Are There Countries That Don’t Celebrate Independence?

August 17 is an important date for Indonesia. On that day, exactly 78 years ago, Soekarno and Hatta, as leaders of the newly established Indonesian state, proclaimed independence from colonial powers. But how about other countries around the world? Do all countries celebrate Independence Day, or are there nations that don’t commemorate independence at all? Let’s find out!

Nepal

The first country that does not celebrate independence is Nepal. With an area of only 147,516 square kilometers—about 15 percent larger than Java—this landlocked nation has never been colonized by any country.

According to Times Now, Nepal has long been a sovereign state and historically served as a buffer between the Chinese Empire and British India. Therefore, Nepal never fought for independence from colonial rule and is considered the oldest sovereign nation in South Asia.

Thailand

Similar to Nepal in South Asia, Thailand in Southeast Asia also does not celebrate an independence day. The reason is the same: Thailand has never been colonized by any foreign power. As a result, it is the only country in Southeast Asia that does not commemorate independence.

Denmark

Denmark is another country that does not celebrate an independence day. This parliamentary sovereign state was also never colonized by another nation, so it has no independence anniversary. However, Denmark celebrates Constitution Day every June 5, marking the implementation of its constitution.

Canada

Unlike the previous countries, Canada does not celebrate independence because it is part of the Commonwealth of Nations under the British Crown, even though it has its own self-governing system. Instead, Canada celebrates its “birthday” every July 1, known as Canada Day, which commemorates when Canada became a dominion with its own government.

France

As one of the world’s largest former colonial powers, it’s no surprise that France does not celebrate independence—simply because it was never colonized. Even so, France has a major national holiday known as Bastille Day. This celebration marks the storming of the Bastille in 1789, an event that sparked the French Revolution.

China

China, like France, has never been colonized by another nation. However, it does celebrate the establishment of a new government every October 1. This date marks the founding of the People’s Republic of China, proclaimed by communist leaders and attended by 300,000 people at Tiananmen Square.

Japan

According to Britannica, Japan is the only country in Asia that escaped Western colonization. Historically, Japan consistently resisted foreign intervention in governing its territory. However, Japan celebrates National Foundation Day every February 11, commemorating the establishment of the Japanese government by Emperor Jimmu in 660 BC.

If you want to witness how the Japanese celebrate National Foundation Day, you can plan a visit to Japan in February. Be sure to prepare your itinerary and travel insurance from MSIG Indonesia to ensure your trip is safe and comfortable!

So, those are some of the countries that do not celebrate independence the way Indonesia does every August 17.