What countries use mph instead of kph?

Countries that Use Miles per Hour (mph) Instead of Kilometers per Hour (kph)

Around the globe, the majority of countries measure speed in kilometers per hour (kph), including nations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. However, there are a few notable exceptions where miles per hour (mph) remains the standard unit of speed.

United States

The United States is one of the most prominent countries that continues to use mph. This measurement system has been deeply ingrained in the American culture and transportation infrastructure, including road signs, vehicle speedometers, and traffic regulations.

United Kingdom

Similar to the United States, the United Kingdom also uses mph as its primary unit of speed. This is due to historical reasons, as both countries have maintained strong ties and shared cultural influences.

Other Exceptions

While the United States and the United Kingdom are the most well-known countries that use mph, there are a few other nations that also employ this measurement:

• Liberia
• Myanmar
• Palau

Reasons for the Divergence

There are several reasons why the United States and the United Kingdom have not adopted the kph system:

• Tradition and Cultural Inertia: Both countries have a long history of using mph, and it has become deeply ingrained in their societies and everyday language.
• Political Resistance: There has been some political resistance to changing to kph, particularly in the United States.
• Cost of Conversion: Converting infrastructure, including road signs and vehicle components, to kph would require a significant investment.

Benefits of kph

Using kph offers several advantages:

• International Standardization: Most countries worldwide use kph, which simplifies speed limit comparisons and international travel.
• Metric System Consistency: kph is part of the metric system, which is commonly used for other measurements such as distance and weight.
• Ease of Calculation: kph conversions are straightforward, making it easier to estimate distances and times.

Conclusion

While the United States and the United Kingdom stand out as notable exceptions, most countries around the world use kph for measuring speed. The continued use of mph in these countries is largely attributed to historical and cultural factors despite the benefits of adopting kph.