National holiday

This entry gives the primary national day of celebration, usually an independence day.

Afghanistan

previous: Independence Day, 19 August (1919); under the Taliban Government, 15 August (2022) is declared a national holiday, marking the anniversary of the victory of the Afghan jihad

Albania

Independence Day, 28 November (1912), also known as Flag Day

Algeria

Independence Day, 5 July (1962); Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)

Andorra

Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

Argentina

Revolution Day (May Revolution Day), 25 May (1810)

Aruba

National Anthem and Flag Day, 18 March (1976)

Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorates the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

Austria

National Day (commemorates passage of the law on permanent neutrality), 26 October (1955)

Azerbaijan

Republic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918)

Bahamas, The

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

Bahrain

National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection

Bangladesh

Independence Day, 26 March (1971); Victory Day, 16 December (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of the Awami League's declaration of an independent Bangladesh, and 16 December (Victory Day) memorializes the military victory over Pakistan and the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

Barbados

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Belarus

Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union

Belgium

Belgian National Day (ascension to the throne of King LEOPOLD I), 21 July (1831)

Belize

Battle of St. George's Caye Day (National Day), 10 September (1798); Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Benin

Independence Day, 1 August (1960)

Bermuda

Bermuda Day, 24 May; note - formerly known as Victoria Day, Empire Day, and Commonwealth Day

Bhutan

National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

Bolivia

Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Independence Day, 1 March (1992) and Statehood Day, 25 November (1943) - both observed in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity; Victory Day, 9 May (1945) and Dayton Agreement Day, 21 November (1995) - both observed in the Republika Srpska entity

note: there is no national-level holiday

Botswana

Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)

Brazil

Independence Day, 7 September (1822)

British Virgin Islands

Territory Day, 1 July (1956)

Brunei

National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection; the Sultan's birthday, 15 June

Bulgaria

Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

Burkina Faso

Republic Day, 11 December (1958); note - commemorates the day that Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community

Burma

Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)

Burundi

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Cabo Verde

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Cambodia

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

Cameroon

State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)

Canada

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Cayman Islands

Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)

Central African Republic

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

Chad

Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

Chile

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

China

National Day (anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949)

Christmas Island

Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)

Colombia

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Comoros

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Independence Day, 30 June (1960)

Congo, Republic of the

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

Cook Islands

Constitution Day, the first Monday in August (1965)

Costa Rica

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Cote d'Ivoire

Independence Day, 7 August (1960)

Croatia

Statehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990); note - marks the day in 1990 that the first modern multi-party Croatian parliament convened

Cuba

Triumph of the Revolution (Liberation Day), 1 January (1959)

Curacao

King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday

Cyprus

Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as "Republic Day"

Czechia

Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

Denmark

Constitution Day, 5 June (1849); note - closest equivalent to a national holiday

Djibouti

Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

Dominica

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Dominican Republic

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

Ecuador

Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)

Egypt

Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

El Salvador

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Equatorial Guinea

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

Eritrea

Independence Day, 24 May (1991)

Estonia

Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union restoring its statehood

Eswatini

Independence Day (Somhlolo Day), 6 September (1968)

Ethiopia

Derg Downfall Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)

European Union

Europe Day (also known as Schuman Day), 9 May (1950); note - the day in 1950 that Robert SCHUMAN proposed the creation of what became the European Coal and Steel Community, the progenitor of today's European Union, with the aim of achieving a united Europe

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Faroe Islands

Olaifest (Olavsoka) (commemorates the death in battle of King OLAF II of Norway, later St. OLAF), 29 July (1030)

Fiji

Fiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970)

Finland

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

France

Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790); note - often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are la Fête nationale (National Holiday) and le Quatorze Juillet (14th of July)

French Polynesia

Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880)

Gabon

Independence Day, 17 August (1960)

Gambia, The

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Georgia

Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union

Germany

German Unity Day, 3 October (1990)

Ghana

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Gibraltar

National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain

Greece

Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

Greenland

National Day, June 21; note - marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere

Grenada

Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

Guam

Discovery Day (or Magellan Day), first Monday in March (1521)

Guatemala

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Guernsey

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Guinea

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Guinea-Bissau

Independence Day, 24 September (1973)

Guyana

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

Haiti

Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

Holy See (Vatican City)

Election Day of Pope FRANCIS, 13 March (2013)

Honduras

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Hong Kong

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July (1997) is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Hungary

Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August (1083); note - commemorates his canonization and the transfer of his remains to Buda (now Budapest) in 1083

Iceland

Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

India

Republic Day, 26 January (1950)

Indonesia

Independence Day, 17 August (1945)

Iran

Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

Iraq

Independence Day, 3 October (1932); Republic Day, 14 July (1958)

Ireland

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March; note - marks the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, during the latter half of the fifth century A.D. (most commonly cited years are c. 461 and c. 493); although Saint Patrick's feast day was celebrated in Ireland as early as the ninth century, it only became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903

Isle of Man

Tynwald Day, 5 July (1417); date Tynwald Day was first recorded

Israel

Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May

Italy

Republic Day, 2 June (1946)

Jamaica

Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

Japan

Birthday of Emperor NARUHITO, 23 February (1960); note - celebrates the birthday of the current emperor

Jersey

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Jordan

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

Kazakhstan

Independence Day, 16 December (1991)

Kenya

Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963); note - Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963) marks the day Kenya attained internal self-rule

Kiribati

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Korea, North

Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)

Korea, South

Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

Kosovo

Independence Day, 17 February (2008)

Kuwait

National Day, 25 February (1950)

Kyrgyzstan

Independence Day, 31 August (1991)

Laos

Republic Day (National Day), 2 December (1975)

Latvia

Independence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Latvian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union

Lebanon

Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

Lesotho

Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Liberia

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Libya

Liberation Day, 23 October (2011)

Liechtenstein

National Day, 15 August (1940); note - a National Day was originally established in 1940 to combine celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) with those honoring the birthday of former Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (1906-1989) whose birth fell on 16 August; after the prince's death, National Day became the official national holiday by law in 1990

Lithuania

Independence Day (or National Day), 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia and Germany; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Lithuanian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union

Luxembourg

National Day (birthday of Grand Duke HENRI), 23 June; note - this date of birth is not the true date of birth for any of the Royals, but the national festivities were shifted in 1962 to allow observance during a more favorable time of year

Macau

National Day (anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December (1999) is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Madagascar

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Malawi

Independence Day, 6 July (1964); note - also called Republic Day since 6 July 1966

Malaysia

Independence Day (or Merdeka Day), 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day, 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)

Maldives

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Mali

Independence Day, 22 September (1960)

Malta

Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)

Marshall Islands

Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

Mauritania

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Mauritius

Independence and Republic Day, 12 March (1968 & 1992); note - became independent and a republic on the same date in 1968 and 1992 respectively

Mexico

Independence Day, 16 September (1810)

Micronesia, Federated States of

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Moldova

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Monaco

National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)

Mongolia

Naadam (games) holiday (commemorates independence from China in the 1921 Revolution), 11-15 July; Constitution Day (marks the date that the Mongolian People's Republic was created under a new constitution), 26 November (1924)

Montenegro

Statehood Day, 13 July (1878, the day the Berlin Congress recognized Montenegro as the 27th independent state in the world, and 1941, the day the Montenegrins staged an uprising against fascist occupiers and sided with the partisan communist movement)

Montserrat

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June (1926)

Morocco

Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

Mozambique

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Namibia

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Nauru

Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Nepal

Constitution Day, 20 September (2015); note - marks the promulgation of Nepal’s constitution in 2015 and replaces the previous 28 May Republic Day as the official national day in Nepal; the Gregorian day fluctuates based on Nepal’s Hindu calendar

Netherlands

King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day is observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; currently celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday

New Caledonia

Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853)

New Zealand

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); Anzac Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

Nicaragua

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Niger

Republic Day, 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in 1960

Nigeria

Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)

Niue

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Norfolk Island

Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)

North Macedonia

Independence Day, 8 September (1991), also known as National Day

Northern Mariana Islands

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Norway

Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Oman

National Day, 18 November; note - celebrates Oman's independence from Portugal in 1650 and the birthday of Sultan QABOOS bin Said al Said, who reigned from 1970 to 2020

Pakistan

Pakistan Day (also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day or Republic Day), 23 March (1940); note - commemorates both the adoption of the Lahore Resolution by the All-India Muslim League during its 22-24 March 1940 session, which called for the creation of independent Muslim states, and the adoption of the first constitution of Pakistan on 23 March 1956 during the transition to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Palau

Constitution Day, 9 July (1981), day of a national referendum to pass the new constitution; Independence Day, 1 October (1994)

Panama

Independence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903)

Papua New Guinea

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Paraguay

Independence Day, 14-15 May (1811) (observed 15 May); 14 May is celebrated as Flag Day

Peru

Independence Day, 28-29 July (1821)

Philippines

Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from the US

Pitcairn Islands

Birthday of King CHARLES III, second Saturday in June (1948); Discovery Day (Pitcairn Day), 2 July (1767)

Poland

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

Portugal

Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis DE CAMOES (1524-80) died

Puerto Rico

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)

Qatar

National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Romania

Unification Day (unification of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)

Russia

Russia Day, 12 June (1990); note - commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR)

Rwanda

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Saint Barthelemy

Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August (1572)

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

Official birthday of King Charles III, April or June as designated by the governor

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

Saint Lucia

Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

Saint Martin

Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790); note - local holiday is Schoelcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848), as well as St. Martin's Day, 11 November (1985), which commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; the latter holiday celebrated on both halves of the island

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Samoa

Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, but it is observed in June

San Marino

Founding of the Republic (or Feast of Saint Marinus), 3 September (A.D. 301)

Sao Tome and Principe

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Saudi Arabia

Saudi National Day (Unification of the Kingdom), 23 September (1932)

Senegal

Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

Serbia

Statehood Day, 15 February (1835), the day the first constitution of the country was adopted

Seychelles

Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)

Sierra Leone

Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

Singapore

National Day, 9 August (1965)

Sint Maarten

King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday; local holiday Sint Maarten's Day, 11 November (1985), commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; celebrated on both halves of the island

Slovakia

Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

Slovenia

Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Solomon Islands

Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Somalia

Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland

South Africa

Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)

South Sudan

Independence Day, 9 July (2011)

Spain

National Day (Hispanic Day), 12 October (1492); note - commemorates the arrival of COLUMBUS in the Americas

Sri Lanka

Independence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)

Sudan

Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

Suriname

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Sweden

National Day, 6 June (1983); note - from 1916 to 1982 this date was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day

Switzerland

Founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291; note - since 1 August 1891 celebrated as Swiss National Day

Syria

Independence Day (Evacuation Day), 17 April (1946); note - celebrates the leaving of the last French troops and the proclamation of full independence

Taiwan

Republic Day (National Day), 10 October (1911); note - celebrates the anniversary of the Chinese Revolution, also known as Double Ten (10-10) Day

Tajikistan

Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)

Tanzania

Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)

Thailand

Birthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952)

Timor-Leste

Restoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

Togo

Independence Day, 27 April (1960)

Tokelau

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Tonga

Official Birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959); note - actual birthday of the monarch is 12 July 1959, 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned; Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)

Trinidad and Tobago

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Tunisia

Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)

Turkey (Turkiye)

Republic Day, 29 October (1923)

Turkmenistan

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Turks and Caicos Islands

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June

Tuvalu

Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

Uganda

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

Ukraine

Independence Day, 24 August (1991); note - 22 January 1918, the day Ukraine first declared its independence from Soviet Russia, and the date the short-lived Western and Greater (Eastern) Ukrainian republics united (1919), is now celebrated as Unity Day