Which country has the most vacation days in 2026?

Yemen leads with 39 total days off — 9 public holidays plus 30 statutory paid leave days. The top 5 most generous countries are Yemen (39), Austria (38), United Arab Emirates (38), Denmark (35), Norway (35).

Which country has the fewest vacation days?

United States has the fewest with 0 total days off (0 public holidays, 0 paid leave days). Countries with fewer vacation days include United States (0), China (5), Mexico (12), South Africa (15), Vietnam (18).

What is the difference between vacation days and holidays?

Public holidays are government-designated days off that apply to everyone. Paid vacation days (annual leave) are statutory leave that employers must provide — employees choose when to take them. This page shows both: public holidays from national calendars and minimum paid annual leave mandated by labour law.

How many paid vacation days does the average country mandate?

Across 44 countries, the average statutory paid leave is 18 days per year, plus 7 public holidays — totaling 25 days off. Note: some countries like the United States have no federal paid leave mandate.

Are mandatory vacation days the same as paid time off (PTO)?

Not exactly. This page shows the statutory minimum paid annual leave required by law. Many employers offer more than the legal minimum. PTO policies in the US, for example, are entirely employer-determined since there is no federal mandate. In most other countries, the legal minimum serves as the floor.

Vacation Days by Country 2026

Compare public holidays and statutory paid leave across 44 countries. 🇾🇪 Yemen leads with 39 total days off, while 🇺🇸 United States has 0.

Countries Compared

Avg Public Holidays

18d

Avg Paid Leave

Avg Total Days Off

Countries with Most Vacation Days

1. 🇾🇪 Yemen39 days
2. 🇦🇹 Austria38 days
3. 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates38 days
4. 🇩🇰 Denmark35 days
5. 🇳🇴 Norway35 days

Countries with Fewest Vacation Days

1. 🇺🇸 United States0 days
2. 🇨🇳 China5 days
3. 🇲🇽 Mexico12 days
4. 🇿🇦 South Africa15 days
5. 🇻🇳 Vietnam18 days

All Countries Compared

Country	Public Holidays	Paid Leave	Total Days Off ▼	Source
🇾🇪Yemen	9	30	39	Labour Law
🇦🇹Austria	13	25	38	Austrian Holiday Act
🇦🇪United Arab Emirates	8	30	38	Federal Decree-Law No. 33
🇩🇰Denmark	10	25	35	Holiday Act
🇳🇴Norway	10	25	35	Holiday Act
🇵🇹Portugal	12	22	34	Labour Code Art. 238
🇮🇶Iraq	12	20	32	Labour Law No. 37
🇮🇳India	16	15	31	Factories Act
🇵🇱Poland	11	20	31	Labour Code
🇦🇫Afghanistan	10	20	30	Labour Law
🇧🇷Brazil	0	30	30	CLT Art. 130
🇬🇧United Kingdom	2	28	30	Working Time Regulations
🇪🇹Ethiopia	13	16	29	Labour Proclamation
🇮🇩Indonesia	17	12	29	Manpower Law No. 13
🇵🇭Philippines	24	5	29	Labour Code Art. 95
🇸🇩Sudan	9	20	29	Labour Act
🇯🇵Japan	18	10	28	Labour Standards Act
🇲🇲Myanmar	18	10	28	Leave and Holidays Act
🇷🇺Russia	0	28	28	Labour Code Art. 115
🇱🇦Laos	11	15	26	Labour Law
🇰🇷South Korea	11	15	26	Labour Standards Act
🇸🇾Syria	11	15	26	Labour Law
🇫🇮Finland	0	25	25	Annual Holidays Act
🇫🇷France	0	25	25	Code du travail
🇸🇪Sweden	0	25	25	Annual Leave Act
🇹🇷Turkey	11	14	25	Labour Act No. 4857
🇦🇺Australia	4	20	24	National Employment Standards
🇲🇾Malaysia	15	8	23	Employment Act 1955
🇲🇳Mongolia	8	15	23	Labour Law
🇪🇸Spain	0	22	22	Workers Statute Art. 38
🇹🇭Thailand	16	6	22	Labour Protection Act
🇪🇬Egypt	0	21	21	Labour Law No. 12
🇸🇦Saudi Arabia	0	21	21	Saudi Labour Law
🇩🇪Germany	0	20	20	Federal Holiday Act
🇮🇹Italy	0	20	20	Legislative Decree 66
🇳🇱Netherlands	0	20	20	Civil Code Art. 7:634
🇳🇿New Zealand	0	20	20	Holidays Act 2003
🇨🇦Canada	9	10	19	Provincial average
🇸🇬Singapore	11	7	18	Employment Act
🇻🇳Vietnam	6	12	18	Labour Code 2019
🇿🇦South Africa	0	15	15	Basic Conditions of Employment Act
🇲🇽Mexico	0	12	12	Federal Labour Law
🇨🇳China	0	5	5	Regulation on Paid Annual Leave
🇺🇸United States	0	0	0	No federal mandate

Showing 44 of 44 countries. Paid leave = statutory minimum annual leave mandated by labour law. Public holidays from national calendar data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has the most vacation days in 2026?: Yemen leads with 39 total days off — 9 public holidays plus 30 statutory paid leave days. The top 5 most generous countries are Yemen (39), Austria (38), United Arab Emirates (38), Denmark (35), Norway (35).
Which country has the fewest vacation days?: United States has the fewest with 0 total days off (0 public holidays, 0 paid leave days). Countries with fewer vacation days include United States (0), China (5), Mexico (12), South Africa (15), Vietnam (18).
What is the difference between vacation days and holidays?: Public holidays are government-designated days off that apply to everyone. Paid vacation days (annual leave) are statutory leave that employers must provide — employees choose when to take them. This page shows both: public holidays from national calendars and minimum paid annual leave mandated by labour law.
How many paid vacation days does the average country mandate?: Across 44 countries, the average statutory paid leave is 18 days per year, plus 7 public holidays — totaling 25 days off. Note: some countries like the United States have no federal paid leave mandate.
Are mandatory vacation days the same as paid time off (PTO)?: Not exactly. This page shows the statutory minimum paid annual leave required by law. Many employers offer more than the legal minimum. PTO policies in the US, for example, are entirely employer-determined since there is no federal mandate. In most other countries, the legal minimum serves as the floor.