Where the world drives on the left side of the road (2025)

You drive on the left in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, most of Southern and East Africa, much of South and Southeast Asia, and many Caribbean and Pacific nations; full regional lists are below to help travelers and readers quickly check any destination.

Europe and the Mediterranean

Only a handful of European countries keep to the left, largely due to historical ties and island geography. These nations maintain road rules, signage, and vehicle fleets configured for left-side driving.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Cyprus
• Malta

Elsewhere in Europe, right-side driving predominates. Notably, these four are the only sovereign European states with left-hand traffic.

Asia (South, East, and Southeast)

Asia includes several of the world’s most populous left-side countries, reflecting British colonial legacies and, in Japan’s case, domestic policy dating back to the 19th century. The list below covers sovereign states that drive on the left.

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

Within greater China, Hong Kong and Macau also drive on the left (see Territories section), while mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines drive on the right.

Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific states)

Oceania has a high concentration of left-side jurisdictions, influenced by Australian and New Zealand vehicle markets and historical ties.

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

Most other independent Pacific nations and French/US territories drive on the right (for example, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau).

Africa

Left-side driving in Africa is concentrated in Southern and parts of Eastern Africa, largely reflecting historical British administration and regional cross-border vehicle flows.

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

Most of North, West, and Central Africa drive on the right (including Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Ethiopia).

Americas and the Caribbean

While the Americas are predominantly right-hand traffic, several Caribbean states and two mainland South American countries drive on the left.

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

The rest of continental North, Central, and South America are right-side, as are Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.

Notable territories and special jurisdictions (left-side)

Beyond sovereign countries, many territories and special regions also drive on the left. These are especially relevant for travelers transiting borders or flying into hubs where vehicle configuration differs from neighboring states.

• Hong Kong (China)
• Macau (China)
• Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man (UK Crown Dependencies)
• Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus)
• Bermuda (UK)
• Cayman Islands (UK)
• British Virgin Islands (UK)
• Turks and Caicos Islands (UK)
• Anguilla (UK)
• Montserrat (UK)
• Falkland Islands (UK)
• Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK)
• Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau (New Zealand)
• Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island (Australia)
• Pitcairn Islands (UK)
• United States Virgin Islands (USA)

Territorial practices can differ from their sovereign states: for example, Hong Kong and Macau are left-side despite mainland China being right-side, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are left-side while the rest of the United States is right-side. Gibraltar, by contrast, drives on the right due to its land connection with Spain.

Notes and traveler tips

If you’re crossing borders or renting cars, be aware that vehicle steering (right-hand-drive vs left-hand-drive) may not always align with the side of the road — especially in regions importing secondhand cars. Border crossings between left- and right-driving areas often use grade-separated “crossover” interchanges to swap sides safely.

Summary

Left-side driving is standard in the UK and Ireland; much of Southern and East Africa; South Asia; parts of Southeast and East Asia (notably Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste); Australia and New Zealand; many Pacific states; and numerous Caribbean nations, plus several territories like Hong Kong, Macau, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Always confirm local rules before driving, as practices and vehicle configurations can differ across borders and territories.

How many countries drive 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 do British drive on the left?

British drive on the left due to historical reasons, particularly the prevalence of right-handed people and the need to keep their sword hand free for defense when traveling on horseback in the Middle Ages. This custom continued with smaller carriages, where drivers sat to the right to keep their whip hand free. The practice was later formalized into law, with the Highway Act of 1835 mandating left-hand driving throughout the UK and solidifying it as a permanent habit.
 
Historical Origins 

• Medieval Times: In the days of knights and horseback riders, staying to the left allowed right-handed individuals to keep their sword arm free to defend themselves against oncoming strangers.
• Roman Influence: Evidence suggests that Roman soldiers also marched on the left, and some archaeological findings point to Romans driving carts and wagons on the left.
• Early Regulations: Pope Boniface VIII officially sanctioned keeping to the left for pilgrims visiting Rome in the year 1300, which influenced the practice in parts of Europe.

Transition to Modern Driving 

• Carriage Drivers: Opens in new tabWhen larger wagons and carriages with driver’s seats became common in the 18th century, the practice of sitting on the right to control the horses and keep the whip hand free further solidified driving on the left.
• Formalization into Law: Opens in new tabThe practice was legally enforced in Britain with the Highway Act of 1835, making left-hand driving mandatory across the country.

Why it Didn’t Change

• Cost and Habits: Changing traffic laws and associated infrastructure is extremely expensive and difficult, especially because habits are hard to break. 
• Continental Influence: The spread of right-hand driving in mainland Europe was largely due to Napoleonic conquests and French influence. Britain, resisting these influences, maintained its left-hand system. 
• Colonial Legacy: Britain’s imperial reach also spread left-hand driving to many of its former colonies. 

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.

Did Canada ever drive on the left side of the road?

Driving in the left lane was the norm on the east and west coasts of Canada, until cross-country jaunts by automobile became more common and the need for standard cross-border traffic rules became more urgent. Central Canada and the prairie provinces had always followed the American practice of driving on the right.