How Many Countries Drive on the Left Side of the Road?

As of 2025, 54 sovereign countries drive on the left; if you include territories and dependencies, the figure rises to roughly 75 jurisdictions. Most left-side nations are linked historically to the British Empire, and together they account for about a third of the world’s population.

Why the numbers vary

The answer depends on whether you count only sovereign states or also include non-sovereign territories and special jurisdictions. Left-hand traffic (LHT) is the legal rule in 54 independent countries, while a number of territories—such as Hong Kong, Macau, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands—also keep left, bringing the worldwide total to about 75 jurisdictions.

Where left-side driving is common

Europe

The following list shows the European sovereign countries where motorists drive on the left, reflecting long-standing national road rules and historical continuity.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Malta
• Cyprus

These four countries are the only left-driving sovereign states in Europe, though several nearby territories also follow LHT.

Asia

Asia contains several populous left-driving countries, notably in South and Southeast Asia, as well as Japan. Below is a representative list of sovereign states using LHT.

• Japan
• India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives
• Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Timor-Leste

Together, these countries account for a large share of the global LHT population, with India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Japan leading in numbers of drivers.

Oceania

Due to historical ties with Britain and Australia, much of Oceania drives on the left. The list below highlights the region’s left-driving sovereign states.

• Australia, New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji
• Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu

Oceania’s left-driving rules support cross-border consistency across many island nations and their transport links.

Africa

Left-side driving in Africa is concentrated in the east and south, reflecting colonial-era standards and regional integration. These are the main left-driving sovereign countries.

• Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
• Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi
• South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini
• Mauritius, Seychelles

This cluster enables seamless regional travel and trade across southern and parts of eastern Africa.

Americas and the Caribbean

In the Western Hemisphere, left-side driving is found in parts of the Caribbean and two mainland states in South America. The list below covers the sovereign countries involved.

• Guyana, Suriname
• Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago
• Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada

These nations maintain LHT largely due to historical connections and regional traffic conventions among neighboring islands.

Notable territories and special jurisdictions that keep left

Beyond sovereign states, several territories and special administrative regions also drive on the left. The examples below illustrate the breadth of LHT jurisdictions worldwide.

• Hong Kong and Macau (Special Administrative Regions of China)
• Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat (UK Overseas Territories)
• Falkland Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; Pitcairn Islands (UK Overseas Territories)
• Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey (Crown Dependencies)
• Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau (associated with New Zealand)
• U.S. Virgin Islands (a U.S. territory that uniquely drives on the left)

These jurisdictions help push the global LHT count to roughly 75, underscoring how colonial legacies and practical regional choices shape road rules.

By the numbers

Globally, right-hand traffic is the norm, but left-side countries are home to around 35% of the world’s population—thanks largely to India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Japan. While the number of LHT jurisdictions has been stable in recent years, the distribution remains regionally concentrated.

Recent changes and outlook

Switches are rare. Samoa notably moved from right- to left-hand driving in 2009 to align with regional vehicle markets. Since then, no country has changed sides, and while occasional policy discussions surface in some regions, there are no active, confirmed plans for new switches.

Summary

Answer: 54 sovereign countries drive on the left, rising to about 75 when territories and special jurisdictions are included. The pattern reflects historical ties—especially to the British Empire—and remains stable, with left-side nations clustered in the Asia-Pacific, southern and eastern Africa, and parts of the Caribbean and South America.

How many countries do cars drive on the left?

All in all, 174 countries and territories have right-hand drive traffic while vehicles use the left side in 78 countries. Most countries that drive on the left are former British colonies including South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Only four European nations still drive on the left, all of which are islands.

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.

Why do Japanese drive on the left?

Japan drives on the left due to ancient samurai customs and, later, the influence of the British railway system, which was adopted when Japan began to modernize in the 1870s. Samurai carried their swords on their left hips, and to avoid their scabbards clashing, they would walk on the left. This practice was later codified into law in the Edo period and carried over to the modern era when Japan imported British technology.
 
Historical context:

• Samurai tradition: Opens in new tabSamurai typically wore their swords on their left side, so they walked on the left to prevent their swords from hitting others, which could be a sign of provocation. 
• Horse-drawn carts: Opens in new tabIn feudal Japan, this left-hand custom was widespread, even for horse-drawn carts, and a German doctor noted it as a common practice in the late 17th century. 
• British influence and railways: Opens in new tabWhen Japan began to modernize after the Meiji Restoration in 1868, they imported railway technology from Britain. Because British railways operated on the left, Japan adopted this for its own rail system. 
• Codification into law: Opens in new tabThe practice of left-side traffic was formalized in the 1870s with a “Stage Coach Order” that stipulated horses and wagons should avoid each other by shifting to the left. This eventually became the official traffic law for all vehicles. 

Why do Americans 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.