About 165 countries and territories drive on the right-hand side of the road, while roughly 75 drive on the left, a split of close to 70/30. Right-hand traffic covers all of the Americas apart from a few Caribbean nations, most of Europe, most of Africa and much of Asia.
Introduction
Most of the world drives on the right. Around two-thirds of countries, and an even larger share of the global population and total road distance, keep to the right-hand side, with the driver seated on the left of the vehicle. Left-hand traffic survives mainly in the United Kingdom, its former colonies and Japan.
Which side a country drives on is a matter of history, not logic, and the pattern maps closely onto old empires and trade links. Below is a region-by-region look at where the world keeps right and how the divide came to be.
Where the World Drives on the Right
Region by region
- The Americas: Almost the entire Western Hemisphere drives on the right, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and every mainland Latin American country. The main exceptions are a handful of Caribbean islands such as Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, plus Guyana and Suriname, which drive on the left.
- Continental Europe: Nearly all of mainland Europe drives on the right, from France, Germany, Spain and Italy to Poland, Russia and the Nordic countries. The clear exceptions are the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus, which drive on the left.
- Most of Africa: The majority of African nations drive on the right, including all of North Africa, West Africa and Central Africa. Left-hand driving is confined mainly to former British colonies in the south and east, such as South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Mainland Asia and the Middle East: Most of Asia drives on the right, including China, Russia, most of the Middle East, the Central Asian states, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines and Iran. Left-hand traffic dominates in former British territories such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan.
- Oceania: This region mostly bucks the global trend. Australia, New Zealand and most Pacific island nations drive on the left, a legacy of British influence.
The rule of thumb is simple: if a country was shaped by the British Empire, it probably drives on the left; almost everywhere else drives on the right. Sweden famously switched from left to right in 1967, an event known as Dagen H, to match its neighbors.
Why the Right-Hand Side Won
Before cars, teamsters in France and the United States drove large wagons pulled by several pairs of horses, sitting on the rear left horse so their right hand was free for the whip. That put them near the center of the road and made right-hand travel natural. The pattern spread across continental Europe partly through Napoleon, who imposed right-hand traffic across the territories he conquered. Britain, never conquered, kept its older left-hand custom and exported it across its empire. As mass car ownership arrived in the 20th century, most newly independent nations kept whatever side their colonial rulers had established.
People Also Ask
How many countries drive on the right?
About 165 countries and territories drive on the right-hand side of the road, compared with roughly 75 that drive on the left, a split of close to 70/30 in favor of right-hand traffic.
Why do some countries drive on the left?
Left-hand driving is mostly a legacy of the British Empire. The United Kingdom kept its historic left-hand custom and spread it to colonies such as India, Australia, South Africa and Kenya, while Japan adopted the same side.
Has any country switched sides?
Yes. Sweden switched from left to right in 1967 in an event called Dagen H to align with its neighbors. Samoa went the other way in 2009, switching from right to left to make imported used cars cheaper.