Which country has the most public holidays? Among the twelve countries tracked in our 2026 holiday data, India takes the crown with 18 gazetted public holidays — the richest national calendar in our dataset. Pakistan follows with 15, while the UAE and Italy tie at 13 each. At the other end, the United Kingdom has the fewest with just 8. But these numbers come with important caveats: what counts as a “public holiday” varies enormously by country, and the ranking shifts depending on how you count.
The 2026 Ranking (Among Countries We Track)
- India — 18: Republic Day, Holi, Id-ul-Fitr, Ram Navami, Mahavir Jayanti, Good Friday, Ambedkar Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Id-ul-Zuha, Muharram, Independence Day, Milad-un-Nabi, Janmashtami, Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra, Diwali, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Christmas.
- Pakistan — 15: Kashmir Day, Eid-ul-Fitr (3 days), Pakistan Day, Labour Day, Eid-ul-Azha (3 days), Ashura (2 days), Independence Day, Eid Milad-un-Nabi, Iqbal Day, Quaid-e-Azam Day/Christmas, Day after Christmas.
- UAE — 13 and Italy — 13: The UAE’s count is boosted by multi-day Eid observances; Italy’s by its rich Catholic calendar.
- United States — 12, Canada — 12, France — 11.
- Australia — 10, Saudi Arabia — 10, Germany — 9, Spain — 9.
- United Kingdom — 8: The leanest calendar in our dataset.
Why India’s Calendar Is So Full
India’s 18 holidays reflect its extraordinary religious diversity. The gazetted list covers Hindu festivals (Holi, Diwali, Dussehra, Ram Navami, Janmashtami), Muslim observances (both Eids, Muharram, Milad-un-Nabi), Sikh (Guru Nanak Jayanti), Buddhist (Buddha Purnima), Jain (Mahavir Jayanti), Christian (Good Friday, Christmas), and secular national days (Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Ambedkar Jayanti). No other country in our data tries to honor so many traditions at the national level. It is a deliberate expression of pluralism — and it means Indians enjoy one of the world’s most generous statutory calendars.
Pakistan’s 15, meanwhile, are boosted by multi-day Eid observances (three days each for Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha), a pattern common across the Muslim world where the biggest festivals command extended breaks.
Why Counts Differ — and Why Rankings Mislead
Three caveats matter. First, definitions vary: our counts use national-level lists, but countries like Germany, Spain, Australia, and Canada have significant state-level holidays we did not count (Germany’s all-states list is just 9, but Bavaria observes 13). Second, multi-day festivals inflate totals: a three-day Eid counts as three holidays here, which flatters Muslim-majority countries. Third, substitute days complicate things: the UK’s 8 looks lean, but British workers also get 28 days of statutory annual leave — among Europe’s most generous — which more than compensates.
Globally, the true champions of days off are often cited as countries like Iran, Nepal, or Cambodia, which can exceed 25 public holidays — but those fall outside our tracked set, and counting methods differ so much that cross-source comparisons should be treated cautiously. The honest answer to “which country has the most public holidays” is always: it depends on how you count. Among the twelve we track with consistent national-level methodology, India leads — and it is not close.
Planning tips
Before you plan around a holiday, check three things: the official date for your country or region, whether a weekend holiday is carried over to a weekday, and which services stay open. Banks, schools, government offices and public transport often follow different timetables, so a quick check saves a wasted trip.
Use this guide as a starting point, compare it with the official source for your location and check again closer to the date, since announcements and local arrangements can change. Sharing the dates early with family, colleagues and customers also avoids last-minute surprises.