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Portugal may be scrapping holidays, but they still have way more than Canada

Portuguese people will now only have 31 days off, 12 more than Canadians

Portugal recently announced for the next five years they will be cancelling four statutory holidays, but residents of that country will still have far more mandatory days off work then Canadians.

The four fewer days will give Portuguese people only nine paid holidays, but they also receive a minimum of 22 paid vacation days.

By stark contrast, Canadians with nine statutory holidays and a minimum of 10 paid vacation days have the fewest days off out of any developed country in the world. This is according to a Mercer report from December 2011 titled "Employee holiday entitlements around the world."

"Canada and the United States are amongst the least generous nations when it comes to statutory holidays," reads the report. "In Canada, mandatory vacation entitlements vary between provinces and companies typically supplement statutory requirements and some organizations provide up to six weeks' vacation after 20 or 25 years of service."

Our neighbours to the south receive 25 days, but that and our 19 days is a far cry from the 38 days offered in Austria and Malta. Those countries topped the list. Other countries high on that list are Greece, France and Japan with 37, 36 and 35 days respectively.

Canada may have the lowest number in the developed world, but the report notes people in the Philippines only get five days off.

Portugal's leaders hope the 20 extra working days will boost GDP and help them with the country's austerity measures.

(Getty Images)