Which countries drive on the left?

More than one country drives on the left: about 75 countries and territories do, notably the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Ireland, Cyprus, and Malta. These left-hand-traffic locations are concentrated in Asia, Oceania, southern and eastern Africa, and the Caribbean, reflecting historical ties—especially to the former British Empire—and practical regional alignment.

Where people drive on the left today

Europe and the Mediterranean

In Europe and nearby Mediterranean territories, left-hand traffic is relatively rare, but a few sovereign states and dependencies maintain it due to historical and legal continuity.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Malta
• Cyprus
• Isle of Man (Crown Dependency)
• Guernsey and Jersey (Channel Islands, Crown Dependencies)
• Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus)

Note that Gibraltar, despite being a UK territory on the Iberian Peninsula, drives on the right to match Spain. Elsewhere in continental Europe, right-hand traffic is standard.

Asia

Most left-driving populations live in Asia, where large countries and city-regions maintain left-hand traffic alongside right-driving neighbors, often requiring careful border engineering.

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

Mainland China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and most of Western Asia drive on the right, making crossings with Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Pakistan, and India notable left–right interfaces.

Oceania

Across Oceania, left-hand driving predominates, including in major economies and many island states and territories influenced by British or Australian/New Zealand standards.

• Australia (including external territories such as Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, and Cocos (Keeling) Islands)
• New Zealand (including associated territories like the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau)
• Papua New Guinea
• Fiji
• Solomon Islands
• Samoa
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Pitcairn Islands (UK)

French and U.S.-affiliated Pacific territories, such as New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, drive on the right.

Africa (including Atlantic territories)

Southern and parts of eastern Africa largely follow left-hand traffic, a legacy of British colonial administration and regional harmonization.

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

Most of West, Central, and North Africa drive on the right, including Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Nigeria, and Morocco, creating several left–right border transitions.

Americas and the Caribbean

In the Western Hemisphere, left-hand traffic is concentrated in the Caribbean and on the Guianas’ Atlantic coast, with a few notable exceptions among U.S.-affiliated territories.

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

Most of North, Central, and South America drive on the right; the US Virgin Islands are a notable left-driving exception within U.S. jurisdiction.

How many people and places drive on the left?

Roughly one in three countries and territories—about 75 worldwide—use left-hand traffic. Because several left-driving nations are populous (notably India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Japan), around one-third of the world’s population—approximately 2.7 billion people—drives on the left. The majority of global road length and countries, however, remain right-hand traffic.

Why some countries drive on the left

The reasons vary by region and history, but three broad patterns explain where left-hand traffic persists today.

• British legal heritage: Many current LHT jurisdictions were once part of the British Empire and retained the system after independence for safety, cost, and regional alignment.
• Local historical practice: Japan standardized left-hand traffic nationwide in the 20th century, rooted in earlier rail and road customs that placed passing to the left.
• Regional harmonization: Some countries (e.g., Mozambique) aligned with neighbors to simplify cross-border travel and logistics.

Switching sides is rare due to the immense cost of reconfiguring roads, signage, intersections, vehicles, and driver behavior; Samoa’s 2009 shift to left was a rare modern change made to access RHD vehicle markets in Australia and New Zealand.

Practical notes for travelers

If you’re planning to drive in a left-traffic country, a few practical differences and checks can help you adapt quickly and safely.

• Steering wheel position: Most LHT jurisdictions use right-hand drive vehicles (steering wheel on the right).
• Roundabouts: Enter clockwise and give way to traffic already on the roundabout coming from the right.
• Lane discipline: Keep left except to overtake on multi-lane roads; look right first when pulling out.
• Border changes: At crossings between left- and right-driving areas (e.g., Hong Kong–mainland China), follow dedicated lane-switching systems and signage.
• Licensing and insurance: Check whether an International Driving Permit is required and confirm your rental insurance coverage for local conditions.

Most rental agencies in LHT countries supply right-hand-drive cars by default; if you prefer automatic transmissions or specific safety features, request them in advance.

Notable places where the side changes

Transitions between left- and right-driving systems require specialized junctions, lane crossovers, or traffic controls to manage safety and flow.

• United Kingdom–France: Dedicated lane crossovers at the Channel Tunnel terminals and organized ferry port systems.
• Hong Kong/Macau–Mainland China: Engineered left–right interfaces at land crossings and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge.
• Thailand–Laos/Myanmar/Cambodia: Multiple border posts where left-driving Thailand meets right-driving neighbors.
• Pakistan–Afghanistan/Iran: Left-driving Pakistan connects to right-driving Western Asia via controlled crossing points.
• Kenya/Tanzania–Ethiopia/DR Congo: East African left-driving states meet right-driving neighbors at several borders.
• Namibia–Angola and South Africa–right-driving neighbors by sea/air: Regional crossings require awareness of the immediate change in traffic rules.

At these interfaces, signage, barriers, and staff guide drivers through the transition; still, extra caution is essential, especially for first-time crossers.

Summary

There isn’t one country that drives on the left—there are about 75, spanning the UK and Ireland, much of southern/eastern Africa, key Asian nations from Japan to India and Southeast Asia, and many in Oceania and the Caribbean. The distribution reflects British colonial legacy, local practice, and regional coordination. Roughly one-third of the world’s population lives in left-driving jurisdictions, even though most countries and roads globally are right-driving.

How many countries drive on the left?

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.

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.

Do all African countries drive on the left?

No, not all African countries drive on the left; the majority of African countries drive on the right, but a notable number, primarily former British colonies, drive on the left. Countries that drive on the left include South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and others.
 
Countries that drive on the left: 
Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Countries that drive on the right:

• Most African countries drive on the right, including Algeria, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Cape Verde. 
• Some former British colonies, like Nigeria and Ghana, switched to right-hand driving because they neighbor former French colonies that use right-hand traffic. 

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.