and special jurisdictions, but the order of magnitude—about three-quarters of jurisdictions driving on the right (LHD), one-quarter on the left (RHD)—is consistent across datasets.

Summary

Roughly 140 sovereign countries—about 165 jurisdictions in all—are left-hand-drive because they keep to the right side of the road. About 54 sovereign countries—around 76 jurisdictions including territories—drive on the left and use right-hand-drive vehicles. The exact count depends on whether you include territories and how you define “country,” but the global split of roughly 75% right-hand traffic versus 25% left-hand traffic remains stable.

Is the USA left-hand drive?

Yes, most vehicles in the United States are left-hand drive because the U.S. drives on the right side of the road, a practice that became standard in Colonial America. The driver’s position on the left provides better visibility of oncoming traffic and makes it easier to safely pull out from parallel parking. An exception is the U.S. Virgin Islands, where drivers travel on the left, but cars still have their steering wheels on the left, which is a unique situation.
 
Why the U.S. uses left-hand drive cars:

• Right-hand travel: The U.S. adopted right-hand driving early on, with New York instituting the rule for public highways in 1804. 
• Visibility: Having the steering wheel on the left allows drivers to better see oncoming traffic that is coming from the left. 
• Historical factors: The tradition of right-hand driving may stem from large, bulky Conestoga wagons and a resistance to British customs, which favored left-hand traffic. 

Where it’s different:

• U.S. Virgin Islands: Opens in new tabThis U.S. territory drives on the left side of the road, though their vehicles still have the steering wheel on the left. 
• Specialized Vehicles: Opens in new tabA small number of specialized U.S. vehicles, such as mail delivery vehicles, may be built with right-hand drive to improve functionality for the driver. 

Where to see right-hand drive cars: 

• In countries like the United Kingdom, Japan, India, and Australia, which drive on the left side of the road.

Which countries have left-hand drive?

Some other countries chose the left-hand side of the road. These countries include: Japan, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Mozambique, Suriname, East Timor, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and more. Today, only four European countries drive on the left-hand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus.

What percentage of the world is left-hand drive?

Approximately 30-35% of the world’s population drives on the left side of the road, a practice followed by countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Japan, and South Africa. While most countries drive on the right, this left-hand driving rule is followed in many former British colonies.
 
Here’s a breakdown:

• Countries with Left-Hand Traffic: Opens in new tabThis includes the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa. 
• Percentage of Population: Opens in new tabSources indicate that around 35% of the world’s population lives in countries with left-hand traffic. 
• Why Left-Hand Driving? Opens in new tabThe practice is a legacy of the British Empire. Many countries drive on the left because they were once British colonies. 

Why is Japan left side drive?

Japan drives on the left due to its history with samurai, who kept their swords on their left hip, necessitating left-side passage to avoid collisions. This tradition was reinforced when British companies helped build Japan’s first railways in the 1870s, adopting British left-hand track practice, a system eventually codified into law for all vehicles by 1924.
 
Historical Roots

• Samurai Culture: Opens in new tabIn feudal Japan, most samurai were right-handed and carried their swords on their left hip. Walking on the left allowed them to pass others without their scabbards clashing, which was a serious provocation. 
• Public Adoption: Opens in new tabThis custom of left-side passage became a norm in society, and people would get out of a samurai’s way to avoid conflict. 

Influence of Railways 

• British Technical Aid: Opens in new tabWhen Japan began modernizing in the late 19th century, British engineers were instrumental in constructing the nation’s first railway system.
• Left-Side Trains: Opens in new tabThese railways adopted the British practice of left-hand traffic for trains and, later, electric trolleys.

Formalization into Law 

• Codification: The tradition of left-side driving, rooted in samurai custom and reinforced by the railway system, was officially codified into national law in 1924.

In summary, Japan’s driving on the left is a direct result of pre-modern samurai customs and the early adoption of British railway practices, which were later formalized into nationwide traffic law.