How many countries in the world drive on the left?

About 75 jurisdictions worldwide—counting countries, territories and dependencies—drive on the left; limiting the count to sovereign states, it’s roughly 54. The exact number varies slightly by methodology and whether special territories and partially recognized states are included, but the global picture has been stable in recent years.

What the numbers include (and why they differ)

“How many countries drive on the left?” hinges on definitions. If you count only sovereign states (for example, the 193 UN member states plus widely recognized sovereigns), the number is about 54. If you also include territories, dependencies, and special administrative regions—places that set their own traffic rules—the tally rises to roughly 75–76. No major switches have occurred since Samoa changed from right to left in 2009, so these figures remain current as of 2025. Roughly 35% of the world’s population lives in left-driving jurisdictions.

Where left-hand traffic is found

Left-hand traffic is concentrated in regions with historical British influence, plus a few notable exceptions. The following overview highlights the main clusters you’ll encounter.

• Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus drive on the left.
• Asia: Large South Asian countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives), Japan, and much of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor-Leste) keep left.
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand and many Pacific states (e.g., Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru) drive on the left.
• Africa: Much of Southern and East Africa—including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda—plus island nations Mauritius and Seychelles, keep left.
• Americas: The mainland exceptions are Guyana and Suriname; in the Caribbean, many sovereign island states (such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica) drive on the left.

These patterns reflect colonial-era legal legacies and regional harmonization; for example, Southern Africa’s neighbors largely align to facilitate cross-border travel and trade.

Territories and special cases that often change the count

The higher figure (around 75–76) comes from adding territories, dependencies, and special jurisdictions, several of which are frequently encountered by travelers.

• Hong Kong and Macau (China) use left-hand traffic, unlike mainland China.
• U.S. Virgin Islands drive on the left despite being a U.S. territory.
• UK Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey) keep left.
• Many British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean/Atlantic—such as Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat—drive on the left.
• Pacific territories linked to New Zealand (e.g., Cook Islands, Niue) keep left.
• Gibraltar is a notable exception among UK territories: it drives on the right.

Including these jurisdictions typically lifts the left-driving count from roughly 54 sovereign countries to about 75–76 total jurisdictions.

Why sources may disagree

Counts differ based on whether a list includes: non-UN states, partially recognized entities, and overseas departments (e.g., France’s overseas departments drive on the right, aligning with metropolitan France). Some tallies also treat small islands or federated states as separate jurisdictions if they set their own road rules. Methodological choices can nudge the final number up or down by one or two.

Recent changes and outlook

The last major switch was Samoa’s shift from right- to left-hand traffic in 2009. Myanmar moved from left to right in 1970; Timor-Leste adopted left-hand traffic upon independence. Periodic discussions (for example, Rwanda has explored the idea in the past) have not resulted in new changes. As of 2025, no imminent switches are announced, so the global picture is considered stable.

Bottom line

Expect about 54 sovereign countries—and roughly 75–76 jurisdictions in total—to drive on the left, representing around one-third of the world’s population. Always verify local rules before driving, especially in border regions or territories with differing practices from their neighboring mainland.

Summary

Approximately 75 jurisdictions worldwide drive on the left; counting only sovereign states, it’s about 54. The distribution is concentrated in the UK and Ireland, much of South and Southeast Asia, Oceania, parts of Southern and East Africa, and select countries in the Caribbean and South America. Variations in how sources count territories and special jurisdictions explain minor discrepancies in the headline number.

Why doesn’t the US drive on the left?

The United States drives on the right because right-hand travel was the norm in Colonial America due to the use of large wagons and practical reasons like ditch avoidance. This custom was codified into law, with New York making it mandatory for public highways in 1804, and it predates the American Revolution, not being an act of rebellion against Britain. 
Early American Practices

• Wagon Drivers: Opens in new tabIn the 18th century, large, heavy freight wagons became popular in the U.S. Drivers often sat on the left rear horse to better manage the team with their right hand and used their right arm to whip the horses, requiring them to keep to the right to avoid ditches and manage the whip more effectively. 
• Right-Handedness: Opens in new tabAs most people are right-handed, keeping to the right also allowed pedestrians and horseback riders to keep their dominant sword arm free for defense against potential threats on the road. 

Legal Standardization 

• Pennsylvania: Opens in new tabThe state of Pennsylvania was an early adopter of right-hand travel, legislating it for its turnpikes in 1792.
• New York: Opens in new tabNew York was the first state to prescribe right-hand travel on all public highways in 1804, establishing a standard that other states soon followed.

Distinction from British and Ancient Traditions

• Colonial Opposition: Right-hand travel in America was not an opposition to British rule but rather a separate path of development. Britain’s left-hand driving law was established in 1773, while right-hand travel had already become the norm in the American colonies. 
• Ancient Origins: While ancient Romans drove on the left, often to keep their sword arm free, early American practices diverged from this due to different transportation methods and societal needs, such as the need to manage large, four-horse teams with a driver seated on the left side of the wagon. 

Does Brazil drive on the left?

No, Brazil does not drive on the left; they drive on the right side of the road, with the steering wheel on the left side of the vehicle. While a few regions and one-way streets may have historically used left-hand traffic, the country-wide standard is right-hand driving.
 
Key driving rules in Brazil

• Right-hand traffic: Like most of North and South America and Europe, Brazil follows the convention of driving on the right. 
• Left-hand drive cars: In countries where people drive on the right, the cars are almost always built with the driver’s seat on the left. 
• Overtaking: Drivers overtake on the left. 
• Seat belts: All occupants are required to wear seat belts. 
• Mobile phones: Using a mobile phone while driving is prohibited, except when using a hands-free system. 

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. 

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.