All 193 member states and 2 observer states of the United Nations, in addition to several de facto states, represent themselves with national flags. National flags generally contain symbolism of their respective state and serve as an emblem which distinguishes themselves from other states in international politics. National flags are adopted by governments to strengthen national bonds and legitimate formal authority. Such flags may contain symbolic elements of their peoples, militaries, territories, rulers, and dynasties. The flag of Denmark is the oldest flag still in current use as it has been recognized as a national symbol since the 14th century.
National flags are considered to "provide perhaps the strongest, clearest statement of national identity," and governments have used them to promote and create bonds within the country, motivate patriotism, honor the efforts of citizens, and legitimate formal authority.[4] Throughout history, elements within flags have been used to symbolize rulers, dynasties, territories, militaries, and peoples of their respective countries.[5] Flags also conceptually represent a country's core values, such as group membership and love for the country.[6] In 1975, American vexillologist Whitney Smith stated thus regarding the role of flags in society:[7][8][9]
So strong is the tradition of flags, we may not be far from the truth in surmising that there is a law – not of nature, but of human society – which impels man to make and use flags. There is perhaps no more striking demonstration of this than the fact that, despite the absence of any international regulation or treaty requiring of a national flag, without exception every country has adopted at least one.
— Whitney Smith, Flags Through the Ages and Across the World, p. 32
The oldest flag of a sovereign state which is currently in use is the flag of Denmark, which has been recognized as a national symbol of the country since the 13th century, although the current version was officially adopted in 1867.[22][23] All 193 member states and 2 observer states are represented by their respective flags at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York City.[24]
Three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red, and green, with the national emblem[c] in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other 2 bands.
Three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red, with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the latter band is slightly wider than the other 2 so that the ratio of band widths is 8:9:8.
Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle).
Red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the black band.
Three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), white, and sky blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face (delineated in brown) known as the Sun of May.
Blue with the flag of the United Kingdom in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star; on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small, five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars.
Three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), red, and green; a vertical crescent moon and an eight-pointed star in white are centered in the red band.
Red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red.
Divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white Druk facing away from the hoist side.
A wide blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle.
Green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue globe with 27 white stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged as in the night sky over Rio de Janeiro and containing a banner with the national motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (lit.'Order and progress').
Yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center.
Divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below).
Three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue with a white, three-towered temple, representing Angkor Wat, outlined in black in the center of the red band.
Two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width) with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square.
Five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue - equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by three bands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and a bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a circle of 10 yellow, five-pointed stars is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist side.
Four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; a yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band.
Two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center.
Red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner.
Four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue, with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within the triangle is a vertical white crescent moon with the convex side facing the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent.
Sky blue field divided diagonally from the lower hoist corner to upper fly corner by a red stripe bordered by two narrow yellow stripes; a yellow, five-pointed star appears in the upper hoist corner
Five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk placed toward the hoist side of the red band.
Five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center.
Two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center.
Green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a Sisserou parrot, unique to Dominica, encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow.
A centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are ultramarine blue (hoist side) and vermilion red, and the bottom ones are vermilion red (hoist side) and ultramarine blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross.
Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national coat of arms (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band.
Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red, with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (lit.'Unity, Peace, Justice').
Red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle.
Three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white Nguni shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally.
Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands.
Light blue with the flag of the United Kingdom in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is taken from Fiji's coat of arms.
White rectangle with a central red cross extending to all four sides of the flag; each of the four quadrants displays a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross.
A rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle.
Two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band.
Green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border between the yellow and the green.
Three equal horizontal bands of turquoise blue (top), white, and turquoise blue, with five turquoise, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band.
Blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Nordic cross.
Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem in red is centered in the white band; the Takbir in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band.
Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green; a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side, and bearing a small white seven-pointed star.
A gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle, both centered on a sky blue background; the hoist side displays a national ornamental pattern "koshkar-muiz" (the horns of the ram) in gold.
Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center.
The upper half is red with a yellow frigatebird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the Pacific ocean.
Red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of four lines, a stylized representation of a "tunduk" - the crown of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt.
Three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the proportions of 3:4:3; centered in the white stripe is a black mokorotlo, a traditional Basotho straw hat.
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a white five-pointed star appears on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner
14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star.
Red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent moon; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag.
Blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the hoist side above the two stripes.
Three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; Mexico's coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak perched on a cactus) is centered in the white band.
Three, equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol).
A red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the Montenegrin coat of arms centered; the arms consist of a double-headed golden eagle - symbolizing the unity of church and state - surmounted by a crown; the eagle holds a golden scepter in its right claw and a blue orb in its left; the breast shield over the eagle shows a golden lion passant on a green field in front of a blue sky.
Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book.
Design consists of three equal horizontal stripes of yellow (top), green, and red; centered on the green band is a large white five-pointed star that partially overlaps onto the adjacent colored stripes.
A wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a golden-yellow, 12-rayed sunburst.
Crimson red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle displays a white 12-pointed sun.
Three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star.
Red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Nordic cross.
Three horizontal bands of white (top), red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band.
Divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center.
Divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered.
Three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms; the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears a circular seal of the treasury.
Two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based on the hoist side; the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays; each corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star.
Two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line.
Divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red.
Two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the main colors derive from the shield of the coat of arms, which features three white towers on three peaks on a blue field; the towers represent three castles built on San Marino's highest feature, Mount Titano: Guaita, Cesta, and Montale; the coat of arms is flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (lit.'liberty').
Three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side.
Three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the hoist side; the principal field of the coat of arms displays a white two-headed eagle on a red shield; a smaller red shield on the eagle is divided into four quarters by a white cross.
Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle.
Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red; the Slovakian coat of arms (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white double-barred cross of Cyril and Methodius surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset slightly to the hoist side.
Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red; the coat of arms of Slovenia (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle) appears in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands.
Divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green.
Two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes.
Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side contains a gold, five-pointed star.
Yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels.
Five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); a large, yellow, five-pointed star is centered in the red band.
Blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Nordic cross.
Three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe.
Divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue.
Red with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star - pointing to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag - is in the center of the black triangle.
Five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a white five-pointed star on a red square is in the upper hoist-side corner.
Red with a vertical white crescent moon (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening.
Green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five tribal guls stacked above two crossed olive branches; five white, five-pointed stars and a white crescent moon appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe.
Light blue with the flag of the United Kingdom in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow, five-pointed stars on a blue field.
Six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a grey crowned crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side.
Blue field with the red cross of Saint George edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red saltire of Saint Patrick, which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew.
13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars.
Nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face (delineated in black) known as the Sun of May with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy.
Three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a vertical, white crescent moon (closed side to the hoist) and 12 white, five-pointed stars shifted to the hoist on the top band.
Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele fern fronds, all in yellow.
Two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band.
Three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band.
Seven equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in black with its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe Bird is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle.
Seven equal horizontal stripes of green (top and bottom) alternating with white; a red rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner with a white dexter hand appaumé below an arc of seven white five-pointed stars.
White with a vertical red crescent moon (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and red five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening centered between two equal horizontal red bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag.
Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side. a red, five-pointed star and crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) centered in the white band.
Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; a white Shahada centered in the green band; a black, five-pointed star centered in the white band.
Three horizontal bands of red (top), green (half-width), and red with a yellow hammer and sickle below a yellow outline of a five-pointed star in the upper hoist-side corner of the top band.
^This refers to the date on which the most recent law or proclamation relating to the design of a flag was established by the government of a sovereign state post-independence, or the date of independence if the flag was legally adopted by a prenational government and retained on independence, but was never modified afterwards.
^The legitimate government of Afghanistan, and therefore flag, is presently disputed. De facto, the country is governed by the Taliban under the name of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. However, the United Nations officially recognizes the defunct Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as the legitimate government.[25][26]
^According to an apocryphal story, Catherine Flon is also credited.
^Between 1955 and 2022, the Honduran government erroneously used a design with a navy blue color instead of the specified turquoise blue. With the inauguration of president Xiomara Castro, the correct colors were restored.
^Between March and July 1958, Jordan and Iraq merged into the Arab Federation which bore a similar flag to that of Jordan, albeit without the star. Nevertheless, the flag of Jordan itself is considered to "have not changed since its
independence."
^Although 3:5 is generally used, 1:2 is also accepted.
^It has been claimed French general Hubert Lyautey personally designed the flag, however he only played a minor role in the process of its adoption. The design for the flag only emerged through negotiations between the French administation and the Makhzen.
^Solomonese artist Thomas Giosa claimed to have submitted the winning design in a competition in 1975, however an unnamed New Zealand visual artist also claimed ownership of the design.
^Habibullaev led a committee to design the national flag.
^2:3 and "approximately 3:5" have been given as the flag's ratio. It has also been claimed the proportions are golden.
^Robert Heft has claimed, and has been credited by some sources, as the designer of the 50-star flag. However, this has been thoroughly disputed by Slate writer Alec Nevala-Lee who has instead suggested William R. Furlong as the flag's true designer.
^The designer of the flag is disputed between Nguyễn Hữu Tiến [vi] and Lê Quang Sô.
^On 31 March 2024, following changes to the Constitution of Somalia, the government of Puntland stated that it no longer recognises the authority of the Somali federal government and would no longer participate in Somali federal institutions. Furthermore, it was stated that Puntland would "operate as a state that's independent from Somalia until there is a federal government with a constitution agreed upon in a referendum in which Puntland participates".
^On December 23, the SDF launched a Counteroffensive on Aleppo, which effectively makes it possible to consider Rojava as an independent state.
^Quemeneur, Tramor; Tengour, Ouanassa Siari; Thénault, Sylvie (March 16, 2023). "DRAPEAU ALGÉRIEN". Dictionnaire de la guerre d'Algérie (in French). Groupe Robert Laffont. ISBN978-2-38292-311-5.
^Frearson, Penelope (2008). "Flag". In Galligan, Brian (ed.). Oxford Companion to Australian Politics. Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-555543-1. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
^Australian Flags(PDF) (3rd ed.). Parliamentary and Government Branch, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2022. p. 64. Archived(PDF) from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
^Bradshaw, Richard; Fandos-Rius, Juan (May 27, 2016). "FLAG". Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN978-0-8108-7992-8.
^Najem, Tom; Amore, Roy C. (June 15, 2021). "FLAG". Historical Dictionary of Lebanon. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN978-1-5381-2044-6.; see also "PHARAOUN, HENRI (1901–1993)"
^"The Union Flag Law"(PDF). Asian Legal Information Institute. October 21, 2010. Archived(PDF) from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
^Hoare, James (2012). Historical dictionary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Historical dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press. ISBN978-0-8108-6151-0.
^"W. Samoa's Flag Approved In NZ". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. XIX, no. 8. March 1, 1949. p. 20. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"NEW FLAG FOR WESTERN SAMOA". Otago Daily Times. February 26, 1949. p. 9. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2024 – via Papers past.
^ abKramer, Robert S.; Jr, Richard A. Lobban; Fluehr-Lobban, Carolyn (March 22, 2013). "FLAG". Historical Dictionary of the Sudan. Scarecrow Press. ISBN978-0-8108-7940-9.
^Lister, David (October 15, 2012). Union Jack or Union Flag(PDF). United Kingdom: Flag Institute. Archived(PDF) from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
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