European Country Tops France with 122 School Vacation Days a Year!

There’s a common misconception and a recurring political debate whenever a new Minister of National Education takes office: are school holidays too lengthy? Many assume that France tops the list in providing the most days off for its students. Indeed, with 112 days of rest each year, French students rank seventh among European countries with the longest school holidays, according to the latest Eurydice data. However, when it comes to summer breaks, France is among the less generous, ranking 35th out of 41 countries.

However, the distribution of vacation days throughout the year varies. For example, Italy also has 112 days off annually, like France, but with far fewer shorter breaks: only a 15-day period during the year and then a long 97-day summer break. Conversely, in France, our summer vacations are much shorter. At 56 days, we are near the bottom of the European list. Nevertheless, French schools offer four vacation periods, each spanning two weeks, throughout the rest of the year: the All Saints’ Day holidays, Christmas holidays, February holidays, and finally the Easter holidays. Tied with French-speaking Belgium and Switzerland, we lead the ranking for the duration of these shorter breaks.

So, which country surpasses all others by 2025? With 122 days off, students are on break for precisely one-third of the school year! This is the case in Moldova, a small landlocked country between Romania and Ukraine. Children there enjoy 92 days during the summer pause, plus three other periods of 7, 15, and 8 days throughout the year. The country is closely followed by Latvia with 120 days total, then by Malta, Estonia, and Lithuania, all tied for third place with 118 days each. Next are Cyprus and Romania (117 days), Greece (116 days), Georgia (114 days), and finally France and Italy with 112 days.

On the other hand, the Netherlands and Denmark have the shortest school holidays in Europe, with 77 and 78 days respectively spread throughout the year. Their shorter breaks are divided into four periods, like in France, but most last only one week. Their summer vacations last about a month and a half, making them among the shortest on the continent. However, it’s important to note that in countries at the bottom of the list, the school day is organized differently: in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany, for example, students finish their day much earlier. The youngest finish around 1:30 PM, and the oldest around 3 PM, which partly explains why their vacation periods are more limited. In contrast, primary students in France are not dismissed until 4:30 PM, and high school students around 5:30 PM or even 6 PM.

Ultimately, perhaps the amount of vacation time is less important than how it is distributed. It remains to be seen whether the French model, with its regular breaks but longer days, is truly the most beneficial for students’ learning and rest. One thing is certain, the issue of the “right” school rhythm seems to be a universal puzzle without a one-size-fits-all solution, continuing to divide parents and experts.