How many countries drive on the left?

About 75 countries and territories drive on the left side of the road worldwide; counting only sovereign states, it’s roughly 54. Most left-driving jurisdictions are clustered in Southern Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Oceania, and parts of the Caribbean, and the tally has been essentially stable in recent years.

What the numbers mean and why they vary

Globally, road rules split into left-hand traffic (LHT) and right-hand traffic (RHT). Left-driving jurisdictions account for roughly 35% of the world’s population but a smaller share of land area. The headline count depends on whether you include dependent territories (for example, Hong Kong, Macau, Bermuda, Cayman Islands) and special jurisdictions that are not sovereign states. That’s why reputable sources cite a range (typically 73–76), while the sovereign-state count hovers around 54 of the world’s 195 countries.

The following figures summarize the global breakdown often used by transport researchers and reference works.

• Left-hand traffic jurisdictions (countries plus territories): about 75
• Left-hand traffic sovereign states: roughly 54
• Share of the global population living under LHT rules: about 35%

These counts differ because some territories and special administrative regions follow LHT even when their sovereign state follows RHT, and because lists handle sparsely populated or uninhabited territories differently.

Where left-hand driving is common

Left-hand driving is concentrated in regions shaped by British or Japanese influence, as well as in nearby island nations where vehicle import patterns favor right-hand-drive cars.

• Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta (and territories such as Gibraltar, Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands)
• Asia: Japan; India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives; Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Timor-Leste; Hong Kong and Macau (China is otherwise right-hand)
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands (plus several Pacific microstates and territories)
• Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda; island states Mauritius and Seychelles
• Americas and Caribbean: Guyana and Suriname; Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and several Eastern Caribbean states; various UK and US territories including the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, Anguilla, Montserrat, and the US Virgin Islands

This is not an exhaustive list of every jurisdiction, but it covers the major left-driving blocs and illustrates the geographic pattern.

Edge cases, exceptions, and recent changes

A handful of places complicate the simple left/right map—either because of political status, border interfaces, or historical switches.

• Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left, while mainland China drives on the right; special crossover infrastructure manages the switch (for example, on the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge).
• The US Virgin Islands drive on the left despite being a US territory; Puerto Rico and the mainland US drive on the right.
• Myanmar switched from left to right in 1970 and remains right-hand traffic today, even though many vehicles still have right-hand-drive configurations.
• Samoa switched from right to left in 2009 to align with nearby suppliers of right-hand-drive vehicles (Australia, New Zealand, Japan). No major country has changed sides since.
• At several land borders (for example, India–Myanmar, Thailand–Myanmar, Hong Kong/China) dedicated interchanges or traffic controls handle the left–right transition.

These special situations are why authoritative counts often distinguish between sovereign states and territories and note that the overall total can vary by a few jurisdictions.

Why some countries drive on the left

Historical legacies are decisive. British colonial administration established left-hand rules across large parts of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean; Japan has long driven on the left, influencing neighbors such as Okinawa (and indirectly vehicle markets across East and Southeast Asia). Practical considerations—such as matching regional vehicle imports (right-hand-drive cars for LHT roads)—help keep these systems in place.

Method and currency

The figures cited reflect widely used transportation references and international datasets as of 2025, synthesizing counts that distinguish sovereign states from dependent territories and special administrative regions. While minor territorial classifications can shift totals slightly, there have been no recent nationwide side-of-road changes affecting the global picture.

Summary

Around 75 countries and territories drive on the left, including about 54 sovereign states, encompassing roughly a third of the world’s population. The map is largely stable and reflects historical ties—especially to the UK and Japan—and regional vehicle markets.

Does China drive on left or right?

Mainland China drives on the right side of the road, in contrast to its Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, which retain left-hand driving. The right-hand rule in mainland China was enforced by the Nationalist government in 1946, and this system is the standard across the rest of the country today.
 
Mainland China: Drives on the right and This is a national rule established in 1946. 
Hong Kong & Macau:

• Drive on the left. 
• These former British and Portuguese territories maintained their left-hand driving customs even after being transferred to China, due to established infrastructure and political ties. 

What countries drive on the left?

These include India, Australia, New Zealand and former British colonies in Africa and the Caribbean. Very few countries drive on the left in Europe like we do in the UK. The Channel Islands, Ireland, The Isle of Man, Cyprus, and Malta are the only European countries that also drive on the left.

How many countries are on the left side of the road?

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.

Why does Japan drive on left?

Japan drives on the left due to historical Samurai customs where swords were worn on the left hip, and British influence, particularly through the adoption of left-hand railway systems by British engineers during the country’s modernization. While Samurai practices established a tradition of left-side passage, the formalization of left-hand traffic was solidified with the development of the Japanese railway system and was later legally enforced.
 
Samurai Traditions

• Sword-Carrying: In the Samurai era, warriors typically wore their swords on their left hip for easy access with their dominant right hand. 
• Collision Prevention: Walking on the right side of a narrow road would have caused their swords to clash, leading to an accidental provocation or injury. 
• Peaceful Coexistence: To avoid these conflicts, Samurai and the general populace established the custom of walking on the left, which was widely practiced before cars were even invented. 

British Influence

• Railway Development: Japan’s first railways were built with the technical assistance of British engineers. 
• Left-Hand Railway Practice: As with British railways, these were designed for left-hand traffic. 
• Legal Enforcement: This left-side practice was then formalized and enforced by Japanese law, beginning with horse-drawn vehicles in the 1870s and eventually extending to all traffic. 

Consolidated Practice

• Formalization of Traffic Laws: By 1900, left-side traffic was officially part of the traffic laws. 
• Cultural Norm: The historical Samurai custom and the adoption of the British railway model both contributed to Japan’s consistent left-hand driving system, which remains in place today.