Annual Leave by Country
Compare statutory annual leave and public holidays across 18 countries. See which countries get the most time off and how they compare in a colour-coded ranking.
International Annual Leave Comparison
Compare statutory annual leave and public holidays by country
Data represents statutory minimums as of 2026. Actual entitlements vary by employment type, tenure, and region. Many employers offer more generous benefits above the statutory minimum.
Comparison Table
| Country | Annual Leave Days | Public Holidays | Total Days Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 25 | 11 | 36 |
| Germany | 20 | 11 | 31 |
| Australia | 20 | 10 | 30 |
| United Kingdom | 20 | 8 | 28 |
| Japan | 10 | 16 | 26 |
| United States | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ranking by Total Days Off (among selected)
France
Very GenerousAnnual Leave
25 days
Public Holidays
11 days
Total Minimum Days Off
36
= 9.9% of the year
Statutory: 25 days annual leave plus 11 public holidays = 36 days minimum.
Germany
ExcellentAnnual Leave
20 days
Public Holidays
11 days
Total Minimum Days Off
31
= 8.5% of the year
Statutory minimum: 20 days. Most employers offer 25-30 days. Public holidays: 9-13.
Australia
GoodAnnual Leave
20 days
Public Holidays
10 days
Total Minimum Days Off
30
= 8.2% of the year
Minimum 20 days annual leave. Public holidays: 8-12 depending on state.
United Kingdom
ModerateAnnual Leave
20 days
Public Holidays
8 days
Total Minimum Days Off
28
= 7.7% of the year
Statutory Minimum: 20 days. Bank holidays: 8 (varies by country within UK).
Japan
ModerateAnnual Leave
10 days
Public Holidays
16 days
Total Minimum Days Off
26
= 7.1% of the year
Statutory: 10 days (rising to 20 with tenure). Public holidays: 16. Limited take-up.
United States
MinimalAnnual Leave
0 days
Public Holidays
0 days
Total Minimum Days Off
0
= 0.0% of the year
No federal statutory paid leave requirement. Average: 10-15 days offered by employers.
Key Insights
Most Generous:
France offers the most statutory time off (36 days)
Least Generous:
United States has the minimum statutory entitlement (0 days)
Average Work Year:
In France, you work approximately 340 days per year on average
Note: These are statutory minimums. Many countries have regional variations, collective agreements, or employer benefits that exceed these standards.
Important Notes:
- Statutory minimums vary by employment type (full-time, part-time, contract work)
- Tenure may affect entitlements (e.g., Japan: more leave with length of service)
- Regional variations apply in many countries (e.g., UK bank holidays vary by country)
- Some countries require you to take leave (no "banking" of unused days)
- Sectarian holidays vary by region and may be optional in some countries
- Self-employed workers may have different entitlements
How Statutory Annual Leave Differs Around the World
The headline numbers vary wildly. France gives 25 working days plus 11 public holidays for a 36-day total. The UK sits at 28 days when you add 20 days of statutory leave to 8 bank holidays (5.6 weeks under the Working Time Regulations). The United States has no federal mandate at all, which is why a job offer there might list 10 days when you are used to 25.
Bear in mind that bank holiday inclusion varies by country. UK employers can count the 8 bank holidays as part of your 28-day allowance, so a contract saying "20 days holiday plus bank holidays" gives the same total as one saying "28 days inclusive". Scotland and Northern Ireland each have slightly different bank holiday calendars too, which is why the tool lists 8 as a standard. If you are planning around UK public holidays, the [UK Tax Calculator](/uk-tax-calculator) can help you estimate take-home pay for the part of the year you are actually working.
Comparing Job Offers Across Borders
If you are weighing up a relocation, leave entitlement matters more than people realise. Tick France, Germany, the UK and the US. The ranking will show 36, 31, 28 and 0. That is a five-week gap between France and the UK, and a six-week gap between the UK and the US for someone with no negotiated extras. Multiply that by 30 working years and the lifetime difference is enormous.
Two caveats worth flagging. Statutory minimums are floors, not ceilings; many German and Dutch employers offer 30 days as standard, well above the 20 required by law. And take-up culture matters - Japan mandates 10 days of leave but the average worker uses around half. Use the comparison as a starting point, then ask the recruiter about company policy and how often people actually take their full entitlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the UK really only get 28 days of leave?
The statutory minimum is 5.6 weeks per year, which works out to 28 days for a five-day-a-week worker. Employers can choose to include the 8 bank holidays in that figure or offer them on top. Plenty of UK employers offer 25 days plus bank holidays (33 total), and senior roles often include 30 days plus bank holidays. The 28-day figure shown here is the legal floor, not what most people actually get.
Why does the United States show zero days?
There is no federal law requiring paid annual leave in the US. Most employers offer something - typically 10 days for new hires rising to 15 or 20 with tenure - but it is a benefit rather than a right. A handful of states and cities have introduced paid sick leave laws, but paid vacation remains entirely at the employer's discretion.
Are public holidays the same as annual leave?
They serve different purposes. Public holidays are specific dates (Christmas Day, Bastille Day, Independence Day) when most workplaces close. Annual leave is time you choose when to take. The tool adds them together to give a "total days off" figure for fair comparison, but the experience is different - public holidays cluster around predictable dates while annual leave offers genuine flexibility.
Do part-time workers get the same proportion?
In most countries, yes. UK part-timers accrue 5.6 weeks pro rata, so someone working three days a week gets 16.8 days. The numbers shown in the tool assume full-time five-day-a-week work. If you are switching to part-time, multiply the days figure by your fraction (3/5, 4/5) to get your entitlement.
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