Which states drive on the left?

About 75 countries and territories—home to roughly one-third of the world’s population—drive on the left-hand side of the road. These are concentrated in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, most of South and Southeast Asia, Oceania, large portions of Southern and East Africa, and several Caribbean nations, plus a few South American outliers (Guyana and Suriname). Below is a clear, region-by-region breakdown and context.

Global overview

Left-hand traffic (LHT) historically spreads from British influence, Japan, and regional neighbors. While most of the world drives on the right (RHT), LHT survives wherever colonial, legal, or practical reasons favored continuity. Travelers should note that LHT jurisdictions typically use right-hand-drive vehicles (steering wheel on the right), with a few exceptions.

Europe and nearby territories

Only a handful of European states drive on the left, mostly linked to the UK and Cyprus. Some small territories follow the same rule even if nearby neighbors do not.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Malta
• Cyprus (including the UK Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
• Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey (Channel Islands)

Note: Gibraltar drives on the right, aligning with Spain, making it an exception among UK territories in Europe.

Asia

South and Southeast Asia host many LHT countries, with additional pockets in East Asia. Some special administrative regions follow LHT despite their parent states being RHT.

• South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives
• Southeast Asia: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor‑Leste (East Timor)
• East Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China SAR), Macau (China SAR)

Myanmar is right-hand traffic today (it switched from left in 1970). Mainland China, the Koreas, Taiwan, and most of continental Southeast Asia (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam) are right-hand traffic.

Africa

Left-hand driving predominates in Southern Africa and parts of East Africa, plus select island nations in the Indian Ocean.

• Southern/East Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda
• Indian Ocean islands: Mauritius, Seychelles
• South Atlantic UK territories: Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Most of West, Central, and North Africa drive on the right. Notable RHT neighbors at LHT borders include Namibia–Angola, Kenya–Ethiopia, and Tanzania–Rwanda/Burundi.

Oceania

Oceania features a broad LHT zone anchored by Australia and New Zealand and many nearby island nations and territories.

• Australia (all states and territories), New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands
• Fiji, Samoa (switched to left in 2009), Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Nauru
• Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau (NZ territories), Pitcairn Islands (UK)

Most French- and U.S.-administered Pacific territories (e.g., New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau) drive on the right, creating regional LHT/RHT contrasts.

Americas and the Caribbean

The Caribbean retains many LHT jurisdictions due to British heritage. There are also two notable LHT countries on the South American mainland.

• Caribbean independent states: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Bahamas, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Caribbean territories: Cayman Islands, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, Montserrat, Anguilla, U.S. Virgin Islands
• South America: Guyana, Suriname
• South Atlantic: Falkland Islands (UK), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (UK)

Most of the Americas are right-hand traffic. The U.S. Virgin Islands are a notable U.S.-linked exception where motorists drive on the left.

How many, and where it matters at borders

In total, roughly 75 countries and territories drive on the left, a minority by count but significant by population. At RHT/LHT borders and fixed links, special crossovers and signage handle the switch.

• Europe: UK–France via Channel Tunnel and ferry ports feature engineered lane-change systems.
• China–Hong Kong/Macau: dedicated interchanges (e.g., Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, Shenzhen Bay Port) manage LHT-to-RHT transitions.
• South America: The Takutu River Bridge (Guyana–Brazil) includes a lane swap.
• Africa: Kenya–Ethiopia and Tanzania–Rwanda crossings require side changes.

These engineered transitions ensure safety and clarity, but drivers should be vigilant, especially immediately after crossing.

Why these places drive on the left

Patterns reflect historical influence and practical continuity. British colonial systems standardized left-hand traffic across vast regions; Japan adopted LHT via early rail and driving conventions; neighboring states often aligned for cross-border consistency. Switching sides is rare and disruptive—Samoa’s 2009 change to LHT was driven by vehicle import economics and regional harmonization with Australia and New Zealand.

Tips for travelers

If you plan to drive in an LHT country, preparation and familiarity with local rules are essential for safety.

• Expect right-hand-drive vehicles and roundabouts circulating clockwise; yield rules may differ from your home country.
• Take extra care at turns and when pulling into traffic; consider automatic transmission if you’re new to LHT.
• At border crossings or after long flights, pause and re-orient—fatigue increases wrong-lane errors.
• Check rental insurance, licensing requirements, and local speed limits and signage.

With a little preparation, adjusting to left-hand driving is straightforward for most visitors.

Summary

Left-hand traffic is used in the UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, most of South and Southeast Asia, Japan, much of Southern and East Africa, Australia and New Zealand with many Pacific neighbors, a cluster of Caribbean nations and territories, and in Guyana and Suriname. While fewer jurisdictions use LHT than RHT, they include several major travel and trade hubs, and engineered systems help motorists safely transition where the two systems meet.