8 Countries Marking a National Day in August
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August has one of the densest runs of independence days of the year. Eight countries in our catalog mark a national day this month. Here they are in calendar order.
August 1 — Switzerland
Swiss National Day commemorates the Federal Charter of 1291, an alliance between Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. The charter is dated to the beginning of August 1291, and August 1 became the national day in the 20th century.
August 6 — Jamaica
Jamaica became independent from the United Kingdom on August 6, 1962, after the Jamaica Independence Act passed in July. It stayed in the Commonwealth.
August 9 — Singapore
On August 9, 1965, Singapore separated from the Federation of Malaysia, which it had joined in 1963, and became an independent, sovereign nation. Lee Kuan Yew announced the news in a televised address.
August 14 — Pakistan
Pakistan marks August 14, 1947, the day it came into being as an independent state with the partition of British India. Muhammad Ali Jinnah took the oath as its first Governor-General on that date.
August 15 — India
India became independent at the midnight between August 14 and 15, 1947. Jawaharlal Nehru gave his "Tryst with Destiny" speech that night and the next morning hoisted the national flag at the Red Fort in Delhi.
August 17 — Indonesia
On August 17, 1945, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta read the proclamation of Indonesian independence in Jakarta, days after Japan's surrender in the Second World War. It became a national holiday by decree in 1946.
August 24 — Ukraine
Ukraine's Independence Day marks August 24, 1991, when the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Act of Declaration of Independence. It was confirmed by a national referendum on December 1, 1991.
August 31 — Malaysia
Malaysia's National Day, known as Merdeka, marks August 31, 1957, when Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaimed the independence of Malaya at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, shouting "Merdeka!" seven times.
Each of these countries has its own flag story and designs in our catalog. Browse the collections: Switzerland, Jamaica, Singapore, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Ukraine, Malaysia — or explore the story behind any country's flag on our free Flag Story Cards page.
More national days by month: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November and December.