Independence Day

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		Independence from United Kingdom control over Afghan foreign affairs in 1919.
Albania		(Dita e Pavarësisë) Declared by Ismail Qemali in 1912 and signalled the end of five centuries of Ottoman rule.
Algeria		Independence from France in 1962.
Angola		Portugal grants independence to its former colony in 1975.
Antigua and Barbuda		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1981.
Argentina		Independence declared from Spain in 1816.
Armenia		Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Azerbaijan		Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Bahamas		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1973.
Bahrain		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1971.
Bangladesh		Independence was declared from Pakistan and this led to a nine month war ending on December 16, 1971.
Barbados		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.
Belarus		Liberation of Minsk from German occupation by Soviet troops in 1944.
Belgium		(Belgian revolution) Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld takes the oath as first king of the Belgians in 1831.
Belize		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1981. See September Celebrations.
Benin		Independence from France in 1960.
Bolivia		Independence from Spain in 1825.
Bosnia and Herzegovina		Independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992.
Botswana		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.
Brazil		(Sete de Setembro) Declared Independence from Portugal on 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		Independence from United Kingdom in 1984
Bulgaria		Independence from Ottoman Empire in 1878
Burkina Faso		Independence from France in 1960
Burundi		Independence from Belgium in 1962
Cambodia		Independence from France in 1953
Cape Verde Islands		(Cape Verde Independence Day) Independence from Portugal in 1975.
Central African Republic		Independence from France in 1960.
Chad		Independence from France in 1960.
Chile		Declared Independence from Spain on 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		Independence from Spain in 1810.
Democratic Republic of the Congo		Independence from Belgium in 1960.
Costa Rica		Independence from Spain in 1821.
Croatia		Independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Cyprus		Independence from the United Kingdom on August 16 1960, but Cyprus Independence Day is commonly celebrated on October 1.http://www.un.org/members/holidays.shtml http://cyprus.angloinfo.com/information/10/pub_hols.asp
Czech & Slovak Republics	November 17	As Czechoslovakia, marking restored independence from Austria-Hungary in 1918. As Czechoslovakia, marking the Velvet Revolution in 1989.
Dominican Republic		Independence from Haiti in 1844, after a 22-year occupation.
East Timor		Independence from Indonesia in 2002. Portugal granted independence to East Timor in 1975, but was soon after invaded by Indonesia, which only recognized East Timorese independence in 2002.
Ecuador		Proclaimed independence from Spain on August 10, 1809, but failed with the execution of all the conspirators of the movement on August 2, 1810. Independence finally occurred on May 24, 1822 at the Battle of Pichincha.
El Salvador		Independence from Spain in 1821
Eritrea		Independence from Ethiopia in 1993.
Estonia		Independence from the Bolshevist Russia in 1918.
Fiji		Fiji Independence Day Independence from United Kingdom in 1970.
Finland		Independence Day of Finland Independence from Russia in 1917.
Republic of Macedonia		(Den na nezavisnosta or ??? ?? ????????????) Independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
The Gambia		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1965.
Georgia	April 9	Day of First Republic in 1918. Independence from USSR in 1991.
Ghana		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1957.
Greece		Declaration of independence from Ottoman Empire in 1821. Start of the Greek War of Independence
Guatemala		Independence from Spain in 1821.
Guyana		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.
Haiti		Declaration of Independence from France in 1804.
Hawaii		Independence from Great Britain in 1843.
Honduras		Independence from Kingdom of Spain in 1821.
Iceland		Independence from Kingdom of Denmark in 1944.
India		Independence (Freedom/svatantrataa/??????????) from the British in 1947.
Indonesia		Proclamation of Independence day (Hari Proklamasi Kemerdekaan R.I.) from Japan in 1945. The Netherlands acknowledged Indonesian independence and sovereignty in 1949.
Ireland	Easter Monday	Proclamation of the Irish Republic commencing the Easter Rising in 1916.
Israel	5 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 15 and May 15. The Gregorian date in which Israeli independence was proclaimed is May 14, 1948 (from the British Mandate of Palestine).
Jamaica		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1962.
Jordan		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1946.
Kazakhstan		Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Kenya		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1963.
Korea, North		Founding of the DPRK in 1948.
Korea, South		(Gwangbokjeol) Independence from Japan in 1945.
Kuwait		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1961.
Kyrgyzstan		Independence from USSR in 1991.
Latvia		Independence from Russia in 1918.Independence from Soviet Union in 1990
Lebanon		Independence from France in 1943.
Lesotho		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.
Liberia		Independence from the United States in 1847.
Lithuania		Independence from Russia and Germany in February, 1918; independence from the Soviet Union in March, 1990.
Madagascar		Independence from France in 1960.
Malawi		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1964.
Malaysia		(Hari Merdeka) Independence from the United Kingdom in 1957
Maldives		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1965 join http://www.avatterin.net
Mali		Independence from France in 1960
Malta		(Independence Day (Malta)) Independence from the United Kingdom in 1964.
Mauritius		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1968.
Mexico		(Grito de Dolores) Independence from Spain declared in 1810. Recognized on September 27 1821
Moldova		Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991
Mongolia		Independence from China on July 11, 1921
Montenegro		Independence from State union with Serbia, in 2006
Morocco		Independence from France and Spain in 1956
Mozambique		Independence from Portugal in 1975
Myanmar		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1948
Namibia		Independence from South African mandate in 1990
Nicaragua		Independence from Spain in 1821
Niger		Independence from France in 1960
Nigeria		Independence from United Kingdom in 1960
Norway		Independence Day, or "syttende mai" The signing of the Norwegian Constitution in Eidsvoll, May 17, 1814.
Pakistan		(Yaum e Azadi) Independence from the United Kingdom in 1947.
Panama		Independence from Spain in 1821. The 1903 separation from Colombia is also celebrated (on November 3, Separation Day).
Papua New Guinea		Independence from Australia of the former Territories of New Guinea, and Papua, in 1975.
Paraguay		(Día de Independencia) Independence from Spain in 1811.
Peru		Independence from Spain in 1821.
Philippines		(Araw ng Kalayaan) Independence from Spain in 1898.
Poland		(?wi?to Niepodleg?o?ci) Restoration of Poland's independence in 1918 after 123 years of partitions by Austro-Hungary, Prussia, and Russia.
Portugal		Restoration 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.
Qatar		The assumption of power of Sheikh Jassem bin Mohamed al-Thani, ancestor of the current ruling family, in 1878.
Romania		Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877.
Rwanda		Independence from Belgium in 1962.
Saint Christopher and Nevis		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1983.
São Tomé and Príncipe		Independence from Portugal in 1975.
Serbia		The beginning of the First Uprising against Ottoman occupation in 1804.
Seychelles		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1976.
Sierra Leone		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1961.
Singapore		(National Day Parade) Marks exit / separation from Malaysia in 1965.
Slovakia		Declaration of Independence in 1992 (only a remembrance day), de iure independence came on January 1, 1993 after the division of Czechoslovakia (public holiday).
Slovenia		(Independence and Unity Day) Date of the release of the official results of the independence plebiscite in 1990, confirming secession from Yugoslavia. (Statehood Day) Declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
South Africa		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1931. Not a public holiday. Union of South Africa formed on 31 May, 1910 and Republic of South Africa declared on 31 May, 1961
Sri Lanka		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1948.
Suriname		Independence from The Netherlands in 1975.
Swaziland		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1968.
Sweden		Gustav Vasa is elected King of Sweden in 1523.
Switzerland		Alliance against the Holy Roman Empire in 1291.
Tajikistan		Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Tanzania		Declaration of independence from United Kingdom in 1961.
Trinidad and Tobago		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1962.
Tonga		Independence from the United Kingdom in 1970.
Togo		Independence from the Republic of Togo in 1960.
Tunisia		Declaration of independence from France in 1956.
Ukraine		Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
United Arab Emirates		(National Day) Independence from the United Kingdom in 1971.
United States of America		(Fourth of July) Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1776.
Uruguay		(Día de la Independencia) Declaration of independence from Brazil in 1825.
Uzbekistan		Independence from USSR in 1991.
Vatican City		Lateran Treaty signed with Italy in 1929.
Venezuela		Declaration of independence from Spain in 1811.
Vietnam		Declaration of independence from France in 1945.
Yemen		South Yemen Declaration of independence from United Kingdom in 1967.
Zambia		Declaration of independence from United Kingdom in 1964.
Zimbabwe		Declaration of independence from United Kingdom in 1980.