Annual Leave by Country Comparison
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Compare statutory annual leave (paid vacation days) across major economies — from the US’s zero federal days to Europe’s 25-30+. Pick any two countries below for a side-by-side.
Quick answer: Statutory paid annual leave ranges from 0 days (US — policy-driven) to 30 (Spain, by calendar days). The EU floor is 4 weeks; India 15-21 earned days by state; UAE 30 calendar days. Full table below.
Annual Leave by Country by Country
| Country | Statutory minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 0 days | No federal law — market norm 10-15 PTO days + holidays |
| United Kingdom | 28 days | 5.6 weeks incl. bank holidays option |
| France | 25+ days | 5 weeks + RTT days on 35-hr contracts |
| Germany | 20 days | Statutory floor; 25-30 typical by agreement |
| Spain | 30 calendar days | ~22 working days |
| Australia | 20 days | 4 weeks + long service leave on top |
| New Zealand | 20 days | 4 weeks after 12 months |
| Canada | 10-15 days | 2 weeks (3 after ~5 yrs) by province |
| India | 15-21 days | Earned leave by state shops acts / Factories Act |
| Singapore | 7-14 days | Ladder by service years |
| UAE | 30 calendar days | After 1 year; 2 days/month before |
| Japan | 10-20 days | By tenure; famously under-used |
| Brazil | 30 days | After each 12-month period |
| China | 5-15 days | By total career service years |
| Philippines | 5 days | Service incentive leave; policies add more |
Figures reflect statutory/standard positions at last update — collective agreements and employer policies often exceed them; verify official sources for decisions.
Reading the Table Right
- Working vs calendar days: Spain and the UAE count calendar days (30 ≈ 22 working); most others count working days — normalize before comparing offers.
- Public holidays stack separately in most systems — the UK’s 28 may INCLUDE them, the rare combined count.
- Accrual vs grant: US PTO accrues per pay period; most statutory systems grant annually after qualifying service.
Using This in Relocation / Offer Decisions
Convert everything to working days + public holidays + realistic usage: a 20-day German statutory floor with 30-day agreements and 10-13 holidays beats a 15-day US PTO policy by 5+ weeks of life per year — worth real salary percentage in offer comparisons. Expat packages pegged to home-country leave in a UAE 30-calendar-day market need the conversion spelled out in the contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has the most annual leave?
Among major economies: Spain and Brazil at 30 days (calendar), France effectively 25-35 with RTT — against the US statutory zero.
What is the EU minimum annual leave?
Four weeks (20 working days) under the Working Time Directive — member states and agreements commonly add more.
Does the US really have no statutory vacation?
Correct — no federal paid-vacation law; market norms run 10-15 PTO days, and unused-PTO payout depends on state law.
How much annual leave in India?
Earned leave of 15-21 days by state shops acts (1 day per 20 worked under the Factories Act), plus casual/sick leave categories.
Do public holidays count inside annual leave?
Usually no — they stack on top; the UK’s 5.6-week figure is the notable one that CAN include bank holidays.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026