How many countries drive on the left?
About 54 sovereign countries drive on the left side of the road. If you include territories and dependencies, the total comes to roughly 76 jurisdictions worldwide. That means close to one-third of the global population lives in places where left-hand traffic is the norm, a pattern shaped largely by British colonial influence and regional harmonization.
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What exactly is being counted?
When people ask how many “countries” drive on the left, they usually mean sovereign states. By that measure, the answer is 54. However, transport statistics are also often tallied by “jurisdictions,” a broader category that includes territories and dependencies. On that basis, approximately 76 places drive on the left as of 2025. Counts vary slightly across datasets depending on how disputed territories and special administrative regions are classified.
Where is left-hand driving common?
Left-hand traffic is concentrated in specific regions, many of which share historical or practical ties. The following list highlights the main regions and representative countries where people drive on the left.
- South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives
- Southeast and East Asia: Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Timor-Leste, Japan; plus Hong Kong and Macau (both left, despite mainland China being right)
- Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, Cook Islands, Niue, Pitcairn Islands
- Europe and the Mediterranean: United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus; also the Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man)
- Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles
- Caribbean and the Americas: Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Bahamas; mainland examples include Guyana and Suriname; U.S. Virgin Islands also drive on the left
While not exhaustive, this regional overview shows how left-hand driving clusters geographically, often aligning with former British spheres and neighboring countries that harmonized rules to keep cross-border traffic straightforward.
Largest left-driving countries by population
A handful of populous nations account for the majority of people who drive on the left. The ranking below spotlights the biggest left-driving countries by population.
- India
- Indonesia
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Japan
- Thailand
- United Kingdom
- Tanzania
- South Africa
- Kenya
Together, these countries alone represent hundreds of millions of left-side drivers, illustrating why left-hand traffic remains globally significant despite being a minority system by land area and number of jurisdictions.
Why some places drive on the left
History and practicality explain most patterns. The left-hand convention spread with the British Empire and persisted in many former colonies. Neighboring states often align for trade and safety, leading to regional blocs of left-hand traffic. Over the last half century, switches have been rare; a notable modern change was Samoa’s 2009 move from right to left to align vehicle imports and regional norms. By contrast, places like Myanmar remain right-hand traffic despite many right-hand-drive vehicles in circulation.
Notable exceptions and caveats
There are a few wrinkles. Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left while mainland China drives on the right, necessitating engineered crossover points at borders. The U.S. Virgin Islands drive on the left even though the United States drives on the right. Conversely, Gibraltar—despite British links—drives on the right, matching neighboring Spain. Rwanda publicly considered policy changes around vehicle imports in 2024 but has not switched sides and remains right-hand traffic. Such cases explain minor discrepancies you may see across lists.
The numbers at a glance
Bringing it together: approximately 54 sovereign countries—and about 76 jurisdictions in total—drive on the left as of 2025. Roughly two-thirds of countries (and about two-thirds of the world’s population) use right-hand traffic; the remainder are left-hand, with large concentrations in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, southern and eastern Africa, and parts of Europe and the Caribbean.
Methodology and sources
These counts synthesize widely cited transport references and international datasets, including updated tallies used by encyclopedic compilations and national transport authorities as of 2024–2025. Minor variations reflect how datasets classify territories, special administrative regions, and disputed areas.
Summary
In short, 54 sovereign countries drive on the left, expanding to about 76 when territories and dependencies are included. The pattern is historically rooted and regionally consistent, with particularly large populations in India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, and Thailand keeping left-hand traffic a major global norm despite its minority status by jurisdiction count.
Why do island nations drive on the left?
Island countries, and other nations, drive on the left primarily due to the influence of the British Empire, which established left-hand driving in its former colonies. This tradition stems from an era of horseback travel, where people kept to the left to keep their sword arm (right) free for defense against oncoming travelers. Countries like Japan, which were not part of the British Empire, also drive on the left due to historical reasons, such as samurai traditions or early railway construction influenced by the British.
Historical Roots of Left-Hand Driving
- Medieval Travel: Opens in new tabBefore cars, keeping to the left was a common practice. Most people are right-handed, so keeping to the left allowed them to keep their dominant right hand free to wield a sword or defend themselves against potential attackers coming from the opposite direction.
- The British Empire: Opens in new tabBritain formally adopted left-hand driving in 1835. As the British Empire expanded, this practice was extended to many of its colonies and territories, which is why countries like India, Australia, Jamaica, and others still drive on the left today.
- Napoleon’s Influence: Opens in new tabIn contrast, Napoleon is said to have mandated right-hand traffic in the territories he conquered. Napoleon himself was left-handed, leading some to believe he promoted right-hand traffic to give himself a tactical advantage.
Other Factors for Left-Hand Traffic
- Japan: Japan drives on the left, even though it was never a British colony. This tradition dates back to the Edo period (1603–1868), when samurai wore their swords on their left side and would keep to the left to avoid clashing swords when passing others. It was later solidified by the construction of the first Japanese railway, which used British technical assistance and ran on the left.
- Early Railroads: The development of railway systems often influenced traffic rules. In Japan, the construction of the first railway with British help led to trains running on the left, which reinforced the existing tradition.
How many countries drive left side?
There are 163 countries and territories that drive on the right side of the road, while 76 of them drive on the left. Many of the countries that drive on the left — making up about 30% of the world’s population — are former British colonies, including ones in Southeast Asia, Southern Africa, and Oceania.
Do China drive on the left?
No, in mainland China, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road, not the left. However, the former British colony of Hong Kong, and the former Portuguese colony of Macau, still drive on the left due to their distinct historical and legal frameworks.
Driving side in China
- Mainland China: Drives on the right-hand side of the road.
- Special Administrative Regions: Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left.
Why the difference?
- Hong Kong . Opens in new tabretained its left-hand traffic system from its time as a British colony, and its traffic rules are protected by a “Basic Law” ensuring its way of life remains unchanged until 2047.
- Macau . Opens in new tabalso maintained left-hand traffic as a former Portuguese colony.
Historical Context
- China officially changed to right-hand traffic in 1946.
- Before the 1946 decision, different regions in China had varying driving rules, with some areas like the Shanghai International Settlement and Japanese-occupied northeast China using left-hand traffic.
Do any US territories drive on the left?
Other countries in the Americas
In the West Indies, colonies and territories drive on the same side as their parent countries, except for the United States Virgin Islands.
