Nation |
Independence |
Constitution
Date |
Last
Constitutional
Amendment |
National
Day |
National
Day Date |
National
Day Observance |
Afghanistan |
19
August 1919, from the UK |
26
January 2004 (ratified) |
|
Independence
Day |
19
August |
Independence
from the UK (19 August 1919) |
Akrotiri |
N/A
(UK overseas territory) |
16
August 1960 (Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order
in Council 1960 effective) |
|
|
|
|
Albania |
28
November 1912, from the Ottoman Empire |
22
November 1998 (adopted) |
|
Independence
Day |
28
Nov. |
Proclamation
of independence from Ottoman rule (28 November 1912) |
Algeria |
5
July 1962, from France |
22
November 1976 (effective) |
12
November 2008 |
Revolution
Day |
1
Nov. |
Start
of revolution against French rule (1 November 1954) |
American
Samoa |
N/A
(US territory) |
1
July 1967 (effective) |
|
Flag
Day |
17
April |
US
annexation (17 April 1900) |
Andorra |
1993,
from France and Spain |
28
April 1993 (effective) |
|
Our
Lady of Meritxell Day/
National Day |
8
Sept. |
Signing
of first constitutional document (1278) and feast day of patron
saint Jungfrau von Meritxell |
Angola |
11
November 1975, from Portugal |
11
November 1975 |
26
August 1992 |
Independence
Day |
11
November |
Independence
from Portugal (11 November 1975) |
Anguilla |
N/A
(UK overseas territory) |
1
April 1982
(Anguilla Constitutional Order) |
1990 |
Anguilla
Day |
30
May |
Rebellion
against unification with St Kitts and Nevis, and granting of
self-governing status of the UK (30 May 1967) |
Antigua
and Barbuda |
1
November 1981, from the UK[1] |
1
November 1981 |
|
Independence
Day |
1
November |
Independence
from the UK (1 November 1981) |
Argentina |
9 July 1816, from Spain |
1
May 1853 |
22
August 1994 |
Revolution
Day |
25
May |
Declaration
of independence
from Spanish viceroyalty (25 May 1810) |
Armenia |
21
September 1991, from the USSR |
5
July 1995 (adopted) |
27
November 2005 |
Independence
Day |
21
September |
Independence
from the USSR (21 September 1991) |
Aruba |
N/A
(part of Kingdom of the Netherlands) |
1
January 1986 |
|
Flag
Day |
18
March |
Flag
adopted (18 March 1976) |
Australia |
1
January 1901, from the UK[1] |
1
January 1901 (effective) |
21
May 1977 |
Australia
Day |
26
January |
Proclamation
of British sovereignty over eastern seaboard of New Holland
(26 January 1788) |
Austria |
1955, from occupation by the Allies |
11
October 1920 |
(multiple) |
National
Day |
26
October |
Passage
of law on permanent neutrality (26 October 1955) |
Azerbaijan |
30
August 1991, from the USSR |
12
November 1995 (adopted) |
24
August 2002 |
Republic
Day |
28
May |
Founding
of the Republic (28 May 1918) |
Bahamas |
10
July 1973, from the UK[1] |
10
July 1973 |
|
Independence
Day |
10 July |
Independence
from the UK (10 July 1973) |
Bahrain |
15
August 1971, from the UK |
6
December 1973 |
14
February 2002 |
National
Day |
16-17
December |
Emergence
from British protection (16 December 1971) |
Bangladesh |
16 December 1971, from West Pakistan |
16
December 1972 (effective) |
16
May 2004 |
Independence
Day/
National Day |
26
March |
Independence declared from West Pakistan (26 March 1971) |
Barbados |
30
November 1966, from the UK[1] |
30
November 1966 |
|
Independence
Day |
30
November |
Independence
from the UK (30 November 1966) |
Belarus |
25 August 1991, from the USSR |
15
March 1994 |
17
October 2004 |
Independence
Day |
3
July |
Minsk liberation from German troops (3 July 1944) |
Belgium |
4
October 1830, from the Netherlands |
7
February 1831 |
26
March 2005 |
National
Day |
21
July |
Accession
to the throne of King Leopold I (21 July 1831) |
Belize |
21
September 1981, from the UK[1] |
21
September 1981 |
31
December 2001 |
Independence
Day |
21 September |
Independence
from the UK (21 September 1981) |
Benin |
1
August 1960, from France |
2
December 1990 (adopted) |
|
Independence
Day |
1
August |
Independence
from France (1 August 1960) |
Bermuda |
N/A
(UK overseas territory) |
8
June 1968 |
2003 |
Bermuda
Day |
24
May |
Start
of summer |
Bhutan |
1907
(unified) |
18
July 2008 (ratified) |
|
National
Day |
17
December |
Accession
of Ugyen Wangchuck, first hereditary king (17 December 1907) |
Bolivia |
6
August 1825, from Spain |
2
February 1967 |
6
July 2005 |
Independence
Day |
6
August |
Independence
from Spain (6 August 1825) |
Bosnia
and Herzegovina |
1
March 1992, from Yugoslavia |
14
December 1995 (Dayton Peace Accords signed) |
|
National
Day/
Statehood Day |
25
November |
Establishment
of Bosnia and Herzegovina's statehood (25 November 1943) |
Botswana |
30
September 1966, from the UK |
30
September 1966 (effective) |
8
August 2005 |
Botswana
Day/
Independence Day |
30
September |
Independence
from the UK (30 September 1966) |
Brazil |
7
September 1822, from Portugal |
5
October 1988 |
3
March 2006 |
Independence
Day |
7
September |
Independence
from Portugal (7 September 1822) |
British
Virgin Islands |
N/A
(UK overseas territory) |
[see
UK] |
|
Territory
Day |
1
July |
Self-governing
territory status granted (1 July 1956) |
Brunei |
1
January 1984, from the UK |
29
September 1959 |
25
September 2004 |
National
Day |
23
February |
Independence from British protection (23 February 1984) |
Bulgaria |
22
September 1908, from the Ottoman Empire |
12
July 1991 (adopted) |
18
February 2005 |
Liberation
Day |
3
March |
Formation
of first autonomous Bulgarian state (within Ottoman Empire,
3 March 1878) |
Burkina
Faso |
5
August 1960, from France |
11
June 1991 (adopted) |
22 January 2002 |
Republic
Day/
Independence Day |
11
December |
Granted
status of independent republic (as Upper Volta, a French dependency,
11 December 1958) |
Burundi |
1
July 1962, from Belgium (UN trusteeship) |
1
November 2004 (effective) |
|
Independence
Day/
National Day |
1
July |
Independence
from Belgium (1 July 1962) |
Cambodia |
9
November 1953, from France |
24
September 1993 |
8
July 2004 |
Independence
Day |
9
November |
Independence
from France (9 November 1953) |
Cameroon |
1
January 1960, from France (UN trusteeship) |
2
June 1972 (adopted) |
18
January 1996 |
Republic
Day/
National Day |
20
May |
Formation
of Republic of Cameroon (20 May 1972) |
Canada |
1
July 1867, from the UK[1] |
1
July 1867 (Constitution Act 1867); 17 April 1982 (Constitution
Act 1982) |
6
December 2001 |
Canada
Day |
1
July |
Independence
from the UK (1 July 1867) |
Cape
Verde |
5
July 1975, from Portugal |
25
September 1992 |
23
November 1999 |
Independence
Day |
5
July |
Independence
from Portugal (5 July 1975) |
Cayman
Islands |
N/A
(UK overseas territory) |
4
July 1972 |
|
Constitution
Day |
4
July |
Constitution
adopted (4 July 1972) |
Central
African Republic |
13
August 1960, from France |
27
December 2004 (effective) |
|
Republic
Day/
Independence Day |
1
December |
Proclamation
of the Republic (1 December 1958) |
Chad |
11
August 1960, from France |
31
March 1996 (approved) |
6
June 2005 |
Independence
Day |
11
January[2] |
Independence
from France (11 August 1960) |
Chile |
18
September 1810, from Spain |
11
March 1981 (effective ) |
19
August 2005 |
Independence
Day |
18
September |
Proclamation
of independence from Spain (18 September 1810) |
China |
221
BC (unified) |
4
December 1982 |
14
March 2004 |
National
Day |
1
October |
Anniversary
of founding of People's Republic of China (1 October 1949) |
Christmas
Island |
N/A
(non-self governing territory of Australia) |
1
October 1958 (Christmas Island Act of 1958-59) |
1992 |
Australia
Day |
26
January |
Proclamation
of British sovereignty over eastern seaboard of New Holland
(26 January 1788) |
Cocos
(Keeling) Islands |
N/A
(non-self governing territory of Australia) |
23 November 1955
(Cocos [Keeling] Islands Act of 1955) |
1992 |
Australia
Day |
26
January |
Proclamation
of British sovereignty over eastern seaboard of New Holland
(26 January 1788) |
Colombia |
20
July 1810, from Spain |
5
July 1991 |
27
July 2005 |
Independence
Day |
20
July |
Independence
from Spain (20 July 1810) |
Comoros |
6
July 1975, from France |
23
December 2001 |
|
Independence
Day |
6
July |
Independence
from France (6 July 1975) |
Cook
Islands |
N/A
(self-governing in free association with New Zealand) |
4
August 1965 |
|
Constitution
Day |
First
Monday in August |
Self-government
status granted (4 August 1965) |
Costa
Rica |
15
September 1821, from Spain |
7
November 1949 |
15
July 2003 |
Independence
Day |
15
September |
Independence
from Spain (15 September 1821) |
Côte
d'Ivoire |
7
August 1960, from France |
23
July 2000 (approved) |
|
Independence
Day |
7
August |
Independence
from France (7 August 1960) |
Croatia |
25
June 1991, from Yugoslavia |
22
December 1990 (adopted) |
26
March 2001 |
Independence
Day |
8
October |
Croatian
parliament voted for independence from Yugoslavia (8 October
1991) |
Cuba |
20
May 1902, from US administration |
24
February 1976 |
26
June 2002 |
Triumph
of the Revolution/
Liberation Day |
1
January |
End
of the Batista military dictatorship (1 January 1959) |
Cyprus |
16
August 1960, from the UK |
16
August 1960 |
28
December 1996 |
Independence
Day |
1
October |
Founding
of the Republic (1 October 1960) |
Czech
Republic |
1
January 1993, from Czechoslovakia |
1
January 1993 (effective) |
1
March 2003 |
Czech
Founding Day/
Independence Day |
28
October |
Czech and Slovak independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire
(28 October 1918) |
Democratic
Republic of the Congo |
30
June 1960, from Belgium |
18
February 2006 |
|
Independence
Day |
30
June |
Independence
from Belgium (30 June 1960) |
Denmark |
c. 950 AD (unified) |
5
June 1849 |
5
June 1953 |
Constitution
Day[3] |
5
June |
Signing
of first constitution and declaration of Kingdom of Denmark
(5 June 1849) |
Dhekelia |
N/A
(UK overseas territory) |
16
August 1960 (Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order
in Council 1960 effective) |
|
|
|
|
Djibouti |
27
June 1977, from France |
4 September 1992 (approved) |
2
February 2006 |
Independence
Day |
27
June |
Independence
from France (27 June 1977) |
Dominica |
3
November 1978, from the UK |
3
November 1978 |
1984 |
Independence
Day |
3
November |
Independence
from the UK (3 November 1978) |
Dominican
Republic |
27
February 1844, from Haiti |
28
November 1966 |
25
July 2002 |
Independence
Day |
27
February |
Independence
from Haiti (27 February 1844) |
East
Timor |
20
May 2002, from Indonesia |
22
March 2002 |
|
Independence
Day |
28
November |
Independence
from Portugal (28 November 1975) |
Ecuador |
24
May 1822, from Spain |
10
August 1998 |
2
May 2002 |
Independence
Day |
10
August |
Start
of independence movement (10 August 1809) |
Egypt |
28
February 1922, from the UK |
11
September 1971 |
26
March 2007 |
Revolution
Day |
23 July |
Proclamation
of the republic (23 July 1952) |
El
Salvador |
15
September 1821, from Spain |
20
December 1983 |
15
October 2003 |
Independence
Day |
15
September |
Independence
from Spain (15 September 1821) |
Equatorial
Guinea |
12
October 1968, from Spain |
17
November 1991 (approved) |
17
January 1998 |
Independence
Day |
12
October |
Independence
from Spain (12 October 1968) |
Eritrea |
24
May 1993, from Ethiopia |
24 May 1997 (adopted) |
|
Independence
Day |
24
May |
Independence
from Ethiopia (24 May 1993) |
Estonia |
20
August 1991 from the USSR |
28
June 1992 (adopted) |
14
September 2003 |
Independence
Day |
24
February |
Declaration
of independence from Soviet Russia (24 February 1918) |
Ethiopia |
Independent
from early times |
22
August 1995 (effective) |
|
Derg
Downfall Day |
28
May |
Derg
regime deposed (28 May 1991) |
Falkland Islands |
N/A
(UK overseas territory) |
3
October 1985 |
1997
and 1998 |
Liberation
Day |
14
June |
End
of Argentine occupation (14 June 1982) |
Faroe
Islands |
N/A
(part of the Kingdom of Denmark) |
[see
Denmark] |
|
St
Olav's Wake/
St Olav's Day |
29
July |
Feast
day and death of St Olav (King Olav II, d. 29 July 1030),
patron saint of Norway |
Federated States of Micronesia |
3
November 1986, from the USA (UN trusteeship) |
10
May 1979 |
2
July 1992 |
Constitution
Day |
10
May |
New
constitution adopted (10 May 1979) |
Fiji |
10
October 1970, from the UK |
27
July 1998 (effective) |
|
Independence
Day |
Second
Monday in October |
Independence
from the UK (10 October 1970) |
Finland |
6
December 1917, from the Russian Empire |
1
March 2000 |
|
Independence
Day |
6
December |
Declaration
of independence from the Russian Empire (6 December 1917) |
France |
10 August 843 (unified as Western Francia) |
4
October 1958 (effective) |
1
March 2005 |
Fête
de la Fédération |
14
July |
Beginning of the French Revolution (14 July 1789) |
French
Guiana |
N/A
(overseas department of France |
[see
France] |
|
[see
France] |
|
|
French
Polynesia |
N/A
(overseas lands of France |
[see
France] |
|
[see
France] |
|
|
Gabon |
17
August 1960, from France |
14
March 1991 (adopted) |
19
August 2003 |
Independence
Day |
17
August |
Independence
from France (17 August 1960) |
Gambia |
18
February 1965, from the UK |
16
January 1997 (effective) |
4
June 2001 |
Independence
Day |
18
February |
Independence
from the UK (18 February 1965) |
Georgia |
9
April 1991, from the USSR |
24
August 1995 (adopted) |
27
December 1995 |
Independence
Day |
26
May |
Independence from Soviet Russia (26 May 1918) |
Germany |
18
January 1871 (unified) |
23
May 1949 |
26
July 2002 |
Unity
Day/
National Day |
3
October |
Reunification
of East and West Germany (3 October 1990) |
Ghana |
6
March 1957, from the UK |
7
January 1993 |
16
December 1996 |
Independence
Day |
6
March |
Independence from the UK (6 March 1957) |
Gibraltar |
N/A
(UK overseas territory) |
2
January 2007 (effective) |
|
National
Day |
10 September |
Referendum held, Spanish control rejected (10 September 1967) |
Greece |
3
February 1830, from the Ottoman Empire |
11
June 1975 |
April
2001 |
Independence
Day |
25
March |
Start
of the War of Independence (25 March 1821) |
Greenland |
N/A
(part of the Kingdom of Denmark) |
[see
Denmark] |
|
National
Day/
Flag Day/
Longest Day |
21
June |
National
flag adopted (21 June 1985) and occurrence of longest day
of the year (21 June) |
Grenada |
7
February 1974 from the UK[1] |
7
February 1974 (effective) |
19
July 1992 |
Independence
Day |
7
February |
Independence
from the UK (7 February 1974) |
Guadeloupe |
N/A
(overseas department of France |
[see
France] |
|
[see
France] |
|
|
Guam |
N/A
(organised, unincorporated territory of the US) |
1 August 1950 (Organic Act of Guam) |
|
Discovery
Day/
Magellan Day |
First
Monday in March |
Discovery of Guam by Ferdinand Magellan (6 March 1521) |
Guatemala |
15
September 1821, from Spain |
14 January 1986 (effective) |
17
November 1993 |
Independence
Day |
15
September |
Independence
from Spain (15 September 1821) |
Guernsey |
N/A
(British crown dependency) |
(Unwritten
- statutes, common law and practices) |
|
Liberation
Day |
9
May |
Liberation
from German occupation (9 May 1945) |
Guinea |
2
October 1958, from France |
23
December 1990 |
12
June 2003 |
Independence
Day |
2
October |
Independence
from France (2 October 1958) |
Guinea-Bissau |
10
September 1974, from Portugal |
16
May 1984 |
9
June 1996 |
Independence
Day |
24
September |
Declaration
of independence from Portugal (24 September 1973) |
Guyana |
26
May 1966, from the UK |
6
October 1980 |
12
August 2003 |
Republic
Day |
23
February |
Independence
from the UK (23 February 1970) |
Haiti |
1
January 1804, from France |
29
March 1987 (approved) |
|
Independence
Day |
1
January |
Declaration
of independence from France (1 January 1804) |
Honduras |
15
September 1821, from Spain |
20 January 1982 (effective) |
4
May 2005 |
Independence
Day |
15
September |
Declaration
of independence from Spain (15 September 1821) |
Hong Kong |
N/A
(special administrative region of China) |
March
1990
(Basic Law charter approved) |
|
[see
China] |
|
|
Hungary |
1000
AD (founded) |
20
August 1949 (effective) |
1
January 2005 |
Saint
Stephen's Day |
20
August |
Crowning
of King Stephen, Hungary's first king (20 August 1000) |
Iceland |
17
June 1944, from Denmark |
17
June 1944 (effective) |
1
July 1999 |
Independence
Day |
17
June |
Independence
from Denmark (17 June 1944) |
India |
15
August 1947, from the UK |
26
January 1950 |
20
January 2006 |
Republic
Day |
26
January |
First
constitution adopted (26 January 1950) |
Indonesia |
27
December 1949, from the Netherlands |
18
August 1945 |
10
August 2003 |
Independence
Day |
17
August |
Declaration
of independence from the Netherlands (17 August 1945) |
Iran |
Independent
from early times |
2-3
December 1979 |
31 June 1989 (revised) |
Islamic
Republic Day |
1
April |
Referendum
held, Islamic Republic adopted (1 April 1979) |
Iraq |
3
October 1932, from League of Nations Mandate under British administration |
15
October 2005 (ratified) |
|
Republic
Day |
14
July |
Founding
of the Republic (14 July 1958) |
Ireland |
6
December 1922, from the UK |
29
December 1937 (effective) |
24
June 2004 |
Saint
Patrick's Day |
17
March |
Death
of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland (17 March 461) |
Isle of Man |
N/A
(British crown dependency) |
Unwritten |
|
Tynwald
Day |
5
July |
Tynwald
ceremony held at St John's, Tynwald Hill |
Israel |
14
May 1948, from League of Nations Mandate under British administration |
(No
formal constitution) |
|
Independence
Day |
14
May |
Independence
from British control (14 May 1948) |
Italy |
17
March 1861 (unified) |
1 January 1948 (effective) |
30
May 2003 |
Republic
Day |
2 June |
Referendum held, Republic adopted (2 June 1946) |
Jamaica |
6
August 1962, from the UK[1] |
6
August 1962 |
1999 |
Independence
Day |
6
August |
Independence
from the UK (6 August 1962) |
Japan |
Independent
from early times |
3
May 1947 |
|
Emperor's
Birthday |
23 December |
Birthday
of Emperor Akihito (23 December 1933) |
Jersey |
N/A
(British crown dependency) |
(Unwritten
- statutes, common law and practices) |
|
Liberation
Day |
9
May |
Liberation
from German occupation (9 May 1945) |
Jordan |
25
May 1946, from League of Nations Mandate under British administration |
8
January 1952 |
9
January 1984 |
Independence
Day |
25
May |
Independence
from British control (25 May 1946) |
Kazakhstan |
16
December 1991, from the USSR |
30
August 1995 (adopted) |
7
October 1998 |
Independence
Day |
16 December |
Independence
from the USSR (16 December 1991) |
Kenya |
12
December 1963, from the UK |
12
December 1963 |
July
2001 |
Independence
Day |
12
December |
Independence
from the UK (12 December 1963) |
Kiribati |
12
July 1979, from the UK |
12
July 1979 |
|
Independence
Day |
12
July |
Independence
from the UK (12 July 1979) |
Kosovo |
17
February 2008, from Serbia |
15
June 2008 (effective) |
|
Independence
Day |
17
February |
Independence from
Serbia (17 February 2008) |
Kuwait |
19
June 1961, from the UK |
11
November 1962 (approved) |
16
May 2005 |
National
Day |
25
February |
Accession
of Sheikh Abdullah al-Salim al-Sabah (25 February 1950) |
Kyrgyzstan |
31
August 1991, from the USSR |
5
May 1993 |
2
February 2003 |
Independence
Day |
31
August |
Independence from
the USSR (31 August 1991) |
Laos |
19
July 1949, from France |
14
August 1991 (promulgated) |
6
May 2003 |
Republic
Day/
National Day |
2
December |
Communist
victory and end of monarchy (2 December 1975) |
Latvia |
21
August 1991, from the USSR |
15
February 1922 |
3
January 2006 |
Proclamation
of the Republic of Latvia |
18
November |
Declaration
of independence from Soviet Russia (8 November 1918) |
Lebanon |
22
November 1943, from League of Nations Mandate under French administration
|
23
May 1926 |
3
September 2004 |
Independence
Day |
22
November |
Independence from
French control (22 November 1943) |
Lesotho |
4
October 1966, from the UK |
2
April 1993 |
13
March 2001 |
Independence
Day |
4 October |
Independence from
the UK (4 October 1966) |
Liberia |
26
July 1847, from the American Colonization Society |
6
January 1986 |
|
Independence
Day |
26
July |
Declaration
of independence from the American Colonization Society
(26 July 1847) |
Libya |
24
December 1951, from UN trusteeship |
11
December 1969 (Constitutional Proclamation) |
2
March 1977 |
Revolution
Day/
National Day |
1
September |
Overthrow
of the monarchy and establishment of People’s
Arab Jamahiriyah (1 September 1969) |
Liechtenstein |
12
July 1806, from the Holy Roman Empire |
5
October 1921 |
15
September 2003 |
National
Day |
15
August |
Prince's
birthday |
Lithuania |
6
September 1991, from the USSR |
25
October 1992 (adopted) |
13
July 2004 |
Independence
Day |
16
February |
Declaration
of independence from Soviet Russia (16 February 1918) |
Luxembourg |
19
April 1839, from the Netherlands |
17
October 1868 |
19
November 2004 |
National
Day/
Grand Duke's Birthday |
23 June |
Grand
Duke's birthday |
Macau |
N/A
(special administrative region of China) |
31
March 1993 (Basic Law charter approved) |
|
[see
China] |
|
|
Macedonia |
17
November 1991, from Yugoslavia |
20
November 1991 (effective) |
26
December 2003 |
Independence
Day |
8
September |
Referendum
held, independence from Yugoslavia adopted (8 September
1991) |
Madagascar |
26
June 1960, from France |
19
August 1992 (accepted) |
8
April 1998 |
Independence
Day |
26
June |
Independence
from France (26 June 1960) |
Malawi |
6
July 1964, from the UK |
18
May 1994 |
30
November 2001 |
Republic
Day |
6 July |
Independence
from the UK (6 July 1964) |
Malaysia |
31
August 1957, from the UK |
31
August 1957 |
10
February 2005 |
National
Day |
31 August |
Independence
from the UK (31 August 1957) |
Maldives |
26
July 1965, from the UK |
7
August 2008 (ratified) |
|
Independence
Day |
26
July |
Independence
from the UK (26 July 1965) |
Mali |
22
September 1960, from France |
12 January 1992 (adopted) |
|
Independence
Day |
22
September |
Independence
from France (22 September 1960) |
Malta |
21
September 1964, from the UK |
21
September 1964 |
16
April 2003 |
a)
Independence Day
b) Republic Day |
a)
21 September
b) 13 December |
a)
Independence from the UK (21 September 1964)
b) Proclamation of the Republic (13 December 1974) |
Marshall
Islands |
21
October 1986, from the USA (UN trusteeship) |
1
May 1979 |
|
Constitution
Day |
1
May |
Proclamation
of the Republic (1 May 1979) and formation of the Constitution
(1 May 1979) |
Martinique |
N/A
(overseas department of France) |
[see
France] |
|
[see
France] |
|
|
Mauritania |
28
November 1960, from France |
12
July 1991 |
25
June 2005 |
Independence
Day |
28
November |
Independence
from France (28 November 1960) |
Mauritius |
12
March 1968, from the UK |
12
March 1968 |
15
August 2003 |
Independence
Day |
12
March |
Independence
from the UK (12 March 1968) |
Mayotte |
N/A
(departmental collectivity of France) |
[see
France] |
|
[see
France] |
|
|
Mexico |
27
September 1821, from Spain |
5
February 1917 |
7
April 2006 |
Independence
Day |
16
September |
Declaration
of independence from Spain (16 September 1810) |
Moldova |
27
August 1991, from the USSR |
27
August 1994 (effective) |
15
July 2004 |
Independence
Day |
27
August |
Independence
from the USSR (27 August 1991) |
Monaco |
2
February 1861, from Sardinia |
17
December 1962 |
2
April 2002 |
National
Day |
19
November |
Nationhood
and feast day of St Rainier |
Mongolia |
11
July 1921, from China |
12
February 1992 |
14
December 2000 |
Independence
Day/
Revolution Day |
11
July |
Independence
from China (11 July 1921) |
Montenegro |
3
June 2006, from Serbia and Montenegro |
19
October 2007 (approved) |
|
National
Day |
13
July |
Independence
from Ottoman rule (13 July 1878) |
Montserrat |
N/A
(UK overseas territory) |
19
December 1989 (effective) |
|
Queen's
Birthday |
Second
Saturday in June |
Birthday
of Queen Elizabeth II (originally, George V's) |
Morocco |
2
March 1956, from France |
4
September 1992 (revised) |
10
October 1996 |
Throne
Day |
30
July |
Accession
of King Mohammed VI (30 July 1999) |
Mozambique |
25
June 1975, from Portugal |
16
November 2004 |
|
Independence
Day |
25
June |
Independence
from Portugal (25 June 1975) |
Myanmar |
4
January 1948, from the UK |
3
January 1974 (defunct since 18 September 1988) |
|
Independence
Day |
4
January |
Independence
from the UK (4 January 1948) |
Namibia |
21
March 1990, from South Africa |
21
March 1990 (effective) |
24
December 1998 |
Independence
Day |
21
March |
Independence
from South Africa (21 March 1990) |
Nauru |
31
January 1968 Australia, New Zealand and the
UK (UN trusteeship) |
31
January 1968 |
17
May 1968 |
Independence
Day |
31
January |
Independence
from Australia, New Zealand and the
UK (31 January 1968) |
Nepal |
1768 (unified) |
15
January 2007 (interim) |
|
Republic
Day |
29
May |
Proclamation
of the republic (29 May 2008) |
Netherlands |
1813,
from France and unified |
30
March 1814 |
9
April 2002 |
Queen's
Day |
30
April |
Birthday
of Queen Juliana (30 April 1909) and accession of Queen Beatrix
(30 April 1980) |
New
Zealand |
26
September 1907, from the UK[1] |
Consists
of The Constitution Act 1986 (effective 1 January 1987), and
other legal documents |
[No
single date] |
Waitangi
Day |
6 February |
Signing
of the Treaty of Waitangi (6 February 1840) |
Nicaragua |
15
September 1821, from Spain |
9
January 1987 |
20
October 2005 |
Independence
Day |
15
September |
Independence
from Spain (15 September 1821) |
Niger |
3
August 1960, from France |
18
July 1999 |
9
July 2004 |
Republic
Day |
18
December |
Founding
of the Republic (18 December 1958) |
Nigeria |
1
October 1960, from the UK |
29
May 1999 (effective) |
|
Independence
Day/
National Day |
1
October |
Independence
from the UK (1 October 1960) |
Niue |
N/A
(self-governing parliamentary government in free association
with New Zealand, 19 October 1974) |
19
October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act) |
|
Waitangi
Day |
6 February |
Signing
of the New Zealand Treaty of Waitangi (6 February 1840) |
Norfolk
Island |
N/A
(territory of Australia) |
Norfolk
Island Act of 1979 |
2005 |
Bounty
Day |
8
June |
Arrival
of Pitcairn Islanders (8 June 1856) |
North
Korea |
15
August 1945, from Japan |
9
September 1948 (adopted) |
5
September 1998 |
DPR
of Korea Founding Day |
9 September |
Proclamation
of Communist state (9 September 1948) |
Northern
Mariana Islands |
N/A
(commonwealth in political union with the US) |
1
January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, effective) |
|
Commonwealth
Day |
8
January |
Commonwealth
government effective (8 January 1978) |
Norway |
7
June 1905, from Sweden |
17
May 1814 |
27
June 2003 |
Constitution
Day |
17 May |
Declaration
of independence from Sweden and new constitution signed (17
May 1814) |
Oman |
1650,
from Portugal |
6
November 1996 |
|
Birthday
of Sultan Quaboos |
19
November |
Birthday
of Sultan Quaboos (19 November 1940) |
Pakistan |
14
August 1947, from the UK |
12
April 1973 |
20
January 2004 |
Pakistan
Day/
Republic Day |
23
March |
Passing
of Pakistan Resolution (23 March 1940) and founding of the Republic
(23 March 1956) |
Palau |
1
October 1994, from the USA (UN trusteeship) |
1
January 1981 |
2
November 2004 |
Constitution
Day |
9 July |
Implementation
of the Constitution (9 July 1979) |
Panama |
3
November 1903, from Colombia |
11
October 1972 |
15
November 2004 |
Independence
Day |
3
November |
Independence from Colombia (3 November 1903) |
Papua
New Guinea |
16
September 1975, from the UK[1] |
16
September 1975 |
20
January 2004 |
Independence
Day |
16
September |
Independence
from the UK (16 September 1975) |
Paraguay |
14
May 1811, from Spain |
20
June 1992 (promulgated) |
|
Independence
Day |
15
May |
Independence
from Spain (14 May 1811) |
Peru |
28
July 1821, from Spain |
31
December 1993 |
4
October 2005 |
Independence
Day |
28 July |
Independence from Spain (28 July 1821) |
Philippines |
4
July 1946, from the USA |
11
February 1987 (effective) |
|
Independence
Day |
12
June |
Independence
from Spain (12 June 1898) |
Pitcairn
Islands |
N/A
(UK overseas territory) |
30
November 1838 (refined by the Local Government Ordinance of
1964) |
|
Queen's
Birthday |
Second
Saturday in June |
Birthday
of Queen Elizabeth II (originally, George V's) |
Poland |
From
Austrian, Russian and Prussian control, 11 November 1918 |
17
October 1997 (effective) |
|
Constitution
Day |
3
May |
Democratic
constitution adopted by the Sejm (3 May 1791) |
Portugal |
1143
AD (kingdom created) |
2
April 1976 |
12
August 2005 |
Portugal
Day/
Camões Day |
10
June |
Anniversary
pf the death of the poet Luíz Vas de Camões (d.
10 June 1580) |
Puerto
Rico |
N/A
(US territory with commonwealth status) |
25
July 1952 (effective) |
|
Puerto
Rico Constitution Day |
25
July |
Change
from territory to commonwealth (25 July 1952) |
Qatar |
3
September 1971, from the UK |
9
June 2005 (effective) |
|
Independence
Day |
3
September |
Independence
from the UK (3 September 1971) |
Republic
of the Congo |
15
August 1960, from France |
June
2002 (effective) |
|
Independence
Day |
13-16
August |
Independence
from France (5 August 1960) |
Romania |
13
July 1878, from the Ottoman Empire |
8
December 1991 |
19
October 2003 |
Unification
Day |
1
December |
Union
of Transylvania, Basarabia, Bucovina, and
Cadrilater with the Romanian kingdom (1 December 1918) |
Russia
|
24
August 1991, from the USSR |
12
December 1993 (adopted) |
6
June 2001 |
Russia
Day/
Independence Day |
12
June |
Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation adopted
(12 June 1990) |
Rwanda
|
1
July 1962, from Belgium (UN trusteeship) |
4
June 2003 |
|
Independence
Day |
1
July |
Independence
from Belgium (1 July 1962) |
Saint
Barthélemy |
N/A
(overseas collectivity of France) |
[see
France] |
|
St
Barthélemy Day |
24
August |
Feast
day of St Barthélemy |
Saint
Helena |
N/A
(UK overseas territory) |
1
January 1989 |
|
Queen's
Birthday |
Second
Saturday in June |
Birthday
of Queen Elizabeth II (originally, George V's) |
Saint
Martin |
N/A
(overseas collectivity of France) |
[see
France] |
|
Slavery
Abolition Day |
12
July |
Slavery
abolished (12 July 1848) |
Saint
Pierre and Miquelon |
N/A
(territorial collectivity of France) |
[see
France] |
|
[see
France] |
|
|
Saint
Kitts and Nevis |
19
September 1983, from the UK[1] |
19
September 1983 |
|
Independence
Day |
19
September |
Independence
from the UK (19 September 1983) |
Saint
Lucia |
22
February 1979, from the UK[1] |
22
February 1979 |
|
Independence
Day |
22
February |
Independence
from the UK (22 February 1979) |
Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines |
27
October 1979, from the UK[1] |
27
October 1979 |
|
Independence
Day |
27
October |
Independence
from the UK (27 October 1979) |
Samoa
|
1
January 1962, from New Zealand (UN trusteeship) |
1
January 1962 |
2
March 2001 |
Independence
Day |
1 June |
Independence
from New Zealand (1 January 1962) |
San
Marino |
301
AD (founded) |
Statutes,
1600; Declaration of Rights, 8 July 1974 |
26
February 2002 |
Founding
of the Republic |
3
September |
Founding
of the Republic (3 September 301) |
Sao
Tome and Principe |
12
July 1975, from Portugal |
10
September 1990 (effective) |
29
January 2003 |
Independence
Day |
12
July |
Independence
from Portugal (12 July 1975) |
Saudi
Arabia |
23
September 1932 (created) |
1
March 1992 (Basic Law) |
|
Saudi
National Day/
Kingdom Unification Day |
23
September |
Unification
of the kingdom (23 September 1932) |
Senegal
|
4
April 1960, from France |
7
January 2001 (adopted) |
19
June 2003 |
Independence
Day |
4
April |
Independence
from France (4 April 1960) |
Serbia |
5
June 2006, from Serbia and Montenegro |
10
November 2006 (effective) |
|
Statehood
Day of the Republic |
15
February |
Start of first Serbian
uprising against the Ottomans (14 February 1804) |
Seychelles
|
29
June 1976, from the UK |
18
June 1993 |
31
May 2000 |
Constitution
Day/
National Day |
18
June |
New
constitution approved and multiparty democracy implemented (18
June 1993) |
Sierra
Leone |
27
April 1961, from the UK |
1
October 1991 |
25
January 2002 |
Independence
Day |
27
April |
Independence
from the UK (27 April 1961) |
Singapore
|
9
August 1965, from Malaysian Federation |
22
December 1965 |
19
April 2004 |
National
Day/
Independence Day |
9
August |
Independence
from Malaysian Federation (9 August 1965) |
Slovakia
|
1
January 1993, from Czechoslovakia |
1
January 1993 (effective) |
26
May 2004 |
Constitution
Day |
1
September |
Constitution
ratified (1 September 1992) |
Slovenia
|
25
June 1991, from Yugoslavia |
23
December 1991 (adopted) |
15
June 2004 |
Independence
Day/
Statehood Day |
25
June |
Independence
from Yugoslavia (25 June 1991) |
Solomon
Islands |
7
July 1978, from the UK[1] |
7
July 1978 |
23
May 2001 |
Independence
Day |
7
July |
Independence
from the UK (7 July 1978) |
Somalia |
1
July 1960, from Italy (UN trusteeship), and merged with in dependant
British Somaliland |
23
September 1979 (presidential approval) |
|
Foundation
of the Somali Republic |
1
July |
Independence
of Italian Somaliland from Italy and founding of the Republic
(1 July 1960) |
South
Africa |
31
May 1961, from the UK |
4 February 1997 (effective) |
19
March 2003 |
Freedom
Day |
27
April |
First
non-racial and
non-discriminatory democratic elections (27 April 1994) |
South Korea |
15
August 1945, from Japan |
17
July 1948 |
29
October 1987 |
Liberation
Day |
15
August |
Liberation
from Japanese occupation (15 August 1945) |
Spain
|
1492
(unified) |
27
December 1978 (approved) |
27
August 1992 |
National
Day/
Día de la Hispanidad |
12
October |
Start of democracy in Spain (1492) and Columbus' arrival in
the Americas (12 October 1492) |
Sri
Lanka |
4
February 1948, from the UK |
16
august 1978 (adopted) |
25
September 2001 |
Independence
Day |
4
February |
Independence
from the UK (4 February 1948) |
Sudan |
1
January 1956, from the UK |
5
July 2005 (Interim National Constitution ratified) |
|
Independence
Day |
1
January |
Independence
from the UK and Egypt (1 January 1956) |
Suriname
|
25
November 1975, from the Netherlands |
30
October 1987 (effective) |
1992 |
Independence
Day |
25
November |
Independence
from the Netherlands (25 November 1975) |
Svalbard |
N/A
(territory of Norway) |
[see
Norway] |
|
[see
Norway] |
|
|
Swaziland
|
6
September 1968, from the UK |
8
February 2006 (effective) |
|
Independence
Day |
6
September |
Independence
from the UK (6 September 1968) |
Sweden
|
6
June 1523 |
1
January 1975 (additional acts 1809, 1949, 1991) |
27
November 2002 |
Swedish
Flag Day/
National Day |
6
June |
Accession of King Gustavus I (6 June 1523), Constitution adopted
(6 June 1809) and national flag adopted (6 June 1906) |
Switzerland
|
1
August 1291 (founded) |
1
January 2000 (effective) |
27
November 2005 |
Confederation
Day/
Swiss National Day |
1 August |
Founding
of the Swiss Confederation (1 August 1291) |
Syria
|
17
April 1946, from France (League of Nations mandate) |
13
March 1973 |
17
June 2000 |
Independence
Day |
17
April |
Independence
from France (17 April 1946) |
Taiwan |
N/A
(Republic of China) |
25
December 1946 |
7
June 2005 |
[see
China] |
|
|
Tajikistan
|
9
September 1991, from the USSR |
6
November 1994 |
22
June 2003 |
Independence
Day |
9
September |
Independence
from the USSR (9 September 1991) |
Tanzania |
26
April 1964 (unified) |
26
April 1977 |
6
April 2005 |
Union
Day |
26
April |
Unification
of Tanganyika and Zanzibar (26 April 1964) |
Thailand
|
1238
(traditional founding) |
24
August 2007 |
|
King's
Birthday |
5
December |
Birthday
of King Rama IX (5 December 1927) |
Togo |
27
April 1960, from France (UN trusteeship) |
27
September 1992 |
6
February 2005 |
Independence
Day |
27
April |
Independence
from France (27 April 1960) |
Tokelau |
N/A
(territory of New Zealand) |
Tokelau
Islands Act of 1948 |
1970 |
Waitangi
Day |
6
February |
Signing
of the New Zealand Treaty of Waitangi (6 February 1840) |
Tonga
|
4
June 1862, from the UK |
4
November 1875 |
16
October 2003 |
Emancipation
Day |
4
June |
Independence
from the UK (4 June 1970) |
Trinidad
and Tobago |
31
August 1962, from the UK |
1
August 1976 |
2
November 2000 |
Independence
Day |
31
August |
Independence
from the UK (31 August 1962) |
Tunisia
|
20
March 1956, from France |
1
June 1959 |
13
May 2003 |
Independence
Day |
20
March |
Independence
from France (20 March 1956) |
Turkey
|
29
October 1923, from the Ottoman Empire |
7
November 1982 |
21
June 2005 |
Republic
Day |
29
October |
Declaration
of the Republic (29 October 1923) |
Turkmenistan
|
27
October 1991, from the USSR |
18
May 1992 |
15
August 2003 |
Independence
Day |
27
October |
Independence
from the USSR (27 October 1991) |
Turks
and Caicos Islands |
N/A
(overseas territory of the UK) |
30
August 1976 |
14
August 2009 (Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2009) |
Constitution
Day |
30
August |
Constitution
adopted (30 August 1976) |
Tuvalu |
1
October 1978, from the UK[1] |
1
October 1978 |
November
2001 |
Independence
Day |
1
October |
Independence
from the UK (1 October 1978) |
Uganda
|
9
October 1962, from the UK |
8
October 1995 |
18
August 2005 |
Independence
Day |
9
October |
Independence
from the UK (9 October 1962) |
Ukraine
|
24
August 1991, from the USSR |
28
June 1996 (adopted) |
25
May 2006 |
Independence
Day |
24
August |
Independence
from the USSR (24 August 1991) |
United
Arab Emirates |
2
December 1971 (created) |
2
December 1971 |
10
January 2004 |
National
Day |
2
December |
Formation
of the UAE (2 December 1971) |
United
Kingdom |
1
August 1801 (created) |
None
(statutes, common law, practice) |
|
[No
specific day] |
|
|
United
States of America |
4
July 1776, from Britain |
4
March 1789 (effective) |
7
May 1992 |
Independence
Day |
4
July |
Independence
from Britain (4 July 1776) |
Uruguay |
25
August 1828, from Brazil |
15
February 1967 (effective) |
31
October 2004 |
National
Day/
Independence Day |
25
August |
Proclamation
of independence from Brazil (25 August 1825) |
Uzbekistan |
1
September 1991, from the USSR |
8
December 1992 (adopted) |
24
April 2003 |
Independence
Day |
1
September |
Independence
from the USSR (1 September 1991) |
Vanuatu |
30
July 1980, from France and the UK |
30
July 1980 |
27
June 1983 |
Independence
Day |
30
July |
Independence
from France and the UK (30 July 1980) |
Vatican
City |
11
February 1929 |
22
February 2001
(Fundamental Law effective) |
|
Anniversary
of the Pope's Election |
19 April |
Election
of Pope Benedict XVI (19 April 2005) |
Venezuela |
5
July 1811, from Spain |
30
December 1999 |
|
Independence
Day |
5
July |
Independence
from Spain (5 July 1811) |
Vietnam |
2
September 1945, from France |
15
April 1992 |
25
December 2001 |
President |
2
September |
Independence
from France (2 September 1945) |
Virgin
Islands |
N/A
(territory of the USA) |
22 July 1954 (Revised Organic Act) |
|
Transfer
Day |
Last
Monday in March |
Purchase
of the Virgin Islands from Denmark (31 March 1917) |
Wallis
and Futuna |
N/A
(overseas territory of France) |
[see
France] |
|
[see
France] |
|
|
Yemen |
22
May 1990 (unified) |
16
May 1990 |
27
April 2001 |
Unification
Day |
22
May |
Unification
of North and South Yemen (22 May 1990) |
Zambia |
24
October 1964, from the UK |
24
August 1991 |
28
May 1996 |
Independence
Day |
24
October |
Independence
from the UK (24 October 1964) |
Zimbabwe |
18
April 1980, from the UK |
21
December 1979 |
May
2000 |
Independence
Day |
18
April |
Independence
from the UK (18 April 1980) |
 |
Notes
1. Independent with the status of dominion of the UK.
2. Moved to 11 January due to heavy rains.
3. Generally viewed as the national day as there is none designated
officially.
Sources
Abbey, C. D., ed. Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations
of the World Dictionary, 4th ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics
Inc., 2010.
Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA World Factbook 2010.
New York: Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., 2009.
Dennis, M., ed. Encyclopedia of Holidays and Celebrations,
3 vols. New York: Facts on File Inc., 2006.
Dupont, J. The Common Law Abroad: Constitutional and Legal
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