Public holidays are more than just welcome breaks from work—they reflect a country’s history, religion, traditions, and national identity. While some nations recognise fewer than 10 official public holidays each year, others have calendars packed with cultural and religious celebrations that give citizens more than 20 days off annually.
According to a 2026 analysis by the Pew Research Center, based on holiday data from TimeandDate and official government sources, Myanmar has the highest number of official nationwide public holidays in the world, followed by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.Â
Top 10 Countries With the Highest Number of Public Holidays
Here are the countries with most number of holidays:
1. Myanmar – 30 Public Holidays
Myanmar tops the global ranking with 30 official public holidays. The country’s calendar is heavily influenced by Theravada Buddhism, with many holidays linked to lunar cycles and full moon days.
Major celebrations include the multi-day Thingyan Water Festival, which marks the Burmese New Year, Lunar New Year, and several Buddhist observances commemorating important events in the life of Buddha.
These holidays are widely observed across the country and often bring communities together for prayer, family gatherings, and traditional festivities.
2. Bangladesh – 29 Public Holidays
Bangladesh ranks second with 29 official public holidays. The country’s holiday calendar reflects its religious diversity by recognising important Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian festivals. Public holidays include Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Janmashtami, Buddha Purnima (Vesak), and Christmas.
In 2026, additional holidays for national elections also contributed to the total. This mix of religious and civic observances makes Bangladesh one of the most holiday-rich countries in the world.
3. Sri Lanka – 25 Public Holidays
Sri Lanka observes 25 nationwide public holidays, largely because every full moon day, known as a Poya Day, is declared a public holiday. These Buddhist observances commemorate key events in Buddhism and are celebrated throughout the country.
Sri Lanka also recognises Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and national holidays, making it one of the world’s most culturally diverse holiday calendars. As a result, the country has a steady rhythm of celebrations spread throughout the year.
4. Cambodia – 22 Public Holidays
Cambodia has 22 official public holidays. Many are connected to Khmer traditions, Buddhist festivals, royal ceremonies, and national history. Major celebrations include Khmer New Year, Visak Bochea (Buddha Day), Water Festival, Royal Ploughing Ceremony, and Independence Day.
These holidays are deeply rooted in Cambodian identity and are often marked by family reunions, temple visits, and large public gatherings.
5. Iran – 22 Public Holidays
Iran also observes 22 official public holidays. The country’s calendar combines Persian national festivals with numerous Shia Islamic religious observances.
Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is among the country’s longest and most important holidays, while several religious commemorations based on the Islamic lunar calendar further increase the annual total.
Together, these holidays reflect both Iran’s ancient cultural heritage and its religious traditions.
6. Lebanon – 22 Public Holidays
Lebanon records 22 nationwide public holidays, reflecting its unique religious diversity. The country officially celebrates both Christian and Muslim festivals, including Christmas, Easter, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, and Independence Day, making it one of the few countries to recognise holidays from multiple major religions at the national level.
This broad holiday calendar mirrors Lebanon’s multicultural society and long-standing tradition of coexistence.
7. India – 21 Public Holidays
India has 21 official nationwide public holidays under the methodology used in the Pew analysis. The country’s holiday calendar represents its extraordinary religious and cultural diversity, recognising festivals associated with Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
National holidays such as Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanti are observed across the country, while individual states recognise many additional holidays. Because of this layered system, the total number of holidays in India can vary significantly from one region to another.
8. Malaysia – 20 Public Holidays
Malaysia observes 20 official public holidays nationally. Its multicultural society is reflected in celebrations of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Christmas, Wesak Day, and National Day.
Individual Malaysian states also declare additional holidays, giving many residents even more days off than the national calendar alone. This makes Malaysia one of the clearest examples of how religious and ethnic diversity can shape a country’s holiday schedule.
9. Singapore – 19 Public Holidays
Singapore has 19 official public holidays, representing the country’s multicultural population. Major holidays include Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Deepavali, Vesak Day, Christmas, Good Friday, and National Day.
Despite its small size, Singapore’s holiday calendar reflects four major religions and a strong emphasis on social harmony. The country’s public holidays are carefully balanced to represent its diverse communities.
10. Thailand – 19 Public Holidays
Thailand rounds out the top 10 with 19 official public holidays. Many are linked to Buddhist traditions, the Thai monarchy, and national commemorations. Important celebrations include Songkran, the Thai New Year, Coronation Day, birthdays of members of the Royal Family, and several Buddhist holy days that follow the lunar calendar.
These holidays are an important part of Thai culture and are celebrated with both religious observance and public festivities.
Why Do Some Countries Have So Many Public Holidays?
Countries with the highest number of public holidays often share several characteristics:
- They recognise festivals from multiple religions.
- Many holidays follow lunar calendars, resulting in numerous annual observances.
- National calendars include historical anniversaries, independence celebrations, and cultural festivals.
- Some countries also observe royal or traditional ceremonies as public holidays.
Buddhist-majority countries such as Myanmar and Sri Lanka naturally have more holidays because many Buddhist observances occur throughout the year. Meanwhile, culturally diverse nations like Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and Lebanon recognise holidays from several different faiths.
Which Country Has the Fewest Public Holidays?
At the other end of the spectrum, Switzerland officially has just one federal public holiday—Swiss National Day—although individual cantons recognise additional holidays. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Uruguay also rank among the countries with the fewest nationwide public holidays.
