This map shows which country has the most holidays and public holidays

How spoiled we Swiss are: our country regularly shines at the top of rankings, lists and statistics. High quality of life, low unemployment, good education – we lead the way almost everywhere. But when it comes to paid time off, Switzerland just can’t keep up with the frontrunners. A minimum of 20 vacation days per year is required by law. In addition, there are 9 public holidays that are legally equivalent to Sundays.

In an international comparison, according to data from the web portal CV.io, Switzerland is just behind the global average of 29.96 days off per year and ranks 107th out of 197 countries surveyed. In Europe, we even occupy one of the last places: only Greece (26 days), Great Britain (28 days), Montenegro (28 days) and Turkey (28 days) grant their population even fewer holidays and vacation days than we do .

Switzerland leaves no neighboring country behind: the Germans also have 29 days off, the Italians 32, the French 36 and the Austrians even 38. Of course, we are not entirely innocent of this situation: in 2012, the Swiss voters sent the Holiday initiative, which weeks vacation in the law wanted to enshrine, merciless bachab. In the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, more than 80 percent said no at the time.

There are also big differences in paid time off around the world: the capitalist US has no statutory paid vacation days (although many companies give their employees three weeks of vacation after five to ten years of service). After all, there are 11 legal non-working holidays per year. This puts the "land of opportunity" in third place, just ahead of the Pacific island nations of Micronesia and Nauru. Neighboring Mexico doesn't fare much better with 14 or arch-rival China with 16 days off per year.

Arch-conservative Iran is the biggest holiday and vacation champion of all places. According to CV.io's data, the country's residents get 26 vacation days, plus a total of 27 public holidays. With Yemen and Niger, two other states not considered very stable sway at the top.

The leaders in Europe are mini-states: San Marino (46) has the highest paid days off, followed by Andorra (44) and Monaco (42). Russia ranks with the Principality, followed by Iceland (40) and Austria (38) as the first Western European countries.

Let's take a closer look at the nine holidays that CV.io specifies for Switzerland. These are anything but set in stone: August 1 (Federal Day) is the only national holiday. Otherwise, the regulation of public holidays is a matter for the cantons. They may equate a maximum of eight other public holidays with Sundays for their canton. Only New Year's Day, Ascension Day and Christmas Day are recognized as public holidays in all cantons. Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday and Saint Stephen's Day (December 26) are also celebrated in large parts of the country.

In addition to these public holidays, which are equivalent to Sundays, there are additional legally recognized and non-recognized holidays and days off in each canton. There are sometimes big differences, with the inhabitants of Catholic cantons having a clear advantage. With a total of 15 public holidays and days off, Ticino tops the ranking, ahead of the Catholic cantons in Central Switzerland.

In addition to the most common holidays in Ticino, there are others: Saint Joseph is celebrated on March 19 – in Italy and Ticino this day is dedicated to the fathers. On June 29, the citizens of Ticino celebrate the apostles Peter and Paul with a day off, and the Immaculate Conception of Mary on December 8 makes work-shy hearts beat faster. Besides the Jura, Ticino is the only canton where there is a rest period on May 1 and All Saints' Day.

Graubünden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden, on the other hand, are particularly busy. In both cantons, only eight days are credited to the public holiday account. However, there are large regional differences, especially in Graubünden. A quarter of the population is free on Ascension Day and All Saints' Day, and at least one in ten inhabitants of Bündner is allowed to sleep in on St. Joseph's Day, Corpus Christi and Epiphany.