What countries drive on the left

People drive on the left in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, South Africa, Kenya, and dozens of other nations and territories across Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Caribbean—roughly a quarter of the world’s countries, home to about a third of the global population. Below is a region-by-region breakdown, plus notable exceptions and context on why this system persists.

Why some places keep left

Left-side traffic endures largely due to history. Much of today’s left-driving world once fell under British influence, while Japan adopted and standardized left-hand traffic in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most other nations consolidated around right-hand traffic during the 20th century. Border crossings between left- and right-driving jurisdictions use special lane crossovers—famously between Hong Kong and mainland China, and on bridges between Thailand and Laos.

Countries that drive on the left, by region

Europe

Only a handful of European sovereign states drive on the left, led by the UK and Ireland, with Cyprus and Malta joining them in the Mediterranean. Crown Dependencies and certain territories are covered later.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Cyprus
• Malta

Together, these four represent Europe’s left-driving core; surrounding EU and non-EU neighbors overwhelmingly drive on the right.

Asia

Asia’s left-driving countries cluster in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Two Special Administrative Regions of China also keep left, though they are listed separately as territories.

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

Note that Hong Kong and Macau also drive on the left (territories listed below). Myanmar switched from left to right in 1970, though many imported vehicles still have right-hand drive.

Oceania and the Pacific

Oceania has one of the highest concentrations of left-driving jurisdictions, reflecting Australian, New Zealand, and British influence across the region’s island nations.

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

Several nearby territories also keep left (see below). By contrast, French- and U.S.-linked Pacific territories generally drive on the right, and Vanuatu also drives on the right.

Africa

Left-side driving in Africa is concentrated in Southern and East Africa, plus two Indian Ocean island states.

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

Most West, Central, and North African countries drive on the right; Madagascar and Comoros also drive on the right despite their proximity to Mauritius and Seychelles.

Americas and the Caribbean

A cluster of Caribbean nations, plus two on the South American mainland, retain left-side traffic.

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

Among territories, the U.S. Virgin Islands are a notable left-driving outlier in a region otherwise dominated by right-hand traffic on the mainland.

Notable territories and dependencies that drive on the left

Beyond sovereign states, many territories—especially those with British legal heritage—also drive on the left. These jurisdictions matter for travelers, rental-car rules, and cross-border logistics.

• Hong Kong (China)
• Macau (China)
• Isle of Man (UK Crown Dependency)
• Jersey and Guernsey (Channel Islands, UK Crown Dependencies)
• Bermuda (UK Overseas Territory)
• British Virgin Islands (UK Overseas Territory)
• Anguilla (UK Overseas Territory)
• Montserrat (UK Overseas Territory)
• Turks and Caicos Islands (UK Overseas Territory)
• Cayman Islands (UK Overseas Territory)
• Falkland Islands (UK Overseas Territory)
• Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK Overseas Territory)
• Pitcairn Islands (UK Overseas Territory)
• Cook Islands (self‑governing in free association with New Zealand)
• Niue (self‑governing in free association with New Zealand)
• Tokelau (New Zealand territory)
• Norfolk Island (Australia)
• Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia)
• U.S. Virgin Islands (United States)

Not every British-linked territory drives on the left—Gibraltar, for example, drives on the right to align with Spain. Some small territories have limited or no public road networks, but where roads exist, the side listed above applies.

Travel notes and context

Vehicle configuration typically mirrors the traffic side: right-hand-drive vehicles operate in left-driving countries. Border crossings between left- and right-side jurisdictions use grade-separated “crossover” designs to swap lanes safely. Recent changes are rare; the most notable in modern times was Samoa’s 2009 switch from right to left.

Summary

Left-side driving spans a wide arc of the globe, anchored in the UK, Ireland, Japan, South and Southeast Asia, Oceania, Southern and East Africa, and parts of the Caribbean and northern South America. While most of the world drives on the right, left-hand traffic remains stable in these jurisdictions—and is essential knowledge for travelers, logistics planners, and anyone navigating cross-border roads.

How many countries drive on the left side?

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.

Does Japan drive on the left?

Yes, Japan drives on the left-hand side of the road. This tradition is rooted in historical practices dating back to the Edo period, where samurai would keep to the left to avoid clashing swords. The system became formalized in 1924, with the development of British-influenced railways laying the foundation for the country’s left-hand traffic model.
 
Historical Roots

• Samurai Tradition: Opens in new tabIn feudal times, carrying swords at the hip was common for samurai, who would keep to the left to avoid their swords clashing as they passed others. 
• British Influence on Railways: Opens in new tabWhen Japan built its first railway in 1872 with British assistance, it followed the British model of left-hand traffic. This system was then extended to the tram systems and other roads, eventually becoming standardized. 

Formalization and Consistency

• Official Mandate: Left-hand traffic was officially mandated in Japan in 1924, solidifying the practice in law. 
• Right-Hand Steering Wheels: Despite driving on the left, Japanese vehicles have steering wheels on the right, a common characteristic of countries with left-hand traffic. 

Okinawa Exception 

• Post-War Right-Hand Traffic: Opens in new tabFor a period after World War II, the U.S. Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands (which governed Okinawa) switched traffic to the right-hand side.
• Return to Left-Hand Traffic: Opens in new tabWhen Okinawa was returned to Japan in 1972, traffic in the region switched back to the left-hand traffic system, making Okinawa one of the few places in the world to transition from right to left in the 20th century.

Why did the US switch to right side driving?

for their convenience the US switched from the left to right side. so right hand driving became the norm in the US. then when the pan-american highway was being built basically all the countries in the americas who drove on the left were pressured to switch to the right in the 1920s when construction began.

Why do Britain drive on left?

The UK drives on the left due to its origins in the Middle Ages as a safety measure, allowing right-handed individuals to keep their sword arm free when passing oncoming strangers, a practice later formalized in law. As Napoleon spread right-hand traffic across continental Europe, Britain and its former colonies retained the left-hand custom, which became entrenched with the rise of automobiles. 
Historical Origins

• Medieval Safety: The tradition dates back to the era of horses and carriages. Most people were right-handed, so keeping to the left ensured their right arm was free for defense with a sword against potential attackers. 
• Wagon Drivers: In the 18th century, large wagons required the driver to sit to the right of the carriage to keep the whip-hand free. This kept them on the left side of the road, as they would whip the horses to the left to stay in line. 

Formalization and Influence

• Early Laws: In 1773, the General Highways Act in Britain mandated keeping to the left to prevent collisions on congested roads. The Highway Act of 1835 further solidified this into law, making left-hand driving the standard. 
• Napoleon and Continental Europe: The French Revolution and subsequent conquests by Napoleon led to right-hand traffic becoming the norm on the European continent. 
• British Empire: As a powerful colonial nation, Britain exported its traffic laws, leading many of its colonies to adopt left-hand driving. 
• Modern Convention: By the time motor vehicles became common, the convention was already well-established and deeply ingrained in British culture and law, making it easier to maintain than to change. 

Global Context 

• While most countries drive on the right, about 35% of the world’s population still uses left-hand traffic, including the UK, Ireland, India, Australia, and New Zealand.