SPECIAL Informat.ro / "Long and frequent breaks": how many days off do Romanians have compared to the rest of the world and who is the global champion of legal holidays

Romanians do not fare the best or the worst when it comes to public holidays: Romania is among the European front-runners, but the world champions in public holidays are in Asia, where Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh have significantly more non-working days than any European or North American country. Romania has about 15 legal public holidays per year, below the Asian records, but above the average of some major Western economies.

Romania: among the leaders of Europe, but far from the Asian record

In Romania, the current regime of legal holidays sets about 15 national public holidays per year. The calendar for 2025 shows both the 15 non-working legal holidays and a series of commemorative or religious days that appear in calendars, but not all are actually non-working. In some cases, the Government adds occasional "bridges" (for example, public holidays between a holiday and a weekend), but these are not included in international standard statistics and do not officially change the cap of 15 days.

For a Romanian employee with a classic Monday to Friday schedule, the 15 legal days, plus vacation leave (usually a minimum of 20 working days) position Romania in the generous segment of Europe regarding formally legislated free time. The important difference compared to other states is that Romania concentrates many of its public holidays around major religious celebrations (Orthodox Easter, Christmas) and national symbols (National Day, Union Day of the Principalities), which makes certain months very "dense" in breaks, while others remain almost completely devoid of non-working days.

Europe: a continent fragmented between "legal vacations" and austerity of public holidays

At the European level, comparative data show that Romania, with its 15 legal public holidays, is above the average of some Western states and at a similar level to Central European countries. In Central and Eastern Europe, countries like Slovakia, Poland, or Croatia have between 14 and 15 legal holidays, placing them in the same group as Romania. According to data cited by EURES, in Europe, Slovakia is mentioned as having among the most public holidays (up to 15), while the Netherlands and Denmark have only about 9 legal holidays, placing them at the bottom of the continental ranking.

In Western Europe, the differences are even more pronounced: countries like Italy, Sweden, or Portugal usually have 12 official public holidays, while others, like England (the United Kingdom), fall below the threshold of 10 days, making them among the most "austere" in the world regarding legal holidays. These figures do not necessarily include regional or local holidays, which are very important in Spain or Switzerland, where some cantons or regions may have their own non-working days, above the national level. Overall, Romania aligns itself in the upper part of the European range, but without significantly surpassing the continent's "champions," which remain around the threshold of 15 days.

The rest of the world: Asia dominates, America is fragmented, Africa and Oceania are in the middle zone

Outside Europe, the map of public holidays changes radically, and the balance shifts decidedly in favor of Asia. Recent comparative data show that countries like Myanmar (30 public holidays in 2026), Bangladesh (29), and Sri Lanka (25) are among the countries with the most legal holidays in the world. Other global sources place Nepal right at the top of the ranking, with about 35 public holidays per year, followed by Iran and Myanmar, each with over 25 legal holidays. On the same continent, India and Cambodia also exceed the threshold of 20 official public holidays, confirming the Asian dominance in the global top of legal holidays.

In Latin America, some countries come close to Asian performances, but without reaching them. Colombia and Chile have about 16-18 legal holidays, with Chile frequently mentioned with a range of 16-17 public holidays, depending on the year. In Brazil, the official number of national holidays is about 9-12, to which is added a multitude of regional and municipal holidays, so the concrete experience of an employee varies greatly depending on the location. In North America, the contrast is even more visible: the United States has 12 federally recognized public holidays, but not all are necessarily non-working days for the private sector, while Canada counts fewer than 10 legal holidays at the federal level, with some provinces having additional days.

Africa and Oceania generally rank in the middle of the global ranking. African countries like Egypt, Nigeria, Rwanda, or South Africa usually have between 12 and 16 public holidays per year, with variations depending on religious holidays (Muslim or Christian) and national days. In Oceania, Australia has a variable number of 9-13 legal holidays, depending on the state or federal territory, while Fiji can have over 20 public holidays in certain jurisdictions, placing it in the upper global zone. This mosaic shows that, outside Europe, the "standard" of 10-15 public holidays is no longer the rule, but just one of many possible models.

Who is the "world champion" in public holidays

Looking at all continents together, the consensus of available statistical sources is relatively clear: Nepal consistently holds the title of the country with the most legal holidays in the world, with about 35 public holidays per year. Following it, South and Southeast Asia concentrate a large part of the "champions": Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, but also India or Cambodia fall within the range of 20-30 official public holidays, far above the level of Romania or the most generous European countries. In some global rankings, Colombia and the Philippines also appear in the upper zone, with about 18 public holidays, but still remain distant from the leading Asian block.

On the other hand, the "bottom of the ranking" is populated by developed states from Western Europe and North America. The United Kingdom (especially England) and Canada are frequently cited among the countries with the fewest official public holidays, with fewer than 10 national holidays, while other states, like Denmark or the Netherlands, also fall within the same reduced margin. The United States has on paper 12 federal holidays, but labor market practices mean that not all translate into non-working days for all employees, reinforcing the feeling that the North American model privileges work, while Southeast Asia and parts of Europe offer more official breathing time.

Where does Romania stand on the global map of public holidays

From the perspective of the ordinary Romanian, the conclusion is twofold: Romania fares better than many of the major Western economies, but is far from the "paradise of public holidays" in Nepal or Myanmar. With 15 legal holidays, Romania surpasses the number of countries like Italy, Sweden, or Canada and ranks at the same level or even above many EU states. At the same time, compared to Asian countries that exceed 25-30 public holidays, Romania seems rather moderate: it offers enough breaks throughout the year without turning the calendar into a series of work interruptions.

For the internal public debate, global data can be a good starting point: discussions about "too many" or "too few" public holidays make sense only when Romania is compared simultaneously with European neighbors and the rest of the world. If the standard is Western Europe or North America, Romania seems generous; if the benchmark becomes Southeast Asia, the country suddenly appears "sober" regarding legal breaks. However, the big question remains for both employees and employers: what matters more – the number of public holidays or the way they are distributed and integrated into a healthy balance between professional and personal life?

Analysis conducted with the support of Perplexity