Countries with the Most Holidays 2024

Most every culture and country in the world celebrates holidays. Holidays take many forms. Some are near-global public holidays such as New Year's Eve, and some are celebrated by only a few countries, such as Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick's Day. Some are strictly religious, such as Ramadan, some are strictly secular, such as Thanksgiving, and some have both spiritual and secular elements, such as the fall and winter holidays (Halloween, Dia de los Muertos, Christmas, Hanukkah, Krampus, and related holidays). But which country celebrates the most holidays of all?

Which Country Has the Most Public Holidays in the World?

At 29 public holidays, Nepal has the most in the world. The country with the second most public holidays is Myanmar, which celebrates 32 public holidays. The only other country that has more than 25 public holidays is Iran at 26. Sri Lanka is estimated to recognize 25 public holidays.

Some other countries that also celebrate a lot of public holidays include Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Malaysia, and Cambodia.

Which Countries Have the Fewest Number of Public Holidays?

Some countries do not have a lot of public holidays at all. For example, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Ecuador have the fewest holidays of any major countries by recognizing only eight public holidays every year. Two other countries - Brazil and Switzerland - recognize nine holidays each. Employees in these countries may not get as many days off as in other countries.

Are Public Holidays and Religious Holidays the Same?

There are many people who believe that public holidays and religious holidays are the same. That is not necessarily the case. Public holidays are holidays declared by the government, while religious holidays are holidays commonly celebrated by a specific religion. It is possible that there could be some overlap between religious holidays and public holidays, but that is not necessarily required. If a large chunk of the population celebrates a major religious holiday, then the government may declare that holiday to be a public holiday as well; however, there are situations where a religious holiday has not been declared a public holiday. Individuals who observe that specific religious holiday may need to request a day off from the company (unless the company freely gives it to them).

How Many Public Holidays Does the United States Have?

The United States is somewhere in the middle of the pack when it comes to public holidays. Typically, the United States recognizes 11 public holidays every year. In January, New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Day are recognized as public holidays. Then, the United States recognizes President’s Day in February, which honors George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In May, the United States recognizes Memorial Day, which honors people who have given their lives in the service of the country. The United States recently added Juneteenth, which has long been a major holiday in the African American Community.

The United States recognizes its independence day on July 4th. In September, the United States has Labor Day. In October, the United States honors Christopher Columbus, widely believed to have been the first European to discover the new world. In November, the United States recognizes Veterans Day, which honors people who served in the military. Finally, the United States also recognizes Thanksgiving in November, followed by Christmas in December. If the exact date falls on a weekend, then the holiday may be observed at another time during the week.