Public holidays play a significant role in various countries worldwide, representing their cultural, religious, and historical diversity.
These days, legally designated for non-working purposes, commemorate important events or observances.
Although there’s a perception that some African countries have numerous public holidays, none of them rank among the top 10 globally.
Morocco comes closest, ranking 11th in terms of the number of holidays.
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At the top of the list, Cambodia leads with an impressive 28 public holidays annually, followed closely by Sri Lanka with 25.
India and Kazakhstan both observe 21 public holidays, while Colombia, the Philippines, and Trinidad and Tobago celebrate 18.
China and Hong Kong have 17 public holidays each, contributing to the global diversity in holiday observances.
In Nigeria, there are approximately 11 public holidays observed yearly, encompassing religious and non-religious celebrations such as New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Christmas, and Eid al-Fitr.
Here’s a breakdown of the top countries with the highest number of public holidays according to World Atlas:
- Cambodia – 28 public holidays
- Sri Lanka – 25 public holidays
- India, Kazakhstan – 21 public holidays
- Colombia, Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago – 18 public holidays
- China, Hong Kong – 17 public holidays
- Thailand, Turkey, Pakistan – 16 public holidays
- Japan, Malaysia, Argentina, Lithuania, Sweden – 15 public holidays
- Indonesia, Chile, Slovakia – 14 public holidays
- South Korea, Austria, Belgium, Norway, Taiwan, Nepal – 13 public holidays
- Finland, Russia – 12 public holidays
- Singapore, Italy, Denmark, France, UAE, Morocco, Czech Republic, Luxembourg – 11 public holidays
These rankings illustrate the rich tapestry of holidays observed across the globe, reflecting the diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of different nations.
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