Countries With the Most Vacation Days in 2025

Time off work is essential for health, well-being, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Around the globe, employees’ access to paid vacation days varies widely depending on government regulations, labor policies, and cultural norms.

Paid vacation allows workers to recharge, spend time with family, and pursue leisure activities. It also has measurable benefits for productivity and job satisfaction, making it a key component of modern employment standards.

Understanding how vacation entitlements differ internationally provides insight into global labor trends and how workers experience downtime in different cultures. Time off work is more than just a luxury; it is a critical factor in productivity, well-being, and work-life balance.

In this article, we will have a look at the countries that recognize the importance of extended breaks for mental health and family time, giving workers as much as a full month to recharge.

Greater London, England, United Kingdom; Photo- Pexels

Europe Dominates Vacation Generosity

According to the Global Paid Leave Report 2025 by Moorepay, the statutory minimums set by national governments, rather than individual employer policies, define how much paid vacation workers are entitled to.

Europe dominates when it comes to statutory paid leave. The United Kingdom offers 28 days of paid leave, placing it second globally. Italy, Luxembourg, and the Democratic Republic of Congo sit comfortably in third place with 26 days.

Northern European countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Denmark provide 25 days, ensuring employees maintain a high-quality work-life balance. Central and western European countries, including Germany, Finland, Malta, and Iceland, typically offer 24 days.

For the majority of European workers, these vacation entitlements are backed by legal protections that make it almost impossible for employers to reduce leave without formal consent. Europeans enjoy more than 30 days off work annually, allowing for international travel.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Middle East, Africa, and Asia

While Europe sets the standard, other regions also show impressive figures. Yemen, for instance, offers 30 days of paid leave plus 16 public holidays, resulting in a total of 46 days off—the highest in the world.

Countries in Africa, such as Togo, Djibouti, and Guinea, match this 30-day entitlement, reflecting regional labor policies designed to support worker welfare.

In the Middle East, Bahrain grants 30 days, while the UAE and Oman provide 22 days of annual leave, often supplemented with public holidays. These entitlements aim to balance rigorous work expectations with cultural and religious observances.

Asia shows greater variance. India offers 12 days of paid annual leave but complements this with 17 public holidays, effectively extending total time off to 29 days. Indonesia, Vietnam, and Mexico also offer around 12 days.

Planalto Central government district in Brasília, Brazil (Photo by Pedro França/Agęncia Senado – Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Americas and Oceania

In Latin America, most countries provide between 12 and 22 days of paid annual leave. Brazil, Cuba, Panama, and Peru typically grant 22 days. Mexico, Paraguay, and Guyana provide 12 days. Argentina, Canada, and the Caribbean nations generally offer 10–15 days.

Workers in these regions often rely on additional public holidays to supplement statutory leave.

Oceania offers a similar pattern. Australia and New Zealand grant 20 days, aligning with much of Europe. Smaller island nations such as Fiji and Samoa offer 10 days, reflecting the influence of local labor laws and economic considerations on employee benefits.

At the extreme, the United States provides 0 statutory vacation days, leaving all paid leave and holidays to employer discretion—a stark contrast to global standards.

Photo: Francesca / Pexels

Public Holidays Make a Difference

An important nuance in vacation entitlements is the role of public holidays. In many countries, statutory leave alone does not represent the total paid time off. India, for instance, provides 12 days of paid vacation but has 17 public holidays.

Yemen combines 30 days of vacation with 16 public holidays for 46 total paid days off. This distinction is crucial: the combination of leave and public holidays often determines how much time an employee can actually take off work.

Here is a brief overview of countries with the most generous statutory paid leave in 2025, provided by CN Traveler:

30 days – Austria, Monaco, France, Togo, Djibouti, Guinea, Libya, Bahrain, Yemen
28 days – United Kingdom
26 days – Luxembourg, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy
25 days – Sweden, Norway, Denmark
24 days – Georgia, Finland, Malta, Germany, Iceland, Gabon, Central African Republic, Benin, Chad, Mali, Zambia, Syria
22 days – Albania, Portugal, Andorra, Peru, Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, Niger, Algeria, Somalia, Comoros, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Turkmenistan, Maldives, Spain, Kiribati, Burkina Faso, Angola

Countries on the lower end include Malaysia (8 days) and the United States (0 days), illustrating a vast global disparity in statutory leave.

Harvard University USA; Photo- Ingfbruno | Wikimedia Commons

Why Vacation Days Matter

Statutory paid vacation is more than a benefit; it has measurable effects on productivity, mental health, and employee retention. Workers with adequate time off report higher satisfaction, reduced burnout, and improved performance.

Countries with generous leave policies, such as those in Western Europe and North Africa, demonstrate a correlation between extended breaks and higher workforce well-being.

Companies operating internationally must be aware of these legal entitlements. Multinational organizations often align their leave policies with local statutory requirements to remain compliant and competitive, while also offering additional perks to attract top talent.

Understanding vacation entitlements can guide travel planning. For instance, employees in countries with 30 days of leave may plan international trips, extended family visits, or multi-week retreats, while workers in countries with fewer days off may prioritize short trips or local tourism.

Moreover, knowledge of public holidays can extend time off without using additional vacation days, a strategy employed widely in India, Yemen, and Europe.

Scenic Winter View of Hallstatt, Austria; Photo- Pexels

Bottom Line

Global vacation policies reveal significant disparities in workers’ rights to paid time off. Countries such as Austria, France, and Yemen lead the world with 30 statutory days, while the United States provides no guaranteed leave.

Most nations fall within the 20–22 day range, and public holidays often supplement statutory leave, enhancing actual time off.

These policies have direct impacts on worker health, productivity, and international travel opportunities, highlighting the importance of understanding local labor laws for both employees and global employers.

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