Which countries drive on the left side of the road?

Many countries drive on the left—most prominently the United Kingdom, Japan, India, Australia, and South Africa—along with dozens of others across Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Caribbean; in total, around 75 countries and territories (home to roughly a third of the world’s population) use left-hand traffic. This matters for travelers, cross-border trade, and vehicle standards, since road rules, signage, and car configurations differ between left- and right-driving nations.

Global context and why it varies

Left-hand traffic (LHT) is historically rooted in British influence and, in East Asia, Japan’s rail and road standards. Today, left-side driving is concentrated in the Commonwealth sphere, parts of Southern and East Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. A few places are notable exceptions to regional norms—most famously Hong Kong and Macau (left) adjacent to mainland China (right), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (left) in a largely right-driving region.

Countries and territories that drive on the left

Europe

The European footprint of left-hand traffic is small but includes several sovereign states and dependencies, most with historic links to the U.K.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Cyprus
• Malta
• Isle of Man (Crown Dependency)
• Jersey and Guernsey (Channel Islands, Crown Dependencies)
• Gibraltar (UK Overseas Territory)

Together, these jurisdictions form the core of left-side driving in Europe, with the UK and Ireland the only EU-adjacent sovereign states using LHT.

Asia

Asia’s left-driving countries span South, Southeast, and East Asia, including large populations and major economies.

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

These countries encompass dense urban networks and major transport hubs; note that Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left despite mainland China’s right-hand traffic.

Africa

Left-hand traffic in Africa is concentrated in Southern and parts of Eastern Africa, reflecting historic regional alignment.

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

This bloc creates largely contiguous left-driving corridors in the south and east of the continent, facilitating cross-border transport standards there.

Oceania

Oceania has some of the world’s most consistently left-driving networks, led by Australia and New Zealand and extending across many Pacific 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)

Most Micronesian states drive on the right, but Polynesia and Melanesia include numerous left-driving jurisdictions; Samoa notably switched from right to left in 2009.

Americas and the Caribbean

In the Western Hemisphere, left-hand traffic appears mainly in the Caribbean and two mainland South American states, plus one notable U.S. territory.

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

Despite U.S. influence in the region, the U.S. Virgin Islands remain a long-standing left-driving exception; most other U.S. territories drive on the right.

South Atlantic islands (administered by the UK)

Several remote UK territories in the South Atlantic also follow left-hand traffic, aligning with British road norms.

• Saint Helena
• Ascension Island
• Tristan da Cunha

These small territories illustrate how administrative heritage shapes driving practices even far from continental networks.

Key facts and recent changes

The following points help frame the scale and dynamics of left-hand traffic worldwide.

• Scale: About a third of the global population lives in left-driving jurisdictions; roughly 75 countries and territories use LHT.
• Recent switch: Samoa moved from right- to left-hand traffic in 2009 to harmonize with Australia and New Zealand vehicle imports.
• Regional outliers: Hong Kong and Macau (left) border mainland China (right); the U.S. Virgin Islands (left) are unique among U.S.-administered roads.
• Policy discussions: Some countries have periodically debated switching sides for economic or regional integration reasons, but such changes are rare due to cost and safety risks.

While the system is largely stable, economic ties and vehicle supply chains can drive debate; however, actual side-of-road switches are exceptional events.

Traveler tips

If you’re driving across regions with different rules, preparation minimizes risk and confusion.

• Check local laws and signage before traveling; roundabout and overtaking rules differ.
• Rent a vehicle suited to local traffic (e.g., right-hand-drive cars in left-driving countries).
• Take extra care at border crossings or in territories adjacent to right-driving neighbors.
• Practice in low-traffic areas if you’re unfamiliar with the local side of the road.

With a little planning and awareness, switching between left- and right-driving environments becomes manageable for most drivers.

Summary

Answer: Many countries drive on the left, notably the UK, Japan, India, Australia, and South Africa, plus numerous nations and territories in Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Caribbean—altogether around 75 jurisdictions. This pattern reflects historic ties and practical regional alignments, with only rare changes over time. Travelers should confirm local rules and vehicle norms before driving in a new country.

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.

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.

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. 

Which country has a right-hand drive?

Right-Hand Drive Countries
Some specific countries that use right-hand drive cars include Japan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.