Are Your Vacation Days Normal?

Enter your annual paid vacation days and see how the world compares.

15days / year
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Where You Stand

Country Comparison

Source: OECD, International Labour Organization. Statutory minimum + common practice.

Why These Differences?

🇫🇷 Why does France get so much vacation?

French labor law guarantees 5 weeks (25 days) of paid leave minimum, plus up to 11 public holidays. Work-life balance is a cultural priority — the French even have a legal "right to disconnect" from work emails after hours.

🇺🇸 Why does the US get so little?

The United States is the only developed nation with no federally mandated paid vacation. It is entirely up to employers. The average is about 10-15 days, but a quarter of private sector workers get zero. The culture prizes productivity over rest.

🇯🇵 Why does Japan have days but not use them?

Japan mandates 10-20 days depending on tenure, but workers historically use only half. A culture of overwork, loyalty to the team, and fear of burdening colleagues leads to "presenteeism." The government has actively campaigned to increase usage.

🇧🇷 Why does Brazil have 30 days?

Brazilian labor law guarantees 30 calendar days of paid vacation after one year, making it one of the most generous in the world. Workers also receive a "vacation bonus" — an extra third of their monthly salary — when they take leave.

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Vacation Days Around the World

1. The Global Picture

Paid vacation varies wildly across the planet. European workers enjoy 20-30 days as a legal right. Americans average about 10-15 days with no federal mandate. Workers in parts of Asia and the Middle East land somewhere in between. The difference comes down to law, culture, and how a society views the relationship between work and life.

The concept of paid vacation is relatively modern — most mandates date to the mid-20th century. Today, almost every developed nation guarantees some form of paid leave, with one notable exception: the United States. This American exceptionalism in labor policy is one of the starkest differences between the US and peer nations.

2. Europe's Vacation Culture

The European Union mandates a minimum of 4 weeks (20 working days) of paid vacation for all workers. Many countries go further — France guarantees 25 days, Austria and Sweden offer 25, and when you add public holidays, many Europeans get 35+ days off per year.

August in Europe is practically a national shutdown in countries like France, Italy, and Spain. Businesses close, cities empty, and the coast fills up. This is not laziness — European productivity per hour worked is comparable to or exceeds the US. They simply choose to take the dividend as time rather than output.

3. The American Exception

The United States stands alone among wealthy nations in offering zero federally mandated paid vacation days. The average American worker gets about 11 days after one year, rising to 15-20 after a decade. But roughly 23% of private sector workers — disproportionately low-wage — receive no paid vacation at all.

Even when Americans have vacation days, they often do not use them. Studies show that over half of Americans leave unused vacation days on the table each year. Fear of falling behind, heavy workloads, and a culture that equates busyness with virtue all contribute to this phenomenon.

4. Asia and the Middle East

Asian vacation policies are a patchwork. Japan mandates 10-20 days but workers famously use barely half. South Korea has pushed aggressively to increase vacation usage, mandating 15 days and encouraging workers to actually take them. China guarantees 5-15 days depending on tenure.

In the Middle East, policies vary widely. Kuwait and Bahrain mandate 30 days, matching the most generous European policies. Saudi Arabia guarantees 21 days. The UAE offers 30 days after five years of service. Many Gulf states combine generous vacation with fewer working hours during Ramadan.

5. Does More Vacation Make People Happier?

Research consistently shows that countries with more vacation days report higher life satisfaction. But the relationship is not strictly linear — how you use vacation matters more than how many days you have. Short frequent breaks may beat one long holiday for sustained well-being.

Economically, the evidence against vacation is weaker than many assume. Countries with generous leave policies maintain strong GDP per capita. Studies suggest that well-rested workers are more productive, creative, and less likely to burn out. The real cost may be in not taking vacation.

Vacation Days by Country

RankCountryAvg. Days/YearSource
1🇰🇼 Kuwait30 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
2🇧🇷 Brazil30 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
3🇫🇷 France30 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
4🇦🇹 Austria28 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
5🇪🇸 Spain27 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
6🇸🇪 Sweden25 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
7🇳🇴 Norway25 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
8🇩🇰 Denmark25 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
9🇫🇮 Finland25 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
10🇩🇪 Germany24 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
11🇵🇹 Portugal22 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
12🇬🇧 United Kingdom22 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
13🇦🇪 UAE22 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
14🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia21 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
15🇦🇺 Australia20 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
16🇳🇱 Netherlands20 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
17🇵🇱 Poland20 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
18🇮🇹 Italy20 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
19🇷🇺 Russia20 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
20🇰🇷 South Korea15 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
21🇦🇷 Argentina14 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
22🇪🇬 Egypt14 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
23🇹🇷 Turkey14 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
24🇯🇵 Japan13 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
25🇮🇩 Indonesia12 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
26🇲🇽 Mexico12 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
27🇮🇳 India12 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
28🇨🇳 China10 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
29🇺🇸 United States10 daysOECD, International Labour Organization
30🇳🇬 Nigeria6 daysOECD, International Labour Organization

Source: OECD, International Labour Organization. Statutory minimum + common practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many vacation days per year is normal?
The global average is about 18 paid vacation days per year. But it ranges from 0 mandated days in the US to 30+ in countries like France, Brazil, and Kuwait. What is "normal" depends heavily on where you live and work.
Which country has the most vacation days?
France, Austria, and Brazil are among the most generous, with 25-30 mandated paid days plus public holidays. Kuwait mandates 30 working days. When you combine vacation and public holidays, several European countries exceed 35 days off per year.
Why does the US have no mandated vacation?
The US is the only OECD country with no federal paid vacation requirement. It reflects a political culture that prioritizes employer flexibility and market-driven benefits over government mandates. Multiple attempts to legislate paid leave have failed at the federal level.
How many vacation days does the average American get?
The average US worker receives about 11 paid vacation days after one year, rising to around 15-20 after ten or more years. But roughly a quarter of private sector workers get no paid vacation at all, and many do not use all the days they have.
Do people actually use all their vacation days?
In many countries, no. Japanese workers famously use only about half their allotted days. Americans leave an average of 5-6 days unused per year. European workers tend to use most or all of their vacation, particularly in France, Spain, and Germany.
Does more vacation hurt the economy?
Evidence suggests no. European countries with the most generous vacation policies maintain strong economies and high productivity per hour worked. Research indicates that rested workers are more productive, creative, and loyal. The economic cost of burnout often exceeds the cost of time off.
What is the difference between vacation days and public holidays?
Vacation (annual leave) is time off you choose to take. Public holidays (national holidays) are fixed days off set by the government. Most comparisons include only vacation days — adding public holidays (which range from 6 to 16) increases the gap between countries even further.
Can you negotiate more vacation days?
In many countries, yes — vacation is negotiable especially for senior roles. In places with legal minimums, companies often offer additional days as a perk. In the US, where there is no floor, negotiation is even more important and often possible when starting a new job.