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 |
Côte 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 |
São Tomé and Príncipe
|
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
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.
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