Which of these countries has left-hand traffic?

It depends on your options: please share the specific list you’re choosing from. Broadly, countries that drive on the left include the United Kingdom, India, Japan, Australia, South Africa, and Thailand; by contrast, the United States, Germany, France, China, Brazil, and most of continental Europe and the Americas drive on the right. Send your exact choices and I’ll identify the left-hand traffic country or countries immediately.

What “left-hand traffic” means and why it varies

Left-hand traffic (LHT) means vehicles keep to the left side of the road and most drivers sit on the right side of the car. This pattern is common in former British territories and parts of Asia, Oceania, southern Africa, and the Caribbean. Right-hand traffic (RHT) dominates elsewhere, including continental Europe, mainland China, the Middle East, and most of the Americas.

Quick rules of thumb to spot left-hand traffic

The following guidelines can help you quickly judge whether a country drives on the left when you don’t have the full list in front of you.

• If it’s the UK, Ireland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, or India (and most of South Asia), it’s left-hand traffic.
• Much of Southeast Asia is left-hand traffic: Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste. Mainland neighbors like Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia are right-hand.
• Southern and parts of East Africa are left-hand: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, Eswatini, plus island states Mauritius and Seychelles.
• Caribbean exceptions: many islands drive on the left (e.g., Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago), and the US Virgin Islands are a notable left-driving US territory.
• Europe is almost entirely right-hand, except the UK, Ireland, Cyprus, and Malta (plus the UK Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man).
• China drives on the right, but Hong Kong and Macau (SARs) drive on the left.

These heuristics cover most quiz-style questions. If your options fall outside these patterns, share them and I’ll verify each one.

Countries and territories that drive on the left (2025)

Below is a region-by-region overview of sovereign states and notable territories that use left-hand traffic. This helps you cross-check any multiple-choice options you might have. Where relevant, territories and special jurisdictions are included because they often appear in quizzes.

• Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta; Crown Dependencies: Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey.
• Asia: Japan; South Asia — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives; Southeast Asia — Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, Timor-Leste; Special Administrative Regions — Hong Kong, Macau.
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa (since 2009), Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu; Associated/territories — Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Pitcairn Islands.
• Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, Eswatini; Island states — Mauritius, Seychelles; UK Overseas Territory — Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.
• Americas & the Caribbean: Guyana, Suriname; Caribbean states — Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis; Territories — Bermuda, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, Falkland Islands, US Virgin Islands.

Road regimes change rarely, but border arrangements and local exceptions can be quirky (for example, driving switches at the Hong Kong–Mainland China boundary). Rwanda has discussed switching in recent years but currently remains right-hand traffic, and Myanmar switched from left to right decades ago. If in doubt, ask and I’ll confirm the latest status for any specific country or territory.

Examples using common quiz-style options

Here are sample lineups to show how to pick out the left-hand traffic options at a glance.

• Among Japan, Germany, Brazil, Australia — left-hand: Japan, Australia.
• Among United States, India, China, France — left-hand: India.
• Among South Africa, Italy, Canada, Russia — left-hand: South Africa.

These examples mirror typical multiple-choice patterns, where one or two entries are well-known left-driving countries among right-driving distractors.

How to get a definitive answer for your list

Paste the specific countries you’re comparing, and I’ll immediately identify which ones have left-hand traffic. If you prefer, I can also provide quick references for each country with regional context and any notable exceptions.

Summary

Left-hand traffic is common in the UK and Ireland, much of South and Southeast Asia, Oceania, southern/eastern Africa, and many Caribbean islands, plus Hong Kong and Macau. Right-hand traffic dominates elsewhere, including continental Europe, mainland China, and most of the Americas. Share your exact options and I’ll pinpoint the left-hand traffic choices with certainty.