Top 9+ Countries With the Most Paid Vacation Days—And 8 Where Breaks Are Rare

Iran Takes the Global Crown with 53 Vacation Days

At the very top is Iran with a total of 53 vacation days, split almost equally between public holidays and paid time off. As well as a reasonable 26 days of paid leave, Iran has nearly a month of public holidays (27 days), which is more than any other country.

Religious holidays and days to mark events concerning the Islamic Revolution contribute to this total.

San Marino's Impressive 46-Day Vacation Package

San Marino (46) and Yemen (45), have been extremely generous with doling out vacation days. San Marino has the most public holidays with 20 days annually, according to the data.

Meanwhile workers in Iran, San Marino, and Yemen—the three countries with the most paid vacation days given to workers—receive an average of 53, 46, and 45 paid days off, respectively.

European Leaders in Work-Life Balance

Topping the list is France, with its impressive 35 paid annual leaves a year. The country, renowned for its culture and work-life balance, ensures the employees get enough time to rejuvenate and enjoy.

Next up is Germany, a country recognized for its strong work-life balance initiatives. German employees enjoy vacations in the range of 24-30 days annually.

Germany's labor laws prioritize workers' physical and mental well-being, allowing them to disconnect from work and recharge fully.

Austria's Generous 30-Day Minimum Standard

The country prioritizes work-life balance, recognizing the importance of leisure time for physical and mental well-being. Austrian labor regulations mandate a generous allocation of paid vacation of 38 days.

Employees who have worked in the country for not more than 25 years qualify for at least 30 days of paid annual leave plus 13 paid public holidays. On the other hand, employees who have worked in the country for 25 years and more get 36 weeks of paid annual leave, amounting to 49 vacation days, excluding the sick offs.

Nordic Countries Champion Time Off

Sweden, often hailed for its progressive approach to work-life balance, grants its employees around 25 paid vacation days. Swedish philosophy emphasizes the importance of personal time, family, and well-being, and many employees use their vacation days to explore their country's renowned archipelagos and enjoy saunas and spas.

A land known for its pristine natural beauty and thriving design culture, Finland provides its workforce with 24 paid vacation days annually. Finnish employees utilize this time to relax in lakeside cottages, explore the Arctic wilderness, or witness the awe-inspiring Northern Lights.

Kuwait's Remarkable 64-Day Vacation System

As per Kuwait labor laws, employees in the country are entitled to 30 vacation days per year. However, vacation days can only be granted if one has offered not less than nine months of continuous service under one employer, when working for five days a week.

Besides the 30-day leave, workers also enjoy 13 public holidays, including hegira new year, Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, etc. Further, workers who offer not less than two years of continuous service to one employer qualify for additional 21 days of paid leave.

This brings the total vacation days to 64 days, excluding the sick-offs.

Cambodia's Unique 42-Day Package

According to sources, workers in Cambodia are entitled to 27 paid public holidays, including International New Year Day, Victory Over Genocide Day, Meak Bochea Day, International Woman's Day and Khmer New Year (3 Days), among others. The 27 vacation days above add to the 1 1/2 days of annual paid leave for every month served, giving 42 vacation days.

Over and above that, an employee qualifies for an additional vacation day after every three years of continuous service under one employer.

Spain's Balanced Approach to Work and Life

Spanish employees have about 22 paid vacation days per year. Spaniards value their leisure time and take full advantage of their annual leave to enjoy sunny beaches, savor delicious cuisine, and participate in lively fiestas.

The high index score that Spain achieved in the report is, in part, a result of their generous maternity and paternity leave offering. Each parent is entitled to 112 days of leave, receiving their full wage for the entire duration.

The country also has 14 annual bank holidays, the third highest of all countries on the list.

Other Notable Mentions

Other countries that offer a notable number of paid vacation days include Austria with 25 days, Denmark with 25 days, and Norway with 25 days. These nations recognize the importance of providing their citizens ample time to rest, enjoy leisure time, and foster a healthy work-life balance.

These include Luxembourg (26 days), Finland, France, and Sweden, Austria, and Denmark (all 25 days).

The United States' Shocking Second-to-Last Position

The U.S. is tied with Nauru in second-last place, with employees mandated a minimum of only 10 vacation days a year.

The United States is the country with the joint fewest days of paid leave (0) and the second lowest number of paid vacation days in the world (10). The average American gets 10 vacation days per year after one year of service, which are all public holidays like Presidents' Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Micronesia Ranks Dead Last

Meanwhile, others including the Oceanic countries of Micronesia (9) and Nauru (10) rank at the bottom of the list. Meanwhile, Micronesia emerged as the country with the lowest number of paid leave days, with only nine, all of them accounting for paid holidays.

There are just nine total paid vacation days available.

Pacific Island Nations With Minimal Time Off

Aside from that, there are only 10 paid vacation days in this country. Aside from that, there are only 10 paid vacation days in this country.

Although, the downside is that the employees only have a total of 12 paid vacation days. With only 13 days of paid vacation, Kiribati is also part of the list of the countries with the least paid vacation days.

Asian Countries Struggle With Work-Life Balance

Some of the other countries in the bottom 10 for vacation days include Mexico and China—with an average of 14 and 16 days of paid vacation, respectively. It is no surprise that China does not really spend their time vacationing.

The Chinese adhere to a mindset that emphasizes concentration, hard effort, and dedication in all aspects of life, from the classroom to the workplace. With that, they only have a total of 16 paid vacation days.

Developing Nations Face Vacation Challenges

Lebanon is included in the list of countries with the least paid vacation days with only 17 days of total paid vacation days. Filipinos generally have a good work ethic, and most of them are laser-focused on what they do.

So, despite only having 17 days of total paid vacation days, they seem to be doing just fine. Last on the list of countries with the least paid vacation days is Nigeria.

Zero Statutory Leave Countries

And not all countries have the same minimums, as the U.S., Nauru, Micronesia, and Kiribati, have zero mandated paid leave days. And not all countries have the same minimums, as the U.S., Nauru, Micronesia, and Kiribati, have zero mandated paid leave days.

When it comes to the least paid vacation days, seven countries have zero mandatory days: Kiribati · Marshall Islands · Micronesia · Nauru · Palau · Tonga · United States.

Mexico's Surprisingly Low Vacation Days

Mexico and China also made the list for countries with the least amount of paid vacation. Some of the other countries in the bottom 10 for vacation days include Mexico and China—with an average of 14 and 16 days of paid vacation, respectively.

However, the bad news is that they only have 14 paid vacation days, which isn't so bad considering it is already 2 weeks of pure relaxation.

The Growing Importance of Work-Life Balance

Paid vacation days are essential to promoting healthy work-life balance among professionals. But according to a new report from Resume.io, a career resource platform, American workers aren't getting enough of them.

In fact, 33% work on Saturdays, and another 68% admit to working on vacation. No wonder 77% of employees have experienced burnout while working their current job.

The Economic Impact of Vacation Policies

For U.S. workers, an average of 10 vacation days is bad news for workers who are already suffering from burnout and anxiety.

Around 48% of employees and 53% of managers say they're burned out at work, according to research from Microsoft published this year. Unscheduled sick days, often due to burnout and stress, cost companies $2,500 to $4,000 per employee per year.

The stark differences in vacation policies across countries reveal a fundamental divide in how societies value work-life balance. While some nations provide over 50 days of paid time off annually, others offer virtually nothing.

This disparity isn't just about numbers—it reflects deeply ingrained cultural attitudes toward work, leisure, and human well-being. What does this say about our global priorities when it comes to living versus working?

Get more from Travelbucketlist!

What do you think about this topic? Share your thoughts in the comments below — we would love to hear from you! Want more stories like this? Follow us and never miss out!