Which Countries Drive on the Left Side of the Road?
Around 75 countries and territories, close to a third of the world's nations, drive on the left-hand side of the road. Almost all of them either belonged to the British Empire or adopted British-built rail and road standards. Here's the complete list, organized by region.
The Left-Hand Driving List, by Region
Europe
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- Malta
- Cyprus
Africa
- South Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Botswana
- Namibia
- Mozambique
- Lesotho
- Eswatini
- Malawi
- Mauritius
- Seychelles
Asia
- Japan
- India
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Sri Lanka
- Nepal
- Bhutan
- Thailand
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Brunei
- East Timor
- Hong Kong
- Macau
Oceania
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Fiji
- Papua New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
- Samoa
- Tonga
- Kiribati
- Nauru
- Tuvalu
Caribbean and South America
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- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Saint Lucia
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Guyana
- Suriname
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Countries driving on the left | Around 75 |
| Share of the world's countries | Roughly 1 in 3 |
| Most common origin | British Empire road law |
| Most recent switch | Samoa, from right to left, in 2009 |
Why Does the UK Drive on the Left, Anyway?
The custom predates cars entirely. Riders on horseback traditionally kept to the left so their right hand, the sword hand for most people, stayed free to greet or defend against oncoming travelers. Britain formalized left-hand traffic in law with the General Highways Act of 1773, then exported the rule to its colonies and Commonwealth nations.
The Countries That Switched Sides
Road-side rules aren't permanent. Sweden famously flipped from left to right in a single coordinated event on September 3, 1967, known as Dagen H, to match its European neighbors. Samoa went the other way in 2009, switching from right to left specifically to make it cheaper to import used cars from right-hand-drive neighbors like Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
→15 Geography Facts That Will Surprise YouDriving Side vs. Steering Wheel Position
The two are easy to mix up. "Driving on the left" describes which lane traffic uses; the steering wheel then sits on the right side of the car, so the driver can see oncoming traffic and the road edge clearly. Right-hand traffic pairs with left-hand-drive cars, and vice versa.
What percentage of the world drives on the left?
About a third of the world's countries drive on the left, covering roughly a quarter of the planet's roads.
Why do former British colonies drive on the left?
Britain formalized left-hand traffic in the General Highways Act of 1773 and carried the rule into its colonies and the Commonwealth.
Which country most recently switched to left-hand driving?
Samoa switched from right-hand to left-hand traffic in September 2009.
Does Japan drive on the left because of British influence?
Not directly. Japan's left-hand traffic dates back to samurai-era customs and was later formalized during rail development in the late 1800s, independent of British colonization.
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