How Many Countries Drive on the Left?

About 54 sovereign countries drive on the left, and if you include territories and dependencies, the total rises to roughly 75 jurisdictions worldwide. These are concentrated in South and Southeast Asia, Oceania, parts of southern and eastern Africa, the British Isles, and much of the Caribbean, encompassing around one-third of the world’s population.

What This Count Includes

When people ask how many countries “drive on the left,” they often mix up sovereign countries with territories. The core figure—about 54—refers to independent states with left-hand traffic (LHT). Adding territories and dependencies (for example, Hong Kong, the Isle of Man, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands) brings the total to about 75 jurisdictions. This tally reflects current practice as of 2025 and aligns with commonly used international traffic datasets.

Where Left-Hand Traffic Is Found

Asia and the Pacific

Left-side driving is the norm across much of South Asia, parts of Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, reflecting British colonial influence and long-standing local laws (Japan being a notable non-British example).

• South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives
• East and Southeast Asia: Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Timor-Leste
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru

These countries include the world’s largest left-driving nation by population (India) and major economies like Japan and Australia, making Asia–Pacific the heartland of LHT.

Africa

Left-hand traffic in Africa is concentrated in the south and east, largely due to historical ties with the United Kingdom and regional harmonization.

• Southern and Eastern Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda
• Indian Ocean islands: Mauritius, Seychelles

This regional cluster allows cross-border travel without switching sides, an important practical benefit for trade and tourism.

Europe

In Europe, left-side driving is limited but influential, centered on the British Isles and two Mediterranean countries.

• United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus

These countries maintain robust compliance with EU or UK standards while preserving their LHT tradition.

Americas and the Caribbean

The Caribbean contains many left-driving states, while continental North and South America are mostly right-driving with a few notable exceptions.

• Caribbean sovereign states: Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada
• South America: Guyana, Suriname
• Notable territories: Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (left-driving despite being a U.S. territory)

This mix reflects a patchwork of colonial legacies and regional coordination, especially among island nations.

By the Numbers

These headline figures help frame the global picture of left-hand traffic.

• About 54 sovereign countries drive on the left
• Roughly 75 jurisdictions in total if territories and dependencies are included
• Approximately 35% of the world’s population lives in left-driving places

Together, these numbers underscore that left-hand traffic is a minority globally by count of countries, but not by population, thanks to large LHT nations such as India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Japan.

Why Some Places Drive on the Left

The pattern largely traces back to history. Much of today’s LHT world was shaped by British colonial rule, which standardized left-side driving across vast regions. Japan adopted left-hand traffic through railway standards in the 19th century that later influenced road rules. Modern shifts are rare: Samoa notably switched from right to left in 2009 to align with vehicle imports from Australia and New Zealand, while proposals elsewhere (for example, Rwanda in the 2010s and 2020s) have not led to changes. Some borders, such as between Hong Kong and mainland China or Thailand and Laos, use engineered crossovers to switch safely between left and right systems.

Summary

Approximately 54 countries drive on the left, expanding to around 75 when territories and dependencies are counted. These jurisdictions are concentrated in Asia–Pacific, parts of Africa, the British Isles, and the Caribbean, and together represent roughly one-third of the world’s population. While the global norm remains right-hand traffic, left-side driving persists where history, regional alignment, and practical considerations support it.

Which is safer, driving on left or right?

(2020) explained the relationship between driving direction and traffic safety from the perspective of neurophysiology. The study found that based on neuropsychological evidence, left-hand driving is safer than right-hand driving.

Do all African countries drive on the left?

No, not all African countries drive on the left; the majority of African countries drive on the right, but a notable number, primarily former British colonies, drive on the left. Countries that drive on the left include South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and others.
 
Countries that drive on the left: 
Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Countries that drive on the right:

• Most African countries drive on the right, including Algeria, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Cape Verde. 
• Some former British colonies, like Nigeria and Ghana, switched to right-hand driving because they neighbor former French colonies that use right-hand traffic. 

Why does Japan drive on the left?

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.

Why do the USA drive on the right?

Americans drive on the right due to historical factors such as large, right-handed teamsters using their whip-hand to control horse-drawn wagons, which led to a right-hand driving tradition. Safety considerations like avoiding roadside ditches and the convenience for right-handed car drivers also played a role. New York codified this practice in 1804, and the adoption of left-hand steering by the Ford Motor Company in the early 20th century further standardized right-hand driving.
 
Factors contributing to right-hand driving:

• Teamsters and Horse-Drawn Wagons: In an agrarian society, farmers and teamsters drove large, multi-horse wagons to market. Since most people are right-handed, they would sit on the left-hand horse or side of the wagon to more easily control the team with their right hand. This naturally placed them on the right side of the road. 
• Avoiding Roadside Ditches: As roads improved and ditches became more prominent, drivers sitting on the right could better judge their position relative to the ditch, avoiding potential hazards. 
• Safety and Self-Defense: Travelers often carried handguns on their left side, a common position for a right-handed person to draw their weapon. Traveling on the right allowed them to keep their weapon arm closer to oncoming strangers. 
• Legal Precedent: New York was the first state to officially mandate right-hand travel on public roads in 1804, establishing a legal precedent for other states to follow. 
• Automobiles: Henry Ford’s Model T, with its left-side steering wheel, became a standard. This placement allowed drivers to see oncoming traffic more clearly and exit the car onto the curb, solidifying the practice of right-hand driving.