List of national independence days


An Independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation.
American political commentator Walter Russell Mead notes that, "World-wide, British Leaving Day is never out of season." Many countries celebrate the day the British colonial powers departed, regardless of how efficient and benign the colonial officials were. "Yet for all the incompetence and corruption that followed, nobody rejoined the British Empire."

List

The following list includes current observer and member states of the United Nations that have public holidays dedicated to the establishment of the country's independence or sovereignty from a foreign power. The list does not include days commemorating regime changes, days commemorating its liberation from an occupying military power, or other National Days not tied to the establishment of independence.
CountryName of holidayDate of holidayYear of eventIndependence fromEvent commemorated and notes
Afghan Independence Day 1919United KingdomAnglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919 or Treaty of Rawalpindi, an armistice between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan during the Third Anglo-Afghan War
Flag Day 1912Ottoman EmpireAlbanian Declaration of Independence. The following day, November 29, is celebrated as the Liberation Day and commemorates the end of the German occupation in 1944.
Independence Day1962FranceAlgeria gained independence following the Algerian War and the Algerian independence referendum. France officially recognized independent Algeria on July 3, but the Independence Day is celebrated on July 5, the day of the fall of Algiers in 1830 and the beginning of French Algeria.
None
Independence Day1975PortugalThe Alvor Agreement, signed on 15 January 1975, granted Angola independence from Portugal on 11 November, ending the Angolan War of Independence.
Independence Day1981United KingdomThe effective date of the Antigua Termination of Association Order passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in July
Independence Day1816Spanish EmpireArgentine Declaration of Independence
Republic Day1918Russian EmpireDeclaration of Independence of Armenia
Independence Day1991Soviet Union1991 Armenian independence referendum
NoneAustralia Day commemorates arrival of the First Fleet of British ships and is not an independence day.
National Day1955Allied occupying powers Declaration of Neutrality
Republic Day1918Russian EmpireDeclaration of Independence
Independence Day1991Soviet UnionAdoption of the constitutional act "On the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan"
Independence Day1973United KingdomEffective date of The Bahamas Independence Order 1973
Independence Day1971United KingdomAscension of Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa to the throne
Independence Day1971PakistanProclamation of Bangladeshi Independence
Independence Day1966United KingdomEffective date of the Barbados Independence Act 1966
Independence Day1944Nazi GermanyThe liberation of Minsk after several years of German occupation in 1944. Two other independence days – March 25 and July 27 – are commemorated unofficially.
National Day1831United NetherlandsAscension of Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld to the throne
Independence Day1981United KingdomEffective day of the Belize Act 1981
Independence Day1960FranceEffective date of the agreement with France signed on July 11 creating the independent Republic of Dahomey
None
Independence Day1825SpainBolivian Declaration of Independence
Independence Day1992Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia1992 Bosnian independence referendum
Independence Day1966United KingdomEffective date of the Botswana Independence Act 1966
Independence Day 1822United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the AlgarvesDeclaration of independence by Pedro I of Brazil
National Day1984United KingdomBrunei gained full independence effective January 1, 1984 under the Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation of 7 January 1979 between United Kingdom and Brunei. However, the celebrations of the first National Day were delayed until February 23 and that day continues to be celebrated since.
Liberation Day1878Ottoman EmpireTreaty of San Stefano which created the autonomous Principality of Bulgaria
Independence Day1908Ottoman EmpireBulgarian Declaration of Independence
Proclamation of Independence Day1958FranceEffective date when French Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community
Independence Day1960FranceEffective date of the agreement with France signed on July 11 and creation of the independent Republic of Upper Volta
Independence Day1962BelgiumEffective date of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1746 terminating the Ruanda-Urundi Trusteeship
Independence Day1953FranceCeremony transferring military from French to Cambodian officials based on a military hand-over agreement reached on October 17, 1953
NoneCameroon gained independence on January 1, 1960, but does not celebrate that date. Instead, it celebrates the National Day on May 20 commemorating the 1972 Cameroonian constitutional referendum.
NoneCanada Day on July 1 commemorates the establishment of the Dominion of Canada in 1867.
Independence Day1975PortugalEffective date of the Agreement Between Portugal and Partido Africano para a Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde signed on December 18, 1974
National Day1958FranceEffective date when Central African Republic became an autonomous republic of the French Community
Independence Day1960FranceEffective date of the agreement with France signed on July 12
Republic Day1958FranceEffective date when Chad became an autonomous republic in the French Community
Independence Day1960FranceEffective date of the agreement with France signed on July 12
Independence Day 1810Spanish EmpireEstablishment of the Government Junta of Chile. The following day, September 19, is celebrated as the Army Day. The two holidays collectively are known as Fiestas Patrias.
NoneNational Day commemorates the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949.
Independence Day1810Spanish EmpireColombian Declaration of Independence
Independence Day1975FranceUnilateral declaration of independence by the Chamber of Deputies of Comoros following the 1974 Comorian independence referendum
Independence Day1960BelgiumEffective date of the Treaty of Friendship, Assistance and Co-operation between Belgium and the Congo concluded on June 29, 1960
Republic Day1958FranceEffective date when Congo became an autonomous republic in the French Community
Independence Day1960FranceEffective date of the agreement with France signed on July 12.
Independence Day1821Spanish EmpireAct of Independence of Central America
Statehood Day1990SFR YugoslaviaFirst session of the Croatian Parliament following the 1990 Croatian parliamentary election. October 8 and June 25 were also celebrated as independence days. After the 2019 changes to the law on public holidays, October 8 is the Parliament Day and June 25 is the Independence Day, but they are memorial days and not public holidays.
Commencement of the Wars of Independence1868Spanish EmpireCall to rebellion by sugar planter Carlos Manuel de Cespedes that led to the Ten Years' War for independence
National Day1955United Kingdom1 April attacks that started the Cyprus Emergency
Independence Day1960United KingdomEffective date of the London-Zürich Agreements was August 16, 1960, but the public holiday was moved to October 1 to avoid summer heat and tourist season.
Independence Day1918Austria-HungaryIndependence declaration by the Czechoslovak National Council
Restoration Day1993CzechoslovakiaEffective date of the Dissolution of Czechoslovakia into Czech Republic and Slovakia
None
Independence Day1977France
Independence Day1978United Kingdom
1821 and 1844Independence from Spain in December 1821.
Independence re-declared from Haiti in 1844, after a 22-year occupation.
2002PortugalEast Timor was invaded by Indonesia from 1975 to 1999, officially it never ceased to be considered as administrated by Portugal.
Independence Day1809Spanish EmpireProclaimed independence on August 10, 1809, but failed with the execution of all the conspirators of the movement on August 2, 1810.
1822Spanish EmpireBattle of Pichincha
NoneUnilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence was issued on February 28, 1922, but Egypt does not celebrate this date.
Independence Day1821Spanish EmpireAct of Independence of Central America
1968Spain
Independence Day1991Ethiopia
Independence Day1918Russian EmpireEstonian Declaration of Independence
Day of Restoration of Independence1991Soviet UnionEstonian Restoration of Independence
Somhlolo Day1968United Kingdom
None
Fiji Day1970United KingdomInstruments of Independence
Independence Day1917Russian EmpireFinnish Declaration of Independence
None
1960FranceEffective date of the agreement with France signed on July 15.
1965United KingdomEffective date of the Gambia Independence Act 1964
Independence Day1918Russian EmpireDay of the proclamation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1918.
Day of National Unity1991Soviet Union
None
Independence Day1957United Kingdom
1821Ottoman EmpireDeclaration of independence 1821. Start of the Greek War of Independence.
Independence Day1974United Kingdom
Independence Day1821Spanish EmpireAct of Independence of Central America
1958France
Independence Day1973PortugalDeclaration of independence during the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence
1966United Kingdom
Independence Day1804FranceHaitian Declaration of Independence
Independence Day1821Spanish EmpireAct of Independence of Central America
1989Opening of its previously-restricted border with Austria in 1989, and establishment as a democratic parliamentary republic.
Independence Day1944DenmarkEffective date of the dissolution of the Danish–Icelandic Act of Union following the 1944 Icelandic constitutional referendum
Independence Day1947United KingdomEffective date of the Indian Independence Act 1947
Independence Day 1945NetherlandsProclamation of Indonesian Independence
1979After holding a referendum, Iran officially became an Islamic republic in April 1979.
1932United Kingdom
1916United Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandProclamation of the Irish Republic commencing the Easter Rising. Usually celebrated on Easter Monday.
Yom Ha'atzmautUnited Kingdom and the British Mandate for PalestineIsraeli Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948. Yom Ha'atzmaut is celebrated on the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nearest to 5 Iyar, so it occurs between 3 and 6 Iyar each year; this means that the holiday can fall any time between and including April 15 and May 15, according to the Gregorian calendar.
None
1960FranceEffective date of the agreement with France signed on July 11.
1962United KingdomIndependence of Jamaica
None
Independence Day1946United KingdomAscension of Abdullah I of Jordan to the throne
Independence Day1991Soviet Union
Jamhuri Day1963United Kingdom
1979United Kingdom
Chogukhaebangŭi nal1945Empire of JapanFounding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1948. Korean War 1950–1953.
Samiljeol1919Empire of JapanKorean Declaration of Independence in 1919. This day is celebrated as Samiljeol, or Independence Proclamation Day.
Gwangbokjeol1945Empire of JapanLiberation from the Empire of Japan in 1945. See Japanese Occupation of Korea. The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was founded in 1919. Korean War 1950–1953.
1961United Kingdom
Independence Day1991Soviet Union
NoneLaos gained autonomy from France on 19 July 1949 and full independence on 22 October 1953, but those days are not celebrated as public holidays in Laos. The National Day on December 2 commemorates the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 1975.
Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia1918Russian Empire and German EmpireProclamation of independence on November 18, 1918. Latvia was part of Russian Empire prior to World War I, but its territory had been ceded to German Empire in March 1918
1990Soviet UnionOn the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia
Independence Day1943France
1966United Kingdom
Independence Day1847American Colonization SocietyLiberian Declaration of Independence
1951ItalyIndependence from Italy on February 10, 1947, released from British and French on December 24, 1951.
None
Statehood Restoration Day1918Russian Empire and German EmpireAct of Independence of Lithuania
Independence Restoration Day1990Soviet UnionAct of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania
None
1960France
1964United Kingdom
Hari Merdeka1957United KingdomMalayan Declaration of Independence
1965United Kingdom
1960France
Independence Day1964United Kingdom
None
1960FranceEffective date of the agreement with France signed on October 19.
1968United Kingdom
Grito de Dolores1810Spanish EmpireStart of the Mexican War of Independence
Independence Day1986United StatesEffective date of the Compact of Free Association
Independence Day1991Soviet UnionMoldovan Declaration of Independence
None
Independence Day1911Great QingIndependence declared in 1911. However, the newly established Mongolian government was too weak to resist the occupation of the Republic of China in 1919 and later White Russia in early 1921. After ousting Roman von Ungern-Sternberg's forces, the new communist government was officially established on June 11, 1921.
2006Serbia and Montenegro2006 Montenegrin independence referendum
Proclamation of Independence Day1944France and Spain
Independence Day1955France and SpainReturn of Mohammed V of Morocco from exile
1975Portugal
Independence Day1948United KingdomBurmese Declaration of Independence
1990South Africa
1968Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom
None
1581Spanish EmpireDeclaration of Independence in 1581 as the Dutch Republic
None
Independence Day1821Spanish EmpireAct of Independence of Central America
Independence Day1960FranceEffective date of the agreement with France signed on July 11.
Independence Day1960United Kingdom
Independence Day 1991SFR Yugoslavia
Constitution Day1814DenmarkNational Day: Independence and the Constitution of Norway
Independence Day1905SwedenUnion Dissolution and Independence Day
National Day1650Portugal
Independence Day 1947United KingdomEffective date of the Indian Independence Act 1947; see also: Pakistan Day
None
National Day1988IsraelPalestinian Declaration of Independence
1821SpainIndependence Act of Panama
1903ColombiaPanama was member of the "Gran Colombia" until 1903. The 1903 separation from Colombia is celebrated as an official holiday day on November 3.
1975Australia of the former Territory of Papua and New Guinea
Independence Day1811Spanish Empire
Fiestas Patrias1821Spanish Empire
Independence Day 1898Spanish EmpirePhilippine Declaration of Independence by Emilio Aguinaldo during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. The Philippines achieved self-rule from the United States on July 4, 1946, and celebrated July 4 as Independence Day until 1964.
Independence Day 1918Russian Empire and German EmpireRestoration of Poland's independence in 1918 after 123 years of partitions by Russia, Prussia, and Austria.
Restoration of Independence Day1640Spanish EmpirePortugal was officially an autonomous state, but the country was in a personal union with the Spanish crown from 1580 to 1640 – date of the restoration of full Portuguese autonomy from Iberian Union with Spain.
National Day1878Ottoman Empire-
Independence from Britain1971United KingdomThe former is celebrated more often
1877Ottoman EmpireRomania's declaration of its independence, while the ultimately victorious independence war against the Ottoman Empire in 1877–1878 alongside Russia, was just beginning.
None
Independence Day1962BelgiumEffective date of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1746 terminating the Ruanda-Urundi Trusteeship
Independence Day1983United Kingdom
Independence Day1979United Kingdom
Independence Day1979United Kingdom
1962New Zealand
None
Independence Day1975PortugalEffective date of the agreement with Portugal reached on November 26, 1974
None
Independence Day1960France
Statehood Day1804Ottoman EmpireThe beginning of First Serbian Uprising in 1804, it evolved into a Serbian Revolution, war for independence from Ottoman Empire; and the adoption of the first Constitution in 1835.
1976United Kingdom
Independence Day1961United Kingdom
National Day1965MalaysiaProclamation of Singapore
1992Declaration of Independence in 1992, de jure independence came on January 1, 1993 after the division of Czechoslovakia.
Independence and Unity Day1991SFR YugoslaviaDate of the release of the official results of the independence plebiscite in 1990, confirming secession from Yugoslavia. Declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Independence Day1978United Kingdom
Independence Day1960Italy and United KingdomUnion of the Trust Territory of Somalia and British Somaliland to form the Somali Republic. Event commemorated annually.
Not a holiday1931United KingdomIndependence in 1931 in terms of the Balfour Declaration of 1926 which is not a public holiday. The Union of South Africa formed on May 31, 1910 and the Republic of South Africa declared on May 31, 1961 under minority rule during Apartheid. Majority rule achieved on April 27, 1994, which is celebrated annually as the Freedom Day.
Independence Day2011Sudan
None
Independence Day1948United Kingdom
Independence Day1956Egypt and the United Kingdom
Independence Day1975Netherlands
National Day1523Celebrates the election of King Gustav Vasa in 1523 and the new constitutions in 1809 and 1974. The election of King Gustav Vasa was the de facto end of the Kalmar Union and has been seen as a formal declaration of independence.
Swiss National Day1291Alliance against the Holy Roman Empire in 1291.
Evacuation Day1946FranceEnd of the French Mandate of Syria in 1946.
Independence Day1991Soviet Union
1961United KingdomIndependence as Tanganyika
1960France
1970United KingdomTermination of protectorate status in 1970
Independence Day1962United KingdomEffective date of the Trinidad and Tobago Independence Act 1962
Independence Day1956France
NoneRepublic Day and National Sovereignty and Children's Day celebrate the founding of the Republic of Turkey, but are not independence days.
Independence Day1991Soviet Union
Independence Day1978United Kingdom
Independence Day1962United Kingdom
Independence Day1991Soviet UnionDeclaration of Independence of Ukraine
Day of Unity1919Russian RepublicUnification of Ukraine on January 22, 1919.
National Day1971United Kingdom
None
Independence Day or Fourth of July1776Kingdom of Great BritainUnited States Declaration of Independence
Independence Day1825United Provinces of the Rio de la PlataDeclaration of independence and union with the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata.
Independence Day1991Soviet Union
Independence Day1980United Kingdom and France
None
Independence Day1811Spanish EmpireVenezuelan Declaration of Independence
Independence Day1945Japan and France
1967United KingdomDeclaration of independence as South Yemen
Independence Day1964United KingdomEffective date of the Zambia Independence Act 1964
Independence Day1980United KingdomEffective date of the Lancaster House Agreement