Which Countries Drive on the Left?

Many countries and territories have cars drive on the left side of the road—prominent examples include the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Kenya, and Tanzania. In total, roughly 75 jurisdictions—home to about a third of the world’s population—use left-hand traffic. This article explains where left-side driving is practiced, why it persists, and notable exceptions that travelers should know.

Countries and territories that drive on the left, by region

Europe and the Mediterranean

The following European countries and nearby territories keep left, reflecting historical practices and, in many cases, British influence.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Cyprus
• Malta
• Isle of Man (Crown Dependency)
• Jersey (Channel Islands)
• Guernsey, including Alderney and Sark (Channel Islands)

Together, these jurisdictions form the core of left-side driving in Europe, with Cyprus and Malta as notable EU members that drive on the left.

Asia

Asia’s left-driving map spans major economies and densely populated nations, shaped by British colonial legacies and domestic policy choices such as Japan’s longstanding left-hand traffic.

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

This cluster covers much of South and Southeast Asia; notably, Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left despite mainland China driving on the right.

Africa

Left-side driving in Africa is concentrated in the south and east, with additional island states maintaining the practice.

• South Africa
• Lesotho
• Eswatini (Swaziland)
• Botswana
• Namibia
• Zimbabwe
• Zambia
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Tanzania
• Kenya
• Uganda
• Mauritius
• Seychelles
• Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK Overseas Territory)

These countries form a largely contiguous left-driving corridor in Southern and East Africa, with island nations in the Indian Ocean aligning similarly.

Oceania and the Pacific

Oceania is a stronghold of left-hand traffic, led by Australia and New Zealand and joined by many Pacific island nations and territories.

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Fiji
• Solomon Islands
• Samoa
• Tonga
• Kiribati
• Tuvalu
• Nauru
• Cook Islands (NZ)
• Niue (NZ)
• Tokelau (NZ)
• Norfolk Island (Australia)
• Christmas Island (Australia)
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia)
• Pitcairn Islands (UK)

Regional consistency makes cross-border or inter-island travel simpler here, though some nearby French- or US-linked territories drive on the right.

The Americas and the Caribbean

While the Americas are predominantly right-driving, the Caribbean and a few mainland territories stand out for left-side driving.

• Guyana
• Suriname
• Jamaica
• Barbados
• Bahamas
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Dominica
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Grenada
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Anguilla
• Montserrat
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Bermuda
• US Virgin Islands
• Falkland Islands (UK)

These left-driving jurisdictions are mostly island nations and territories with historical links to the UK, plus the notable mainland exceptions of Guyana and Suriname.

Notable exceptions and special cases

Some places defy regional norms or feature cross-border quirks that travelers should anticipate.

• Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left, while mainland China drives on the right; crossings use special interchanges to swap sides.
• Gibraltar drives on the right, unlike the UK and nearby left-driving territories.
• United States Virgin Islands drive on the left despite using many left-hand-drive vehicles.
• Myanmar switched from left to right in 1970 but still has many right-hand-drive cars.
• Samoa switched from right to left in 2009 to align with regional neighbors.
• Several West African countries (e.g., Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone) switched from left to right in the 1970s; today, they drive on the right.

These exceptions highlight how history, trade patterns, and border logistics shape driving conventions beyond simple regional patterns.

Why left-hand traffic persists

Left-hand driving largely reflects historical influence—especially from the British Empire—and practical alignment with neighbors to facilitate cross-border movement and vehicle imports. Japan is a key non-colonial example, having standardized left-hand traffic nationwide in the early 20th century. Once established, changing sides is costly and disruptive, so countries typically maintain the status quo unless compelling regional or economic reasons push a switch.

Summary

Cars drive on the left in a wide swath of the world, notably the UK and Ireland; Japan; India and much of South Asia; Southeast Asian nations such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Brunei; much of Southern and East Africa; Australia and New Zealand plus many Pacific islands; and numerous Caribbean states and territories. In all, around 75 countries and territories keep left, a pattern rooted in history and reinforced by regional integration and practical considerations.

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. 

How many countries drive 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.

Is the USA left side driving?

Yes, most vehicles in the United States are left-hand drive because the U.S. drives on the right side of the road, a practice that became standard in Colonial America. The driver’s position on the left provides better visibility of oncoming traffic and makes it easier to safely pull out from parallel parking. An exception is the U.S. Virgin Islands, where drivers travel on the left, but cars still have their steering wheels on the left, which is a unique situation.
 
Why the U.S. uses left-hand drive cars:

• Right-hand travel: The U.S. adopted right-hand driving early on, with New York instituting the rule for public highways in 1804. 
• Visibility: Having the steering wheel on the left allows drivers to better see oncoming traffic that is coming from the left. 
• Historical factors: The tradition of right-hand driving may stem from large, bulky Conestoga wagons and a resistance to British customs, which favored left-hand traffic. 

Where it’s different:

• U.S. Virgin Islands: Opens in new tabThis U.S. territory drives on the left side of the road, though their vehicles still have the steering wheel on the left. 
• Specialized Vehicles: Opens in new tabA small number of specialized U.S. vehicles, such as mail delivery vehicles, may be built with right-hand drive to improve functionality for the driver. 

Where to see right-hand drive cars: 

• In countries like the United Kingdom, Japan, India, and Australia, which drive on the left side of the road.

Does China drive on the left side?

No, in mainland China, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road, not the left. However, the former British colony of Hong Kong, and the former Portuguese colony of Macau, still drive on the left due to their distinct historical and legal frameworks.
 
Driving side in China

• Mainland China: Drives on the right-hand side of the road. 
• Special Administrative Regions: Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left. 

Why the difference?

• Hong Kong . Opens in new tabretained its left-hand traffic system from its time as a British colony, and its traffic rules are protected by a “Basic Law” ensuring its way of life remains unchanged until 2047. 
• Macau . Opens in new tabalso maintained left-hand traffic as a former Portuguese colony. 

Historical Context

• China officially changed to right-hand traffic in 1946. 
• Before the 1946 decision, different regions in China had varying driving rules, with some areas like the Shanghai International Settlement and Japanese-occupied northeast China using left-hand traffic.