Independence Days of the World Nationals

An Independence Day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's assumption of independent statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state; more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Most countries observe their respective independence days as a national holiday, and in some cases the observance date is controversial or contested.


Country

Date

Independence

Abkhazia

July 4

Independence from Georgia in 1993. Officially declared as such in 1999. (Only partially recognized.).End of the 1992-1993 War in Abkhazia; also known as "liberation day".

Afghanistan

August 19

Independence from the United Kingdom control over Afghan foreign affairs in 1919.Afghan Independence Day

Albania

November 28

Declared by Ismail Qemali in 1912 and signalled the end of five centuries of Ottoman rule.

Algeria

July 5

Independence from France in 1962.

Angola

November 11

Independence from Portugal in 1975.

Antigua and Barbuda

November 1

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1981.

Argentina

July 9

Independence declared from the Spanish Empire in 1816.

Armenia

May 28
September 21

Declaration of independence from Ottoman Empire in 1918.
Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
National Day

Austria

October 26

Restoration of sovereignty in 1955.National Day

Azerbaijan

May 28
October 18

Independence from the Russian Empire in 1918.
Independence re-declared from the Soviet Union in 1991

Bahamas

July 10

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1973.

Bahrain

August 15

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1971.Bahrain Independence Day

Bangladesh

March 26

Independence was declared from Pakistan and this led to a nine-month war ending on December 16, 1971.Independence Day of Bangladesh

Barbados

November 30

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.

Belarus

July 3

The liberation of Minsk after several years of German occupation in 1944.

Belgium

July 21

Independence from the Netherlands (Belgian revolution) on October 4, 1830. Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld takes the oath as first king of the Belgians on July 21, 1831.National Day

Belize

September 21

Independence from the United Kingdom on September 21, 1981.September Celebrations.

Benin

August 1

Independence from France in 1969.

Bolivia

August 6

Independence from Spain in 1825.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

March 1

Independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992.Independence Day (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Botswana

September 30

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.

Brazil

September 7

Independence from Portugal in 1822. Recognized on August 29, 1825.Independence Day (Brazil)

Brunei

January 1

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1984

Bulgaria

March 3

Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878.

Burkina Faso

August 5

Independence from France in 1960

Burundi

July 1

Independence from Belgium in 1962

Cambodia

November 9

Independence from France in 1953

Cameroon

January 1

Independence from France and Britain.

Cape Verde

July 5

Independence from Portugal in 1975.

Central African Republic

August 13

Independence from France in 1960.

Chad

August 11

Independence from France in 1960.

Chile

February 12 and September 18

Declared Independence from Spain on that date in 1818. Actually, Chileans celebrate the date of the first Government Junta, September 18. This date was not recognized as such until April 25, 1844.

Colombia

July 20 and August 7

Independence from Spain in 1810.

Costa Rica

September 15

Independence from Spain in 1821.

Croatia

October 8

Independence from SFR Yugoslavia in 1991. Independence was declared, after the May 19 referendum, by the Parliament on June 25 - the date is celebrated as Statehood Day; but a three-month moratorium was imposed as a result of the Brijuni Agreement, and on October 8 the ties with SFR Yugoslavia were formally severed.

Cuba

May 20

Independence from the United States in 1902.

Cyprus

October 1

Independence from the United Kingdom on August 16, 1960, but Cyprus Independence Day is commonly celebrated on October 1.

Czech Republic

October 28 and January 1

As Czechoslovakia, marking independence from Austria-Hungary on October 28, 1918.

As the Czech Republic after the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993.

Côte d'Ivoire

August 7

Independence from France in 1960.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

June 30

Independence from Belgium in 1960.

Djibouti

June 27

Independence from France in 1977

Dominica

November 3

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1978

Dominican Republic

February 27

Independence from Haiti in 1844, after a 22-year occupation.

East Timor

May 20

Independence from Portugal in 2002 (recognition, East Timor was invaded by Indonesia from 1975 to 1999, officially it never ceased to be considered as administrated by Portugal).

Ecuador

August 10 and May 24

Proclaimed independence from Spain on August 10, 1809, but failed with the execution of all the conspirators of the movement on August 2, 1810. Independence finally occurred on May 24, 1822 at the Battle of Pichincha.

El Salvador

September 15

Independence from Spain in 1821

Eritrea

May 24

Independence from Ethiopia in 1993.Independence Day (Eritrea)

Estonia

February 24
August 20

Independence from the Russian Empire in 1918.
Independence re-declared from the Soviet Union in 1991

Fiji

October 10

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1970.

Finland

December 6

Independence from Russia in 1917. Recognized on January 4, 1918.Independence Day (Finland)

Gabon

August 17

Independence from France in 1960.

Georgia

May 26

April 9

Day of First Republic in 1918.

Independence from USSR in 1991.

Ghana

March 6

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1957.

Greece

March 25

Declaration of independence from Ottoman Empire in 1821. Start of the Greek War of Independence

Grenada

February 7

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1974.

Guatemala

September 15

Independence from Spain in 1869.

Guinea

October 2

Independence from France in 1958.

Guinea-Bissau

September 24

Declaration of independence from Portugal in 1973.

Guyana

May 26

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1969.

Haiti

January 1

Declaration of independence from France in 1804.

Honduras

September 15

Independence from Spain in 1821.

Hungary

March 15

Márciusi ifjak ("March youths"), memorial day of the 1848 Revolution.National Day

Iceland

December 1

Independence from Kingdom of Denmark in 1918.

India

August 15

Independence from the British Govt, United Kingdom in 1947.Independence Day (India).

Indonesia

August 17

Declaration of Independence day (Hari Proklamasi Kemerdekaan R.I.) from the Netherlands in 1945. The Netherlands acknowledged Indonesian independence and sovereignty in 1949, later re-correct it on 2008.

Iraq

October 3

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1932.

Ireland

April 24

Proclamation of the Irish Republic commencing the Easter Rising on April 24, 1916. Independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Israel

Iyar 5
(On or between April 15 and May 15, depending on the Hebrew calendar).

(Yom Ha'atzmaut) Independence from the British Mandate for Palestine, which took place on May 14, 1948 (5 Iyar 5708 in the Hebrew calendar). 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.

Jamaica

August 6

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1962.

Jordan

May 25

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1946.

Kazakhstan

December 16

Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Kenya

December 12

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1963.

Korea, North

September 9

Founding of the DPRK in 1948.

Korea, South

August 15

Independence from Japan in 1945. (Independence from Japan was declared on March 1, 1919. August 15, 1945 is the official Liberation Day of Korea.)

Kosovo

February 17

Independence from Serbia in 2008.

Kuwait

February 25

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1961.

Kyrgyzstan

August 31

Independence from USSR in 1991.

Laos

July 19

Independence from France on July 19, 1949.

Latvia

November 18 and May 4

Independence from Russia on November 18, 1918.
Independence from Soviet Union on May 4, 1990

Lebanon

November 22

Independence from France in 1943.

Lesotho

October 4

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.

Liberia

July 26

Independence from the United States in 1847.

Libya

December 24

Independence from Italy on December 24, 1951.

Lithuania

February 16 and March 11

Act of Independence of Lithuania: Independence from the Russian and German Empires in February 1918; Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania: independence from the Soviet Union in March 1990.

Macedonia

September 8

(Den na nezavisnosta or Ден на независноста) Independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Madagascar

June 26

Independence from France in 1960.

Malawi

July 6

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1964.

Malaysia

August 31

(Hari Merdeka) Independence from the United Kingdom in 1957 (as the Federation of Malaya).

Maldives

July 26

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1965.

Mali

September 22

Independence from France in 1960.

Malta

September 21

(Independence Day (Malta)) Independence from the United Kingdom in 1964.

Mauritius

March 12

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1968.

Mexico

September 16

(Grito de Dolores) Independence from Spain declared in 1810. Recognized on September 27, 1821.

Moldova

August 27

(Independence Day) Declaration of Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.National Day.

Mongolia

December 29

Independence from the Qing Dynasty in 1911. However, the newly established Mongolian government was weak to resist the occupation of the ROC in 1919 and later White Russia in early 1921. After ousting Ungern's forces, the new communist government was officially established on June 11, 1921.

Montenegro

May 21

Independence from State union with Serbia, in 2006

Morocco

November 18

Independence from France and Spain in 1956

Mozambique

June 25

Independence from Portugal in 1975

Myanmar

January 4

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1948.Independence Day (Burma).

Nagorno-Karabakh

September 2

Independence from Azerbaijan in 1991. De facto independent.National Day

Namibia

March 21

Independence from South African mandate in 1990

Nauru

January 31

Independence from Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom in 1968

Netherlands

May 5

Liberation from Nazi Germany in 1945.National Day.

Nicaragua

September 15

Independence from Spain in 1821

Niger

August 3

Independence from France in 1960

Nigeria

October 1

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1960

Northern Cyprus

September 2

Declaration of independence from the Republic of Cyprus in 1983. (Partially recognized)

Pakistan

August 14

Independence from the United Kingdom on 27 Ramadan ul Mubarik, August 14, 1947.Youm-e-Azadi.

Panama

November 28

Independence from Spain, celebrated on November 28, 1821, but after that Panama was member of the "Gran Colombia" until 1903. The 1903 separation from Colombia is also celebrated as an official holiday day on November 3.

Papua New Guinea

September 16

Independence from Australia of the former Territory of Papua and New Guinea in 1975.

Paraguay

May 14

Independence from Spain in 1811.

Peru

July 28

Independence from Spain in 1821.

Philippines

June 12

Commemorates 1898 declaration by Emilio Aguinaldo during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. The Republic of the Philippines achieved self-rule from the United States on July 4, 1946, and celebrated July 4 as Independence Day until 1964.Araw ng Kalayaan.

Poland

November 11

Restoration of Poland's independence in 1918 after 123 years of partitions by Russia, Prussia, and Austria.

Portugal

December 1

The country's original independence (from the Kingdom of León) was recognized on October 5, 1143. That day is a holiday in Portugal, but for a different reason. (Implantation of the Republic, or Republic Day. Event of 1910.) Note that none of these events are similar to today's declarations or recognition of independence as these are in fact the recognition of the rule of a king to the land. Portugal existed as a separate entity before 1143 and during the union with Spain between 1580 and 1640.

Republic of the Congo

August 15

Independence from France in 1960.

Romania

May 9

Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877 (see the Romanian War of Independence).

Rwanda

July 1

Independence from Belgium in 1962.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

September 19

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1983.

Saint Lucia

February 22

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1979.Independence Day.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

October 27

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1979.

Samoa

January 1

Independence from New Zealand in 1962.

Senegal

April 4

Independence from France in 1960.

Serbia

February 15

Independence from Ottoman Empire in 1804.

Seychelles

June 29

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1976.

Sierra Leone

April 27

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1961.

Singapore

August 9

Marks city-state's secession/expulsion from the Malaysian Federation in 1965.National Day (Singapore).

Slovakia

July 17

Declaration of Independence in 1992 (only a remembrance day), de jure independence came on January 1, 1993 after the division of Czechoslovakia (public holiday).

Slovenia

December 26 and June 25

(Independence and Unity Day) Date of the release of the official results of the independence plebiscite in 1990, confirming secession from Yugoslavia. (Statehood Day) Declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Solomon Islands

July 7

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1978.

Somalia

July 1

Declared independence From Italy In 1960

South Africa

December 11

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1931. Not a public holiday. Union of South Africa formed on May 31, 1910 and Republic of South Africa declared on May 31, 1961 and gained independence under minority rule in 1994 after apartheid

South Sudan

July 9

Independence from Sudan in 2011.

Sri Lanka

February 4

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1948.Independence Day (Sri Lanka).

Sudan

January 1

Independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom in 1956.

Suriname

November 25

Independence from the Netherlands in 1975.

Swaziland

September 6

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1968.

Sweden

June 6

(National Day of Sweden) celebrates the election of King Gustav Vasa in 1523 and the new constitutions in 1809 and 1974.

Switzerland

August 1

(Swiss National Day) Alliance against the Holy Roman Empire in 1291.

Syria

April 17

(Evacuation Day) End of the French Mandate of Syria in 1946

São Tomé and Príncipe

July 12

Independence from Portugal in 1975.

Tajikistan

September 9

Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Tanzania

December 9

Independence of Tanganyika from the United Kingdom in 1961.

The Gambia

February 18

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1965.

Togo

April 27

Independence from France in 1960.

Tonga

June 4

Termination of protectorate status under the United Kingdom in 1970.

Trinidad and Tobago

August 31

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1962.

Tunisia

March 20

Declaration of independence from France in 1956.

Turkey

October 29

Turkey becomes a republic following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire Turkish War of Independence in 1923.

Turkmenistan

October 27

Declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Ukraine

August 24 and January 22

Independence from the Soviet Union on August 24, 1991. Unification of Ukraine on January 22, 1919.

United Arab Emirates

December 2

(National Day) Independence from the United Kingdom in 1971.

United States

July 4

(Fourth of July) Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1776.Independence Day (United States).

Uruguay

August 25

(Declaratoria de la Independencia) Declaration of independence from Brazil in 1825.

Uzbekistan

September 1

Independence from USSR in 1991.

Vanuatu

July 30

Independence from the United Kingdom and France in 1980.

Venezuela

July 5

Declaration of independence from Spain in 1811.

Vietnam

September 2

Proclamation of independence from Japan and France in 1945.Independence Day (Vietnam).

Yemen

November 30

South Yemen Declaration of independence from the United Kingdom in 1967.

Zambia

October 24

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1964.

Zimbabwe

April 18

Independence from the United Kingdom in 1980.






Governor General and presidents of Pakistan

When Words Escape, Flowers Speak. While They May Not Last As Long As Diamonds, Flowers are Forever. We Associate Flower With The Special Times of Our Lives. Birthdays, Marriages, Farewells…No Occasion Goes Without The Fragrance of Flowers. When We Wish to Convey Passion, Respect, Congratulations, or Apology to The People Most Precious to Us, Only Flowers Will do.

Prime Ministers of Pakistan