If you've ever wondered which country has the most public holidays — the answer surprises most people. Here is the 2026 ranking, with the methodology and a country-by-country breakdown.
Top 20: Countries with the most public holidays (2026)
| Rank | Country | Public holidays |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇮🇷 Iran | 26 |
| 2 | 🇰🇭 Cambodia | 22 |
| 3 | 🇸🇷 Suriname | 22 |
| 4 | 🇲🇲 Myanmar | 21 |
| 5 | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 16 |
| 6 | 🇷🇺 Russia | 16 (with extended NY) |
| 7 | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 16 |
| 8 | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 14 (Poya days monthly) |
| 9 | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 18 (most in Americas) |
| 10 | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 17 |
| 11 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 13 (federal) + state |
| 12 | 🇪🇸 Spain | 12 national + regional |
| 13 | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 15 |
| 14 | 🇮🇳 India | 9 national + many state |
| 15 | 🇯🇵 Japan | 16 |
| 16 | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 22 (with cuti bersama) |
| 17 | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 16 |
| 18 | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 13 (federal) + state |
| 19 | 🇩🇪 Germany | 9 federal + Land |
| 20 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 12 |
Countries with the fewest public holidays
| Rank | Country | Public holidays |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 8 |
| 2 | 🇨🇦 Canada | 9 federal |
| 3 | 🇺🇸 United States | 11 federal |
| 4 | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 8 (Eng/Wales), 9 (Scot), 10 (NI) |
| 5 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 9 |
What counts as a "public holiday"?
Counting holidays seems simple but isn't:
- Federal vs. state/provincial: the US has 11 federal holidays but most states observe additional ones. Spain has 12 national but each region adds 2-4 regional days.
- Religious only vs. universal: Some countries (like Indonesia) have separate "joint leave" (cuti bersama) days that effectively extend major holidays.
- Movable vs. fixed: Many countries adjust holidays if they fall on weekends (US, UK, Australia move them to Monday).
In our ranking we count national public holidays — those officially designated as paid time off across the country.
Why Iran ranks #1
Iran observes:
- 4 days of Nowruz (Persian New Year)
- Multiple Islamic religious days (Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Ashura, Tasua, Arbaeen, Mawlid)
- Revolutionary anniversaries (Islamic Republic Day, Khordad Uprising)
- Multiple imam death/birth anniversaries
Iran also extends some holidays — Nowruz can have 13-day vacations for government employees.
Cambodia's surprising #2
Cambodia observes 22 days because:
- 3 days of Khmer New Year (April)
- 3 days of King's Birthday (May)
- 3 days of Pchum Ben (ancestor festival)
- 3 days of Water Festival (November)
- Multiple Buddhist holy days
Public holidays vs. workdays
A country with many holidays isn't necessarily one with the fewest workdays. Many countries with high holiday counts work 6 days a week. Conversely, countries with few public holidays (like the Netherlands, Germany) typically have long mandatory vacation entitlements (20-30+ days).
See full data per country
Holiday counts based on official 2026 government calendars. Joint leave/cuti bersama and regional holidays counted where universally observed.