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. Most countries honour their respective independence day as a national holiday.

The following is a partial list of independence days around the world:
        < -->                  < -->                                                    < -->            The country's original independence (from the Kingdom of León) was recognized on the 5th of 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 separated entity before 1143 and during the union with Spain between 1580-1640.                                   

Country	Date	Significant event
Afghanistan
August 19
Independence from United Kingdom control over Afghan foreign affairs in 1919.
Albania
November 28
(Dita e Pavarësisë) Proclaimed by Ismail Qemali in 1912 and signalled the end of five centuries of Ottoman rule.
Algeria
July 5
Independence from France in 1962.
Andorra
March 14
Independence from France and Spain in 1993.
Angola
November 11
Portugal grants independence to its former colony in 1975.
Antigua and Barbuda
November 1
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1981.
Argentina
July 9
Declared Independence from Spain on that date in 1816. Not recognized until 1821.
Armenia
September 21
Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
-- Do NOT add Australia to this table. Australia does not have a specific "Independence Day" as defined in this article. In particular, Australia did not become independent on January 1, 1901.
Austria
May 15
Independence from United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom and France in 1955.
Azerbaijan
October 18
Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Bahamas
July 10
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1973.
Bahrain
August 15
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1971.
Bangladesh
March 26 or December 16
Self-proclaimed declaration of independence from the Union of Pakistan on March 26, 1971. Victory in the '''Bangladesh Liberation War''' in the former East Pakistan (1947-1971) led to official independence on December 16, 1971.
Barbados
November 30
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.
Belarus
June 3
Reoccupation of Minsk by Soviet troops in 1944.
Belgium
October 4
(Belgian revolution) Independence from the Netherlands in 1830.
Belize
September 21
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1981.
Benin
August 1
Independence from France in 1960.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
March 1
Independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992.
Botswana
September 30
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.
Brazil
September 7
(Sete de Setembro) Declared Independence from Portugal on that date in 1822. Not recognized until August 29, 1825.
Brunei
January 1
Independence from United Kingdom in 1984
Bulgaria
September 22
Independence from Ottoman Empire in 1908
Burkina Faso
August 5
Independence from France in 1960
Burundi
July 1
Independence from Belgium in 1962
-- Do NOT add Canada to this table. Canada does not have a specific "Independence Day" as defined in this article. In particular, Canada did not become independent on July 1, 1867.
Cape Verde Islands
July 5
(Cape Verde Independence Day) Independence from Portugal in 1975.
Chile
September 18
Declared Independence from Spain on that date in 1818. Not recognized until 25 April 1844
China, People's Republic of
October 1
Established in 1949.
Colombia
July 20
Independence from Spain in 1810.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
June 30
Independence from Belgium in 1960.
Croatia
October 8
Independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Czech Republic
October 28
As Czechoslovakia, marking restored independence from Austria-Hungary in 1918.
Dominican Republic
February 27
Independence from Haiti in 1844, after a 22-year occupation.
East Timor
May 20
Independence from Indonesia in 2002.
Ecuador
August 10 and May 24
Proclaimed independence from Spain in 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, 1822 at Battle of Pichincha.
Eritrea
May 24
Independence from Ethiopia in 1993.
Estonia
February 24
Independence from Imperial Russia in 1918.
Finland
December 6
Independence from Russia in 1917.
The Gambia
February 18
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1965.
Georgia
May 26
Independence from Russia in 1918.
Ghana
March 6
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1957.
Greece
March 25
Declaration of independence from Ottoman Empire in 1821. Start of the Greek War of Independence
Guyana
May 26
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.
Haiti
January 1
Independence from France in 1804.
Honduras
September 15
Independence from Spain in 1821.
Iceland
June 17
Independence from Denmark in 1944.
India (Bharat)
August 15
Independence gained after transfer of power from the United Kingdom in 1947.
Indonesia
August 17
Proclamation of Independence day (''Hari Proklamasi Kemerdekaan R.I.'') Independence from Japan in 1945.
Israel
5 Iyar
(Yom Ha'atzmaut) celebrated on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nearest to that date, so could actually occur between 3rd and 6th of Iyar, which could occur between April 15 and May 15. The Gregorian date in which Israeli independence was proclaimed is May 14, 1948 (from the Palestine mandate, under the United Kingdom).
Jamaica
August 6
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1962.
Jordan
May 25
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1946.
Kazakhstan
December 16
Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Kenya
December 12
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1963.
Khalistan
October 7
proclaimed Independence from the Indian Union in present-day Punjab state in 1987. non-neutral link, above.
Korea, North
September 9
Founding of the DPRK in 1948.
Korea, South
August 15
(Gwangbokjeol) Independence from Japan in 1945.
Kyrgyzstan
August 31
Independence from USSR in 1991.
Latvia
May 4
(''Neatkaribas deklaracijas pasludinasanas diena'') Independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.
Lebanon
November 22
Independence from France in 1943.
Lesotho
October 4
Independence from United Kingdom in 1966.
Lithuania
February 16
Independence from Imperial Russia in 1918.
Macedonia
September 8/May 25
(Den na nezavisnosta or Ден на независноста) Independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Malawi
July 6
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1964
Malaysia
August 31
(Hari Merdeka) Independence from the United Kingdom in 1957
Maldives
July 26
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1965
Mali
September 22
Independence from France in 1960
Malta
September 21
(Independence Day (Malta)) Independence from the United Kingdom in 1964.
Mauritius
March 12
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1968.
Mexico
September 16
Independence from Spain declared in 1810. Recognized on September 27 1821
Moldova
August 27
Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991
Mongolia
November 26
Independence from China in July 11, 1921
Montenegro
June 3
Independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. Vote of secession occurred May 21, 2006.
Morocco
March 2
Independence from France and Spain in 1956
Mozambique
June 25
Independence from Portugal in 1975
Myanmar (Burma)
January 4
Independence from United Kingdom in 1948
Namibia
March 21
Independence from South African mandate in 1990
-- Do NOT add New Zealand to this table. New Zealand does not have a specific "Independence Day" as defined in this article. See Talk page.
Nicaragua
September 15
Independence from Spain in 1821
Niger
August 3
Independence from France in 1960
Nigeria
October 1
Independence from United Kingdom in 1960
Norway
June 7
Independence from Sweden in 1905. Commonly celebrated on May 17th, the Constitution Day set by signing of the Norwegian Constitution at Eidsvoll in 1814.
Pakistan
August 14
(Yaum e Azadi) Independence from the United Kingdom and Separation of the Empire under the name of India and foreign rule of the British Raj in 1947.
Panama
November 3
Independence from Colombia in 1903.
Papua New Guinea
September 16
Independence from Australia of the former Territories of New Guinea, and Papua, in 1975.
Paraguay
May 15
(Día de Independencia) Independence from Spain in 1811.
Peru
July 28
Independence from Spain in 1821.
Philippines
June 12
(Araw ng Kalayaan) Independence from Spain in 1898.
Poland
November 11
(Święto Niepodległości) Restoration of Poland's independence from Austria, Prussia, and Russia in 1918.
Portugal
December 1
Restoration of Portugal's independence (from Spain) in 1640.
Romania
May 9
Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877.
Russia
June 12
(Russia Day)
Rwanda
July 1
Independence from Belgium in 1962.
São Tomé and Príncipe
July 12
Independence from Portugal in 1975.
Serbia
February 15
The beginning of the First Uprising against Ottoman occupation in 1804.
Seychelles
29 June
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1976.
Singapore
August 9
(National Day) marks exit / separation from Malaysia in 1965.
Slovakia
July 17
Declaration of Independence (only a remembrance day), but the independence came only on January 1, 1993 from the division of Czechoslovakia (public holiday).
Slovenia
December 26
(Independence and Unity Day) Date of the release of the official results of the independence plebiscite in 1990, confirming secession from Yugoslavia.
South Africa
Dec 11
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
February 4
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1948.
Suriname
November 25
Independence from The Netherlands in 1975.
Swaziland
September 6
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1968.
Sweden
June 6
Independence from the Kalmar Union in 1523.
Switzerland
August 1
Alliance against the Holy Roman Empire in 1291.
Tajikistan
September 9
Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Tartarstan
August 30
Independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.
Trinidad and Tobago
August 31
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1962.
Tonga
June 4
Independence from the United Kingdom in 1970.
Turkey
October 29
Declared independence in 1923.
Ukraine
August 24
Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
United Arab Emirates
December 2
Independence from Britain in 1971.
United States
July 4
(Fourth of July) Declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1776.
Uruguay
August 25
(Día de la Independencia) Declaration of independence from Brazil in 1825.
Uzbekistan
September 1
Independence from USSR in 1991.
Venezuela
July 5
Declaration of independence from Spain in 1811.
Vietnam
September 2
Declaration of independence from France in 1945.
Yemen
November 30
South Yemen Declaration of independence from United Kingdom in 1967.
Zambia
October 24
Declaration of independence from United Kingdom in 1964.
Zimbabwe
April 18
Declaration of independence from United Kingdom in 1980.
''Somaliland''
May 18
Declaration of independence from Somalia in 1991, however it isn't recognized by the international community.
''Transnistria (Pridnestrovie)''
September 2
Declaration of independence from Moldova in 1991, however it isn't recognized by the international community.

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