Independence Days worldwide Independence days in countries around the world.

The following map shows national days around the world which mark that country's independence with a flag indicating who the country gained independence from. Click on the flags to get more information on the National Days.

Independence Days

Celebrating a nation's independence is by far and away the most popular type of national day around the world. Of the 225 nations and states whose national days are covered on these pages, 163 of those days celebrate independence in some shape or form.

Some of the flags above may not be that familiar as they represent states that no longer exist such as the Ottoman Empire, the Austria Hungary Empire, the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic and even the Roman Empire.

Looking at National Days in this way gives a fascinating insight into how political changes from history have shaped our culture today.

The table below shows how many national days around the world were created to celebrate independence from these nations or states.

Nation or State Number of National Days
United Kingdom 48
France 22
Spain 19
Portugal 8
Soviet Union 8
Ottoman Empire 5

Independence from United Kingdom

Country Date Remarks
Afghanistan August 19 Independence Day: Independence from United Kingdom control over Afghan foreign affairs in 1919
Antigua and Barbuda November 01 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1981
Bahamas July 10 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1973
Barbados November 30 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966
Botswana September 30 Botswana Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966
Brunei February 23 National Day: Brunei gained its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984
Cayman Islands July 01 Constitution Day: 1st Monday in July
Cyprus April 01 Cypriot National Day: Marks the start of insurgence against the British in 1955
Dominica November 03 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1978
Fiji October 10 Fiji Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1970
Gambia February 18 Independence Day: Independence Day, from the United Kingdom in 1965
Ghana March 06 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom 1957
Grenada February 07 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom on 7 February 1974
Hong Kong July 01 HKSAR Day: Transfer of sovereignty to the PRC 1997
India August 15 Independence Day: On August 15, 1947, India became a dominion within the British Commonwealth
Iraq October 03 National Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1932
Israel April 15 Yom Ha'atzmaut: Proclamation of independence from the British Mandate of Palestine 1948
Jamaica August 06 Independence Day: The Colony of Jamaica's independence from the UK on 6 August 1962
Jordan May 25 Independence Day: Independence Day, from the United Kingdom 1946
Kenya December 12 Jamhuri Day: Marks the date of Kenya's establishment as a republic on 12 December, 1964
Kiribati July 12 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1979
Kuwait February 25 National Day: marks the creation of Kuwait as a nation in 1961
Lesotho October 04 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966
Malawi July 06 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1964
Malaysia August 31 Merdeka Day: Hari Merdeka. Independence (within the Commonwealth) from the United Kingdom in 1957
Malta September 21 Independence Day: Malta gained its Independence from Britain on this day in 1964
Mauritius March 12 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1968
Myanmar December 09 National Day: Beginning of Student led protests against the British in 1920
Nigeria October 01 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1960
Pakistan August 14 Independence Day: Marks Pakistan's independence from British rule in 1947
Saint Kitts and Nevis September 19 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom 1983
Seychelles June 29 National Day: On 29 June 1976, the Seychelles became a republic within the Commonwealth
Sierra Leone April 27 Independence Day: Marks independence from the UK on 27 April 1961
Solomon Islands July 07 Independence Day: Independence from the UK in 1978
Sri Lanka February 04 Independence Day: Marks independence from British rule in 1948
St. Vincent & the Grenadines October 27 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1979
Swaziland September 06 Independence Day: Independence from United Kingdom in 1968
Tanzania December 09 Independence Day: Independence from the UK in 1961 of Tanganyika
Tonga November 04 Constitution Day: In 1875, King George Tupou I consented to the constitution of the new nation of Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago August 31 Independence Day: Marks independence from the UK in 1962
Turks and Caicos Islands August 30 Constitution Day: The islands adopted a constitution on August 30, 1976
Tuvalu October 01 Independence Day: Independence from the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati) in 1975
Uganda October 09 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom in 1962
United Arab Emirates December 02 National Day: Formation of federation of seven emirates on independence from the UK in 1971
United States July 04 Independence Day: Marks the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776
Vanuatu July 30 Independence Day: Independence from the United Kingdom and France in 1980
Zambia October 24 Independence Day: Declaration of independence from the United Kingdom in 1964
Zimbabwe April 18 Independence Day: Recognition of independence from the United Kingdom in 1980

Disclaimer: Dates and Events correct at time of printing but may change without our knowledge.