National holiday

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

• Afghanistan

  Independence Day, 19 August (1919)

• Albania

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

• Algeria

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

• American Samoa

  Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

• Andorra

  Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

• Angola

  Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

• Anguilla

  Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)

• Antigua and Barbuda

  Independence Day, 1 November (1981)

• Argentina

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

• Armenia

  Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

• Aruba

  National Anthem and Flag Day, 18 March (1976)

• Australia

  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

  Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - 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 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)

• French Polynesia

  Fete de la Federation, 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 are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; currently celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday

• New Caledonia

  Fete de la Federation, 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 Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926); 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

  Fete de la Federation, 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

  Fete de la Federation, 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

  Fete de la Federation, 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

• United Arab Emirates

  Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)

• United Kingdom

  the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday

• United States

  Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

• Uruguay

  Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

• Uzbekistan

  Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

• Vanuatu

  Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

• Venezuela

  Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

• Vietnam

  Independence Day (National Day), 2 September (1945)

• Virgin Islands

  Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)

• Wallis and Futuna

  Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

• Yemen

  Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

• Zambia

  Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

• Zimbabwe

  Independence Day, 18 April (1980)