Bhutan is home to Thimphu, widely known as the world’s only national capital without traffic lights.
Thimphu is Bhutan’s capital and largest city, located in a Himalayan valley beside the Wang Chuu River. Instead of automated traffic signals, traffic police have traditionally directed vehicles at busy junctions, including the city’s central intersection.
A traffic light was installed in Thimphu in 1995, but it was removed after public complaints that it felt impersonal and unsuitable for the city. A later installation was also rejected, preserving the distinctive manual system.
The claim refers to a national capital, not every city in the world. Thimphu still manages substantial traffic, and road signs, lane markings, police officers, and roundabouts help organize movement through the growing urban area.