Where can I fly my drone? Here's an explanation with this world map

Drones have taken to the skies around the world, and in a constant expansion, there are 1.7 million of these 'flying robots' in the United States alone. But... what about air legislation?

It's time to ask new questions in governments around the globe, because drones serve countless purposes... but they can also be tools for surveillance and invade the privacy of ordinary citizens.

So far, 143 countries have enacted some kind of regulations related to drones, but many experts argue that current drone regulations are insufficient to address the threat of widespread surveillance. However, these regulations mostly focus on how drones operate and do not address privacy issues.

That's why today, thanks to Surfshark, we are going to explore how drone regulations vary across the globe. Regulations that, by the way, fall into each of these seven categories:

Do you want to know if you can fly your drone all over the world? Here's a spoiler: no, but you can in all continents.

Europe currently has one of the most liberal drone regulations in the world. 27% of European countries with drone-related regulations fall into the "no restrictions" category, more than 18% of the global average, and the highest proportion of any continent.

However, even though these countries have implemented relatively little legislation restricting drone use, they still have a series of operational guidelines. For example, drone pilots in Latvia must wear identifying clothing, such as a hat or shirt. In Austria, pilots must obtain a license if the drone weighs more than half a pound and flies above 30 meters.

While most countries around the world require drone pilots to maintain visual contact with the UAV at all times, 33% of North American countries allow experimental drone flights beyond the visual line of sight, the highest proportion of any continent and well above the global average of 22%.

The large number of countries permitting experimental drone flights may be tied to the presence of technology companies like Amazon, Walmart, and DHL, which are exploring ways to integrate drones into their delivery infrastructure and developing methods to send lightweight packages over short distances. Countries with legislation on experimental drones include Canada, the United States, the Cayman Islands, and other small Caribbean nations.

67% of countries with drone-related legislation in South America allow drones to fly, as long as the aerial vehicle remains in the pilot's view. No country in South America has total or effective drone bans. However, while no country prohibits drones, only one, Guyana, has provisions permitting flights beyond the visual line of sight.

Other South American countries have specific drone rules aimed at safety and environmental conservation. In Peru, for instance, drone flights cannot last more than one hour. In Ecuador, drones are completely banned in the Galápagos Islands, except for approved scientific use.

21% of countries in this region with drone-related legislation have total bans on these flying devices. Additionally, there are several countries with effective drone bans. In Bhutan, for example, flying drones is only allowed by the government. Overall, 15% of Asian countries have effective bans on drones, significantly higher than the global average of 8% and the highest proportion of any continent.

Nonetheless, a small number of countries are beginning to allow drone flights beyond visual line of sight. Japan, for instance, is currently developing a licensing system that will permit drone flights beyond visual line of sight for government deliveries.

56% of countries in Oceania have no legislation related to drones. Of the countries that do have drone-related legislation, most allow drones as long as pilots remain within the drone's visual line of sight. No country has absolute bans or effective bans on drones.

In Australia and New Zealand, there are provisions for drones to fly beyond the visual line of sight of the pilot. Currently, licenses that allow drones to fly beyond visual line are limited to a few small aviation businesses. According to the RAND Corporation, licenses for experimental flights beyond visual range are easier to obtain in Australia than in the United States.

More than half of all countries in Africa have no drone-related legislation. Of the countries that have drone-related legislation, 21% impose a total ban on this technology. Another 13% of countries have an effective ban on the technology. In Egypt, for instance, although drones are technically legal with permission from the Civil Aviation Authority, it is very difficult to obtain.

But despite the obstacles to drone flights in several African countries, there are also examples of innovation on the continent. In Ghana and Rwanda, for example, drones can fly beyond visual range to deliver medical supplies to remote villages. Other African countries that allow drones to fly beyond visual line of sight include Uganda and Zimbabwe.