diff --git a/isoweek.go b/isoweek.go
index 2defc48..cde5b47 100644
--- a/isoweek.go
+++ b/isoweek.go
@@ -93,3 +93,11 @@ func Validate(wyear, week int) (ok bool) {
 
 	return wyear == wyear2 && week == week2
 }
+
+// WeeksInYear returns the number of ISO 8601 weeks in a year (52 or 53).
+func WeeksInYear(year int) (weeks int) {
+	if Validate(year, 53) {
+		return 53
+	}
+	return 52
+}
diff --git a/isoweek_test.go b/isoweek_test.go
index 104be22..0b04241 100644
--- a/isoweek_test.go
+++ b/isoweek_test.go
@@ -100,3 +100,28 @@ func ExampleValidate() {
 	// true true false false true
 	// true false false false true
 }
+
+// TestWeeksInYear tests all years from 1 to 4000.
+// Ensures that WeeksInYear is consistent with Validate.
+func TestWeeksInYear(test *testing.T) {
+	for year := 1; year < 4000; year++ {
+		weeks := isoweek.WeeksInYear(year)
+		if weeks != 52 && weeks != 53 {
+			test.Errorf("year %d: expected 52 or 53, got %d", year, weeks)
+		}
+		if weeks == 53 && !isoweek.Validate(year, 53) {
+			test.Errorf("year %d: WeeksInYear=53 but Validate(year,53)=false", year)
+		}
+		if weeks == 52 && isoweek.Validate(year, 53) {
+			test.Errorf("year %d: WeeksInYear=52 but Validate(year,53)=true", year)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func ExampleWeeksInYear() {
+	fmt.Println(isoweek.WeeksInYear(2015))
+	fmt.Println(isoweek.WeeksInYear(2016))
+	// Output:
+	// 53
+	// 52
+}