Which countries drive on the left side of the road

About 75 countries and territories drive on the left, led by the U.K. and Ireland in Europe; India, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and others in Asia; Australia, New Zealand and many Pacific islands in Oceania; much of Southern and Eastern Africa; and a cluster of Caribbean nations plus Guyana and Suriname in South America. Below is a current, region-by-region breakdown of where left-hand traffic is the rule, including notable exceptions and recent changes as of 2025.

Where people drive on the left: by region

Europe and the Mediterranean

These European countries and nearby jurisdictions maintain left-hand traffic, largely due to British legal tradition and historical continuity. The list includes both sovereign states and self-governing territories.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Isle of Man
• Guernsey
• Jersey
• Malta
• Cyprus
• Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus)

Together, these jurisdictions form the European core of left-side driving; note that Gibraltar, despite its British ties, drives on the right like Spain.

Asia

Asia’s left-driving nations span South, Southeast and East Asia, reflecting colonial-era legal systems and regional standardization. Special Administrative Regions are included where road rules differ from the surrounding mainland.

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

From Japan to the Indian subcontinent and across maritime Southeast Asia, left-hand traffic is the norm, with Hong Kong and Macau also driving on the left while mainland China drives on the right.

Oceania and the Pacific

Oceania has some of the highest concentrations of left-driving jurisdictions, led by Australia and New Zealand and extending across many Pacific island nations and territories.

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

The Pacific is predominantly left-driving outside French- and U.S.-affiliated territories; notably, Samoa switched from right to left in 2009 to align with regional vehicle imports.

Africa

Left-hand traffic in Africa is concentrated in the south and east, with several island states in the Indian Ocean also driving on the left. Historical ties and cross-border continuity with neighbors help sustain the pattern.

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

Southern and East Africa form a continuous left-driving bloc, complemented by Mauritius and Seychelles; most of West and North Africa drive on the right.

Americas and the Caribbean

While the Americas are predominantly right-driving, the English-speaking Caribbean largely keeps to the left. Two mainland South American nations also drive on the left, a legacy of regional trade routes and neighboring influence.

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Anguilla
• The Bahamas
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Jamaica
• Montserrat
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Guyana (South America)
• Suriname (South America)
• Falkland Islands (South Atlantic)

The Caribbean’s left-driving tradition is broad, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are a notable outlier within U.S. jurisdictions. In South America, Guyana and Suriname are the two left-driving countries.

Notable exceptions, border quirks and recent changes

A few places warrant special mention for how they align (or don’t) with regional norms, or for having changed sides in living memory.

• Gibraltar drives on the right, matching Spain, despite being a British Overseas Territory.
• Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left, while mainland China drives on the right; cross-boundary bridges use engineered side-switching interchanges.
• Samoa switched from right to left in 2009 to facilitate vehicle imports from Australia and New Zealand.
• Myanmar drives on the right (it switched from left in 1970), even though many vehicles remain right-hand-drive.
• Rwanda has periodically studied a switch to left to align with East African Community partners but, as of 2025, still drives on the right.
• The U.S. Virgin Islands drive on the left even though the rest of the United States drives on the right.

These cases illustrate how trade, colonial legacy, and cross-border logistics shape driving-side decisions and the infrastructure required at boundaries.

Why these places drive on the left

Left-hand traffic often reflects British legal heritage, maritime and trade linkages with left-driving neighbors, and the prevalence of right-hand-drive vehicles in local markets. Practical considerations—like seamless cross-border travel and vehicle import patterns—tend to reinforce the status quo, making contemporary switches rare.

Summary

Left-hand traffic today spans parts of Europe (U.K., Ireland, Malta, Cyprus), much of Asia (including India, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and others), most of Oceania, large portions of Southern and East Africa, and a broad set of Caribbean nations plus Guyana and Suriname. While a handful of outliers complicate the map, the global pattern is stable, with infrastructure and trade helping to keep each region aligned.

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.

What country switched from left to right driving?

Sweden
‘the right-hand traffic reorganisation’), was on 3 September 1967, the day on which Sweden switched from driving on the left-hand side of the road to the right. The “H” stands for “Högertrafik”, the Swedish word for right-hand traffic. It was by far the largest logistical event in Sweden’s history.

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 does England drive on the left?

England drives on the left due to its origins as a country where most people were right-handed, favoring a “keep left” tradition to keep their dominant sword hand free to defend against oncoming threats. This practice, already a common custom by the 18th century, was cemented into law with the 1773 General Highways Act to manage growing horse traffic congestion, making left-hand driving mandatory and a precedent for the automobile age. 
Historical Roots

• Medieval Tradition: The tradition likely started in the Middle Ages when most people were right-handed. Travelers on horseback would keep to the left, allowing their right hand, which held their sword, to be free to defend themselves against potential attackers. 
• Roman Influence: Some theories suggest the practice could even date back to Roman times, as chariot riders may have followed a similar left-hand rule. 

Practical Application and Legalization

• Horse-Drawn Carriages: Opens in new tabWhen horse-drawn wagons became more common in the 18th century, the practice of driving on the left became more formalized. 
• Congestion and Safety: Opens in new tabThe 1773 General Highways Act in Britain established the requirement to drive on the left to prevent collisions on increasingly congested roads, particularly in areas like London. 

Legacy and the Spread of the Practice

• Established Convention: By the time automobiles became widespread, left-hand driving was a long-standing and entrenched convention in Britain, making it a natural choice for the new vehicles. 
• British Empire: The practice spread throughout the British Empire, which is why many countries that were once part of the British Empire, such as India, New Zealand, and Australia, continue to drive on the left today.