Last Updated on July 28, 2021
Table of Contents
National Holidays Around The World
The following table lists the date and name for select national holidays in countries around the world. Find the day, month, and year of inception for independence, revolution, flag, and founding days of more than 100 nations.
| Country | Date | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | August 19 (1919) | Independence Day |
| Albania | November 28 (1912) | Independence Day |
| Algeria | November 1 (1954) | Revolution Day |
| American Samoa | April 17 (1900) | Flag Day |
| Andorra | September 8 (1278) | Our Lady of Meritxell Day |
| Angola | November 11 (1975) | Independence Day |
| Antigua and Barbuda | November 1 (1981) | Independence Day (National Day) |
| Argentina | May 25 (1810) | Revolution Day |
| Armenia | September 21 (1991) | Independence Day |
| Aruba | March 18 (1976) | Flag Day |
| Australia | January 26 (1788) | Australia Day |
| Austria | October 26 (1955) | National Day2 |
| Azerbaijan | May 28 (1918) | Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan |
| Bahamas | July 10 (1973) | Independence Day |
| Bahrain | December 16 (1971) | National Day3 |
| Bangladesh | March 26 (1971) | Independence Day4 |
| Barbados | November 30 (1966) | Independence Day |
| Belarus | July 3 (1944) | Independence Day5 |
| Belgium | July 21 (1831) | Ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I |
| Belize | September 21 (1981) | Independence Day |
| Benin | August 1 (1960) | National Day |
| Bermuda | May 24 | Bermuda Day |
| Bhutan | December 17 (1907) | National Day6 |
| Bolivia | August 6 (1825) | Independence Day |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | November 25 (1943) | National Day |
| Botswana | September 30 (1966) | Independence Day (Botswana Day) |
| Brazil | September 7 (1822) | Independence Day |
| British Virgin Islands | July 1 (1956) | Territory Day |
| Brunei | February 23 (1984) | National Day7 |
| Bulgaria | March 3 (1878) | Liberation Day |
| Burkina Faso | December 11 (1958) | Republic Day |
| Burundi | July 1 (1962) | Independence Day |
| Cambodia | November 9 (1953) | Independence Day |
| Cameroon | May 20 (1972) | Republic Day (National Day) |
| Canada | July 1 (1867) | Canada Day |
| Cape Verde | July 5 (1975) | Independence Day |
| Cayman Islands | First Monday in July | Constitution Day |
| Central African Republic | December 1 (1958) | Republic Day |
| Chad | August 11 (1960) | Independence Day |
| Chile | September 18 (1810) | Independence Day |
| China, People’s Rep. of | October 1 (1949) | Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China |
| Colombia | July 20 (1810) | Independence Day |
| Comoros | July 6 (1975) | Independence Day |
| Congo | August 15 (1960) | Independence Day |
| Congo, Dem. Rep. of | June 30 (1960) | Independence Day |
| Cook Islands | First Monday in August (1965) | Constitution Day |
| Costa Rica | September 15 (1821) | Independence Day |
| Cte d’Ivoire | August 7 (1960) | Independence Day |
| Croatia | October 8 (1991) | Independence Day8 |
| Cuba | January 1 (1959) | Triumph of the Revolution |
| Cyprus | October 1 (1960) | Independence Day9 |
| Czech Rep. | October 28 (1918) | Czech Founding Day |
| Denmark | June 5 (1849) | Constitution Day10 |
| Djibouti | June 27 (1977) | Independence Day |
| Dominica | November 3 (1978) | Independence Day |
| Dominican Rep. | February 27 (1844) | Independence Day |
| East Timor | November 28 (1975) | Independence Day |
| Ecuador | August 10 (1809) | Independence Day (independence of Quito) |
| Egypt | July 23 (1952) | Revolution Day |
| El Salvador | September 15 (1821) | Independence Day |
| Equatorial Guinea | October 12 (1968) | Independence Day |
| Eritrea | May 24 (1993) | Independence Day |
| Estonia | February 24 (1918) | Independence Day11 |
| Ethiopia | May 28 (1991) | National Day (defeat of Mengistu regime) |
| European Union | May 9 (1950) | Europe Day12 |
| Fiji | 2nd Monday of October (1970) | Independence Day |
| Finland | December 6 (1917) | Independence Day |
| France | July 14 (1790) | Fete de la Federation13 |
| French Polynesia | July 14 (1789) | Bastille Day |
| Gabon | August 17 (1960) | Independence Day |
| Gambia, The | February 18 (1965) | Independence Day |
| Georgia | May 26 (1918) | Independence Day14 |
| Germany | October 3 (1990) | Unity Day |
| Ghana | March 6 (1957) | Independence Day |
| Gibraltar | September 10 (1967) | National Day15 |
| Greece | March 25 (1821) | Independence Day |
| Greenland | June 21 | Longest day |
| Grenada | February 7 (1974) | Independence Day |
| Guam | 1st Monday in March (1521) | Discovery Day |
| Guatemala | September 15 (1821) | Independence Day |
| Guernsey | May 9 (1945) | Liberation Day |
| Guinea | October 2 (1958) | Independence Day |
| Guinea-Bissau | September 24 (1973) | Independence Day |
| Guyana | February 23 (1970) | Republic Day |
| Haiti | January 1 (1804) | Independence Day |
| Holy See (Vatican City) | April 24 (2005) | Coronation Day of Pope Benedict XVI |
| Honduras | September 15 (1821) | Independence Day |
| Hong Kong | October 1 (1949) | National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China)16 |
| Hungary | August 20 | Saint Stephen’s Day |
| Iceland | June 17 (1944) | Independence Day |
| India | January 26 (1950) | Republic Day |
| Indonesia | August 17 (1945) | Independence Day |
| Iran | April 1 (1979) | Republic Day |
| Iraq | July 17 (1968) | Revolution Day17 |
| Ireland | March 17 | Saint Patrick’s Day |
| Isle of Man | July 5 | Tynwald Day |
| Israel | April or May 14 (1948) | Independence Day1 |
| Italy | June 2 (1946) | Republic Day |
| Jamaica | August 6 (1962) | Independence Day |
| Japan | December 23 (1933) | Birthday of Emperor Akihito |
| Jersey | May 9 (1945) | Liberation Day |
| Jordan | May 25 (1946) | Independence Day |
| Kazakhstan | December 16 (1991) | Independence Day |
| Kenya | December 12 (1963) | Independence Day |
| Kiribati | July 12 (1979) | Independence Day |
| Korea (North) | September 9 (1948) | Founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea |
| Korea (South) | August 15 (1945) | Liberation Day |
| Kuwait | February 25 (1950) | National Day |
| Kyrgyzstan | August 31 (1991) | Independence Day |
| Laos | December 2 (1975) | Republic Day |
| Latvia | November 18 (1918) | Independence Day18 |
| Lebanon | November 22 (1943) | Independence Day |
| Lesotho | October 4 (1966) | Independence Day |
| Liberia | July 26 (1847) | Independence Day |
| Libya | September 1 (1969) | Revolution Day |
| Liechtenstein | August 15 | Assumption Day |
| Lithuania | February 16 (1918) | Independence Day19 |
| Luxembourg | June 23 | National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte)20 |
| Macau | October 1 (1949) | National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China)21 |
| Macedonia | August 2 (1903) | Ilinden Uprising Day22 |
| Madagascar | June 26 (1960) | Independence Day |
| Malawi | July 6 (1964) | Independence Day (Republic Day) |
| Malaysia | August 31 (1957) | Independence Day/Malaysia Day |
| Maldives | July 26 (1965) | Independence Day |
| Mali | September 22 (1960) | Independence Day |
| Malta | September 21 (1964) | Independence Day |
| Marshall Islands | May 1 (1979) | Constitution Day |
| Mauritania | November 28 (1960) | Independence Day |
| Mauritius | March 12 (1968) | Independence Day |
| Mayotte | July 14 (1789) | Bastille Day |
| Mexico | September 16 (1810) | Independence Day |
| Micronesia, Federated States of | May 10 (1979) | Constitution Day |
| Moldova | August 27 (1991) | Independence Day |
| Monaco | November 19 (1857) | National Day (Saint Rainier’s Day) |
| Mongolia | July 11 (1921) | Independence Day/Revolution Day |
| Montenegro | July 13 (1878) | National Day |
| Morocco | July 30 (1999) | Throne Day (accession of King Mohamed VI to the throne) |
| Mozambique | June 25 (1975) | Independence Day |
| Namibia | March 21 (1990) | Independence Day |
| Nauru | January 31 (1968) | Independence Day |
| Netherlands | April 30 (1909 and 1980) | Queen’s Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother Juliana and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter Beatrix) |
| Netherlands Antilles | April 30 (1909 and 1980) | Queen’s Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother Juliana and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter Beatrix) |
| New Caledonia | July 14 (1789) | Bastille Day |
| New Zealand | February 6 (1840) | Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand) |
| Nicaragua | September 15 (1821) | Independence Day |
| Niger | December 18 (1958) | Republic Day |
| Nigeria | October 1 (1960) | Independence Day (National Day) |
| Niue | February 6 (1840) | Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand) |
| Norfolk Island | June 8 (1856) | Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders) |
| Northern Mariana Islands | January 8 (1978) | Commonwealth Day |
| Norway | May 17 (1814) | Constitution Day |
| Oman | November 18 (1940) | Birthday of Sultan Qaboos |
| Pakistan | March 23 (1956) | Republic Day |
| Palau | July 9 (1979) | Constitution Day |
| Panama | November 3 (1903) | Independence Day |
| Papua New Guinea | September 16 (1975) | Independence Day |
| Paraguay | May 14-15 (1811) | Independence Day |
| Peru | July 28 (1821) | Independence Day |
| Philippines | June 12 (1898) | Independence Day23 |
| Poland | May 3 (1791) | Constitution Day |
| Portugal | June 10 (1580) | Portugal Day (Day of Portugal)24 |
| Qatar | September 3 (1971) | Independence Day |
| Romania | December 1 (1918) | Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania) |
| Russia | June 12 (1990) | Russia Day |
| Rwanda | July 1 (1962) | Independence Day |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | September 19 (1983) | Independence Day |
| St. Lucia | February 22 (1979) | Independence Day |
| St. Martin | July 14 (1789) | Bastille Day25 |
| St. Pierre and Miquelon | July 14 (1789) | Bastille Day |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | October 27 (1979) | Independence Day |
| Samoa | June 1 (1962) | Independence Day Celebration26 |
| San Marino | September 3 (A.D. 301) | Founding of the Republic |
| So Tom and Prncipe | July 12 (1975) | Independence Day |
| Saudi Arabia | September 23 (1932) | Unification of the Kingdom |
| Senegal | April 4 (1960) | Independence Day |
| Serbia | February 15 | National Day |
| Seychelles | June 18 (1993) | Constitution Day (National Day) |
| Sierra Leone | April 27 (1961) | Independence Day |
| Singapore | August 9 (1965) | National Day |
| Slovakia | September 1 (1992) | Constitution Day |
| Slovenia | June 25 (1991) | Independence Day/Statehood Day |
| Solomon Islands | July 7 (1978) | Independence Day |
| Somalia | July 1 (1960) | Foundation of the Somali Republic27 |
| South Africa | April 27 (1994) | Freedom Day |
| Spain | October 12 (1492) | National Day28 |
| Sri Lanka | February 4 (1948) | Independence Day |
| Sudan | January 1 (1956) | Independence Day |
| Suriname | November 25 (1975) | Independence Day |
| Swaziland | September 6 (1968) | Independence Day |
| Sweden | June 6 (1916) | Swedish Flag Day, National Day (1983) |
| Switzerland | August 1 (1291) | Founding of the Swiss Confederation |
| Syria | April 17 (1946) | Independence Day |
| Taiwan | October 10 (1911) | Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution) |
| Tajikistan | September 9 (1991) | Independence Day (or National Day) |
| Tanzania | April 26 (1964) | Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar) |
| Thailand | December 5 (1927) | Birthday of King Phumiphon (Bhumibol) |
| Togo | April 27 (1960) | Independence Day |
| Tokelau | February 6 (1840) | Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand) |
| Tonga | June 4 (1970) | Emancipation Day |
| Trinidad and Tobago | August 31 (1962) | Independence Day |
| Tunisia | March 20 (1956) | Independence Day29 |
| Turkey | October 29 (1923) | Republic Day |
| Turkmenistan | October 27 (1991) | Independence Day |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | August 30 (1976) | Constitution Day |
| Tuvalu | October 1 (1978) | Independence Day |
| Uganda | October 9 (1962) | Independence Day |
| Ukraine | August 24 (1991) | Independence Day30 |
| United Arab Emirates | December 2 (1971) | Independence Day |
| United States | July 4 (1776) | Independence Day |
| Uruguay | August 25 (1825) | Independence Day |
| Uzbekistan | September 1 (1991) | Independence Day |
| Vanuatu | July 30 (1980) | Independence Day |
| Venezuela | July 5 (1811) | Independence Day |
| Vietnam | September 2 (1945) | Independence Day |
| Virgin Islands | March 27 (1917) | Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US) |
| Wallis and Futuna | July 14 (1789) | Bastille Day |
| Yemen | May 22 (1990) | Unification Day |
| Zambia | October 24 (1964) | Independence Day |
| Zimbabwe | April 18 (1980) | Independence Day |
1. Israel declared independence on May 14, 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May
2. Commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality
3. August 15, 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, December 16, 1971, was the date of independence from British protection
4. March 26, 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, December 16, 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
5. July 3, 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, August 25, 1991 was the date of Independence from the Soviet Union
6. Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary king
7. January 1, 1984 was the date of Independence from the UK, February 23, 1984 was the date of independence from British protection
8. June 25, 1991 was the day the Croatian Parliament voted for independence; following a three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslav crisis peacefully, Parliament adopted a decision on October 8, 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia
9. Turkish Cypriots celebrate November 15, 1983 as Independence Day
10. Generally viewed as the National Day
11. February 24, 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia; August 20, 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union
12. A Union-wide holiday, the day that Robert SCHUMAN proposed the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community to achieve an organized Europe
13. Although often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on July 14, 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)
14. May 26, 1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, April 9, 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union
15. Day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain
16. July 1, 1997 is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
17. This holiday was celebrated under the Saddam Husayn regime; the Government of Iraq has yet to declare a new national holiday
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18. November 18, 1918 was the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; May 4, 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; August 21, 1991 was the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union
19. February 16, 1918 was the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union
20. The actual date of birth was 23 January 1896, but the festivities were shifted by five months to allow observance during a more favorable time of year
21. December 20, 1999 is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
22. Also known as Saint Elijah’s Day
23. June 12, 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; July 4, 1946 was date of independence from US
24. Also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died
25. Local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) July 12 (1848)
26. January 1, 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship; it is observed in June
27. June 26 (1960) in Somaliland
28. Year when Columbus first set foot in the Americas
29. Also the anniversary of Ben Ali’s assumption of the presidency, November 7 (1987)
30. January 22, 1918, the day Ukraine first declared its independence (from Soviet Russia) and the day the short-lived Western and Central Ukrainian republics united (1919), is now celebrated as Unity Day
Source: CIA World Factbook.