Independence Day

For other uses, see Independence Day (disambiguation).

An Independence Day is an annual celebration commemorating the anniversary of a nation's assumption of independent statehood, usually after ceasing to be a colony or part of another state, more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Most countries honour their respective independence day as a national holiday and some countries or nations' independence-date honours are contested.

The following is a partial list of independence days of countries around the world:

Country Date Significant event Afghanistan August 19Independence from United Kingdomcontrol over Afghan foreign affairs in 1919. Albania November 28(Dita e Pavarësisë) Declared by Ismail Qemaliin 1912 and signalled the end of five centuries of Ottomanrule. Algeria July 5Independence from Francein 1962. Andorra March 14Independence from Franceand Spainin 1993. Angola November 11 Portugalgrants independence to its former colonyin 1975. Antigua and Barbuda November 1Independence from the United Kingdomin 1981. Argentina July 9Independence declared from Spainin 1816. Armenia May 28Independence from Turkeyin 1918. Armenia September 21Independence from the Soviet Unionin 1991.

Azerbaijan October 18Independence from the Soviet Unionin 1991. Bahamas July 10Independence from the United Kingdomin 1973. Bahrain August 15Independence from the United Kingdomin 1971. Bangladesh March 26Independence was declared from Pakistanand this led to a nine month war ending on December 16, 1971. Barbados November 30Independence from the United Kingdomin 1966. Belarus July 3Liberation of Minskfrom German occupation by Soviettroops in 1944. Belgium July 21(Belgian revolution) Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeldtakes the oath as first king of the Belgians in 1831. Belize September 21Independence from the United Kingdomin 1981. See September Celebrations. Benin August 1Independence from Francein 1960. Bolivia August 6Independence from Spainin 1825. Bosnia and Herzegovina March 1Independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslaviain 1992. Botswana September 30Independence from the United Kingdomin 1966. Brazil September 7(Sete de Setembro) Declared Independence from Portugalon that date in 1822. It was declared by Dom Pedro I, son of the King of Portugal and the first Brazilian Emperor, but the independence act was not recognized until August 29, 1825. Brunei January 1Independence from United Kingdomin 1984 Bulgaria September 22Independence from Ottoman Empirein 1878 Burkina Faso August 5Independence from Francein 1960 Burundi July 1Independence from Belgiumin 1962

Cape Verde Islands July 5(Cape Verde Independence Day) Independence from Portugalin 1975. Chad August 11Independence from Francein 1960. Chile February 12Declared Independence from Spainon that date in 1818. Actually, Chileans celebrate the date of the first Government Junta, September 18. This date was not recognized as until 25 April 1844. Colombia July 20and August 07Independence from Spainin 1810. Democratic Republic of the Congo June 30Independence from Belgiumin 1960. Costa Rica September 15Independence from Spainin 1821. Croatia October 8Independence from Yugoslaviain 1991. Cyprus October 1Independence from the United Kingdomon August 16, 1960, but Cyprus Independence Day is commonly celebrated on October 1.[1][2]Czech& Slovak Republics October 28

November 17

As Czechoslovakia, marking restored independence from Austria-Hungaryin 1918.

As Czechoslovakia, marking the Velvet Revolution in 1989.

Dominican Republic February 27Independence from Haitiin 1844, after a 22-year occupation. East Timor May 20Independence from Indonesiain 2002. Ecuador August 10and May 24Proclaimed independence from Spainin August 10, 1809, but failed with the execution of all the conspirators of the movement in August 2, 1810. Independence finally occurred in May 24, 1822at Battle of Pichincha. El Salvador September 15Independence from Spainin 1821 Eritrea May 24Independence from Ethiopiain 1993. Estonia February 24Independence from the Bolshevist Russiain 1918. Finland December 6 Independence Day of FinlandIndependence from Russiain 1917. Republic of Macedonia September 8(Den na nezavisnostaor Ден на независноста) Independence from Yugoslaviain 1991. The Gambia February 18Independence from the United Kingdomin 1965. Georgia May 26

April 9

Day of First Republic in 1918.

Independence from USSR in 1991.

Ghana March 6Independence from the United Kingdomin 1957. Greece March 25Declaration of independence from Ottoman Empirein 1821. Start of the Greek War of Independence Guatemala September 15Independence from Spainin 1821. Guyana May 26Independence from the United Kingdomin 1966. Haiti January 1Declaration of Independence from Francein 1804. Hawaiʻi November 28Independence from Great Britainin 1843. Honduras September 15Independence from Kingdom of Spainin 1821. Iceland June 17Independence from Kingdom of Denmarkin 1944. India August 15 Independence (Freedom/svatantrataa/स्वतंत्रता)from the United Kingdomin 1947. Indonesia August 17Proclamation of Independence day (Hari Proklamasi Kemerdekaan R.I.) from the Netherlands. Independence from Japanin 1945. Ireland Easter Monday Proclamation of the Irish Republiccommencing the Easter Risingin 1916. Israel5 Iyar(Yom Ha'atzmaut) celebrated on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nearest to 5 Iyar, so it actually occurs between the 3rd and 6th of Iyar, which may fall between April 15and May 15. The Gregoriandate in which Israeli independence was proclaimed is May 14, 1948(from the British Mandate of Palestine).

Jamaica August 6Independence from the United Kingdomin 1962. Jordan May 25Independence from the United Kingdomin 1946. Kazakhstan December 16Independence from the Soviet Unionin 1991. Kenya December 12Independence from the United Kingdomin 1963. Korea, North September 9Founding of the DPRK in 1948. Korea, South August 15(Gwangbokjeol) Independence from Japanin 1945. Kosovo February 17Independence from Serbiain 2008. Kuwait January 26Independence from the United Kingdomin 1961. Kyrgyzstan August 31Independence from USSRin 1991. Latvia November 18
4 MayIndependence from Russiain 1918.
Independence from Soviet Unionin 1990 Lebanon November 22Independence from Francein 1943. Lesotho October 4Independence from the United Kingdomin 1966. Liberia July 26Independence in 1847. Lithuania February 16and March 11Independence from Russiaand Germanyin February, 1918; independence from the Soviet Unionin March, 1990. Madagascar June 26Independence from Francein 1960. Malawi July 6Independence from the United Kingdomin 1964. Malaysia August 31(Hari Merdeka) Independence from the United Kingdomin 1957 Maldives July 26Independence from the United Kingdomin 1965 Mali September 22Independence from Francein 1960 Malta September 21(Independence Day (Malta)) Independence from the United Kingdomin 1964. Mauritius March 12Independence from the United Kingdomin 1968. Mexico September 16(Grito de Dolores) Independence from Spain declared in 1810. Recognized on September 27, 1821 Moldova August 27Independence from the Soviet Unionin 1991 Mongolia November 26Independence from Chinaon July 11, 1921 Montenegro May 21Independence from State union with Serbia, in 2006 Morocco March 2Independence from Franceand Spainin 1956 Mozambique June 25Independence from Portugalin 1975 Myanmar January 4Independence from the United Kingdomin 1948 Namibia March 21Independence from South Africanmandate in 1990

Nicaragua September 15Independence from Spainin 1821 Niger August 3Independence from Francein 1960 Nigeria October 1Independence from United Kingdomin 1960 Norway June 7Union Dissolution Day, Independence from the union with Sweden in 1905. Pakistan August 14(Yaum e Azadi) Independence from the United Kingdomin 1947. Panama November 28Independence from Spainin 1821. The 1903 separation from Colombiais also celebrated (on November 3, Separation Day). Papua New Guinea September 16Independence from Australiaof the former Territories of New Guinea, and Papua, in 1975. Paraguay May 15(Día de Independencia) Independence from Spainin 1811. Peru July 28Independence from Spainin 1821. Philippines June 12(Araw ng Kalayaan) Independence from Spainin 1898. Poland November 11(Święto Niepodległości) Restoration of Poland's independence in 1918 after 123 years of partitionsby Austro-Hungary, Prussia, and Russia. Portugal December 1Restoration of Portugal's independence (from Spain) in 1640.

The country's original independence (from the Kingdom of León) was recognized on 5 October of 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 1580-1640.