Which Countries Drive on the Left?

Why do some countries drive on the left?

Keeping left is the older habit: riders kept their sword hand free and passed oncoming traffic on the right-hand side. Britain made it law and spread it across its empire, which is why most left-driving countries are former British colonies — India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan and Thailand among them. Japan adopted left-hand traffic independently, and Indonesia and Suriname inherited it from the Dutch era.

Left-hand traffic by continent

• Africa (14): Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• Americas (12): Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago
• Asia (16): Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste
• Europe (4): Cyprus, Ireland, Malta, United Kingdom
• Oceania (10): Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu

Borders where you switch sides

Crossing these 26 land borders means changing sides of the road: Pakistan–Afghanistan, India–China, Thailand–Myanmar, Zambia–DR Congo, Thailand–Laos, India–Myanmar, Namibia–Angola, Nepal–China, Guyana–Brazil, Zambia–Angola, Pakistan–Iran, Uganda–DR Congo, Kenya–Ethiopia, Thailand–Cambodia, Guyana–Venezuela, Kenya–Somalia, Tanzania–Burundi, Suriname–Brazil, Tanzania–DR Congo, Bhutan–China, Uganda–South Sudan, Pakistan–China, Kenya–South Sudan, Bangladesh–Myanmar, Tanzania–Rwanda and Uganda–Rwanda. Signs and road markings guide drivers through the changeover.

Driving abroad

In left-driving countries cars are right-hand drive, roundabouts run clockwise and you overtake on the right. Take extra care at junctions and when pulling out of car parks, especially in your first days. Check whether you need an International Driving Permit, and look up the visa rules for your trip on our visa requirements pages.

Related rankings

• Neighbouring countries
• Countries and capitals
• Country calling codes