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Countries That Work on December 25th
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Key Takeaways
- While Christmas is widely celebrated, dozens of countries around the world treat December 25th as a normal workday.
- A combination of religious, cultural, and political factors shape whether Christmas is recognized as a public holiday.
Christmas Day is often viewed as a near-universal public holiday. In many parts of the world, December 25th brings nationwide closures, family gatherings, and religious observances.
Across Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, however, millions of people still go to work on December 25th as if it were any other day.
The data for this visualization comes from World Population Review. It highlights countries where Christmas is not recognized as a public holiday, meaning government offices, schools, and businesses typically remain open.
Where Christmas Is Not a Day Off
Countries that do not observe Christmas as a public holiday span multiple regions and belief systems. They include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bhutan, China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau), Iran, Israel, Japan, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam, and Yemen, among others.
| Country | Aprox. Population (2025) |
|---|---|
| China (excl. HK & Macau) | 1.41 billion |
| Japan | 123 million |
| Vietnam | 101 million |
| Iran | 90 million |
| Turkey | 86 million |
| Thailand | 71 million |
| Algeria | 46 million |
| Afghanistan | 43 million |
| Morocco | 38 million |
| Saudi Arabia | 37 million |
| Uzbekistan | 36 million |
| Yemen | 35 million |
| North Korea | 26 million |
| Taiwan | 23 million |
| Somalia | 18 million |
| Cambodia | 17 million |
| Tunisia | 12 million |
| Tajikistan | 11 million |
| Azerbaijan | 10 million |
| United Arab Emirates | 10 million |
| Israel | 10 million |
| Libya | 7 million |
| Turkmenistan | 6 million |
| Mauritania | 5 million |
| Oman | 5 million |
| Kuwait | 4 million |
| Mongolia | 3 million |
| Qatar | 3 million |
| Bahrain | 2 million |
| Comoros | 1 million |
| Bhutan | 800,000 |
| Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | 600,000 |
| Maldives | 500,000 |
In many of these nations, Christianity is not the dominant religion, and public holidays instead reflect Islamic, Buddhist, or secular traditions.
Celebration vs. Public Recognition
Not recognizing Christmas as a public holiday does not necessarily mean it is banned or ignored. In several countries, Christian minorities are still free to celebrate privately or through church services. Workers may take personal leave if permitted, and festive traditions may persist in limited forms.
Taiwan presents a unique example. December 25th is a public holiday, but not because of Christmas—it marks Constitution Day. As a result, most people have the day off, even though Christmas itself is not the official reason.
Turkey, meanwhile, currently does not recognize any Christian religious holidays at the national level. However, in December 2025, Syriac member of parliament George Aryo proposed legislation to make Christmas an official public holiday, citing multiculturalism and equal citizenship.
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