List of national flags of sovereign states


All 193 member states and 2 General Assembly non-member 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 13th century.

Background and definitions

According to the Collins English Dictionary, a national flag is "a flag that represents or is an emblem of a country". The word country can be used to refer to a nation-state or sovereign state, sometimes also called an independent state, though a country may also be a sub-division of a sovereign state, such as with the United Kingdom consisting of a union of four countries or nations — specifically two kingdoms (the countries of England and Scotland), a principality (the country of Wales), and a province (Northern Ireland). It is customary in international law that nation-states adopt a flag to distinguish themselves from other states.

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. Throughout history, elements within flags have been used to symbolize rulers, dynasties, territories, militaries, and peoples of their respective countries. Flags also conceptually represent a country's core values, such as group membership and love for the country. In 1975, American vexillologist Whitney Smith stated thus regarding the role of flags in society:

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

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a sovereign state is "a state or nation with a defined territory and a permanent population, which administers its own government, and which is recognized as not subject to or dependent upon another power." The amount of sovereign states in the world is generally derived from the number of member states of the United Nations (UN), although non-member states do exist, with such states being called de facto states. As of 2024, the UN currently includes 193 member states and 2 permanent observer states: Palestine and Vatican City. De facto states include Northern Cyprus, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria, Kosovo, the Sahrawi Republic, Somaliland, and Taiwan.

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. 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.

Flags of UN member states and General Assembly non-member observer states

 No data

Flags of UN member states and observer states
Flag(s) State Aspect ratio Date of latest adoption Designer(s) Description Refs.
Afghanistan (Islamic Emirate)
Afghanistan 1:2 August 15, 2021 White with a black Shahada in Thuluth script in the center. Hoist side depicted to right.
2:3 August 19, 2013 Three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other 2 bands.
Albania
Albania 5:7 April 7, 1992 Red with a black double-headed eagle in the center.
Algeria
Algeria 2:3 July 3, 1962 Disputed Two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary.
Civil Flag of Andorra
Andorra 7:10 April 22, 1866 Napoleon III Three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the latter band is slightly wider than the other 2 so that the ratio of band widths is 8:9:8
State Flag of Andorra
May 5, 1993 The civil flag with the national coat of arms of Andorra centered in the yellow band
Angola
Angola 2:3 November 11, 1975 Henrique de Carvalho Santos 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).
Antigua and Barbuda November 1, 1981 Reginald Samuel 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.
Argentina
Argentina 5:8 November 23, 2010 Manuel Belgrano 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.
Armenia
Armenia 1:2 August 24, 1990
  • Hovhannes Kajaznuni
  • Stepan Malkhasyants
Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange.
Australia
Australia February 14, 1954
  • Annie Dorrington
  • Ivor William Evans
  • Leslie Hawkins
  • Egbert Nuttall
  • William Stevens
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.
Civil flag of Austria
Austria 2:3 May 1, 1945 Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
State flag of Austria
The civil flag with the coat of arms of Austria in the center
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan 1:2 August 30, 1991 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.
Bahamas
The Bahamas July 10, 1973 Hervis Bain Three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side.
Bahrain
Bahrain 3:5 February 14, 2002 Red with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh January 17, 1972 Quamrul Hassan Green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist side of center.
Barbados
Barbados 2:3 November 30, 1966 Grantley Prescod Three equal vertical bands of ultramarine blue (hoist side), gold, and ultramarine blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band.
Belarus
Belarus 1:2 May 1, 2012 —. 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.
Belgium
Belgium 13:15 January 23, 1831
  • Édouard Ducpétiaux
  • Lucien Jottrand
Three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red.
Belize
Belize 3:5 September 21, 1981
  • Everal Waight
  • Inéz Sánchez
Royal blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms.
Benin
Benin 2:3 August 1, 1960 Two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side.
Bhutan
Bhutan June 8, 1972 Mayeum Choying Wangmo Dorji 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.
Civil flag of Bolivia
Bolivia August 5, 2009 Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green.
State flag of Bolivia
The civil flag with the coat of arms of Bolivia centered wholly in the yellow band
Wiphala
1:1 Germán Choquehuanca A grid of 49 squares distributed in 7 columns by 7 rows, arranged in diagonal bands of 7 colors (white, yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, green) with white on the main diagonal.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1:2 February 4, 1998
  • Mladen Kolobarić
  • Nedo Milčević
  • Sado Musabegović
  • Marco Oršolić
  • Ranko Risokević
  • Vehid Šehić
  • Gajo Sekulić
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.
Botswana
Botswana 2:3 September 30, 1966 George Winstanley Light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center.
Brazil
Brazil 7:10 May 11, 1992
  • Miguel Lemos (pt)
  • Manuel Pereira Reis (pt)
  • Raimundo Teixeira Mendes
  • Décio Villares
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 sky over Rio de Janeiro at 8:30 a.m. on November 15, 1889, and containing a banner with the national motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (lit.'Order and progress').
Brunei
Brunei 1:2 January 1, 1984 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.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria 3:5 November 27, 1990
  • Stiliana Paraskevova
  • Ivan Paraskevov
Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso 2:3 August 4, 1984 Ferdinand Dabiré Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center.
Burundi
Burundi 3:5 September 27, 1982 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).
Cambodia
Cambodia 2:3 June 30, 1993 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.
Cameroon
Cameroon May 20, 1975 Three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow, with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band.
Canada
Canada 1:2 February 15, 1965 George Stanley Two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width) with a white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde 10:17 September 25, 1992 Pedro Gregório 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.
Central African Republic 3:5 August 13, 1960 Barthélemy Boganda 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.
Chad
Chad 2:3 November 6, 1959 Naiyia Amina Goudja Three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and red.
Chile
Chile October 18, 1817 Unclear 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.
China
China October 1, 1949 Zeng Liansong 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.
Colombia
Colombia November 26, 1861 Three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red.
Comoros
Comoros 3:5 December 23, 2001 Suzanne Gauthier 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.
Democratic Republic of the Congo 3:4 February 18, 2006 Henry Morton Stanley (allegedly) 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
Republic of the Congo 2:3 June 10, 1991 Divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red.
National flag of Costa Rica
Costa Rica 3:5 September 29, 1848 Pacífica Fernández Oreamuno Five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue.
State flag of Costa Rica
May 5, 1998 The civil flag, with the coat of arms of Costa Rica in a white elliptical disk placed toward the hoist side wholly within the red band
Croatia
Croatia 1:2 December 22, 1990 Miroslav Šutej Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue superimposed by the coat of arms.
Cuba
Cuba May 20, 1902 Miguel Teurbe Tolón 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.
Cyprus
Cyprus 2:3 April 24, 2006 İsmet Güney Centered on a white field is a copper-colored silhouette of the island above two olive-green-colored, crossed olive branches.
Czech Republic January 1, 1993 Jaroslav Kursa (allegedly) Two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side.
Civil flag of Denmark
Denmark 28:37 June 15, 1219 Red with a white Nordic cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side.
State flag of Denmark
56:107 June 11, 1748 Civil flag of Denmark in a swallowtail (flag) shape
Djibouti
Djibouti 2:3 June 27, 1977 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.
Dominica
Dominica 1:2 November 3, 1990 Alwin Bully 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.
Dominican Republic 2:3 November 6, 1844 Juan Pablo Duarte 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
The civil flag with a small coat of arms of the Dominican Republic at the center of the cross
Ecuador
Ecuador 2:3 January 10, 1910 Three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag.
Egypt
Egypt October 4, 1984 ʻAlī Kāmil al-Dīb 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.
Civil flag of El Salvador
El Salvador 3:5 1912 Three equal horizontal bands of cobalt blue (top), white, and cobalt blue with the words ""DIOS UNION LIBERTAD" centered in the white band
State flag of El Salvador
189:335 September 14, 1972 Three equal horizontal bands of cobalt blue (top), white, and cobalt blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea 2:3 August 21, 1979 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').
Eritrea
Eritrea 1:2 December 5, 1995 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.
Estonia
Estonia 7:11 November 21, 1918 Aleksander Mõttus (et) Three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white.
Eswatini
Eswatini 2:3 September 6, 1968 Sobhuza II 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.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia 1:2 February 6, 1996 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.
Fiji
Fiji October 10, 1970 Tessa Mackenzie 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.
Civil flag of Finland
Finland 11:18 January 1, 1995 Zacharias Topelius White with a blue Nordic cross.
State flag of Finland
1978 The civil flag with a red square bearing the coat of arms of Finland in the intersection between the two lines of the cross
France
France 2:3 March 5, 1848 Jacques-Louis David Three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red.
Gabon
Gabon 3:4 August 9, 1960
  • Léon Augé
  • Pierre Claver Eyeghe
Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue.
Gambia
The Gambia 2:3 February 18, 1965 Louis Lucien Thomasi (fi) Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green.
Georgia
Georgia January 14, 2004 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.
Civil flag of Germany
Germany 3:5 October 3, 1990 Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold
State flag of Germany
The civil flag with the coat of arms of Germany in the center as a variant
Ghana
Ghana 2:3 February 28, 1966 Theodosia Okoh Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band.
Greece
Greece December 22, 1978 Nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; a blue square bearing a white cross appears in the upper hoist-side corner.
Grenada
Grenada 3:5 February 7, 1974 Anthony C. George 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.
Civil flag of Guatemala
Guatemala 5:8 December 26, 1997 Juan José de Aycinena y Piñol Three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue
State flag of Guatemala
The civil flag with the coat of arms of Guatemala centered in the white band
Guinea
Guinea 2:3 November 10, 1958 Three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green.
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau 1:2 September 24, 1973 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.
Guyana
Guyana 3:5 May 26, 1966 Whitney Smith 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.
Civil flag of Haiti
Haiti 3:5 February 25, 1986 Jean-Jacques Dessalines Two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red
State flag of Haiti
The civil flag with a centered white rectangle bearing the Coat of arms of Haiti
Honduras
Honduras 1:2 January 18, 1949 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.
Hungary
Hungary May 23, 1957 Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green.
Civil flag of Iceland
Iceland 18:25 June 17, 1944 Matthías Þórðarson 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.
State flag of Iceland
9:16 The civil flag of Iceland in a swallowtail (flag) shape
India
India 2:3 July 22, 1947 Pingali Venkayya Three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green, with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band.
Indonesia
Indonesia August 17, 1950 Fatmawati (allegedly) Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white.
Iran
Iran 4:7 July 29, 1980 Hamid Nadimi (fa) 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.
Iraq
Iraq 2:3 January 22, 2008 Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir in green Arabic script is centered in the white band.
Ireland
Ireland 1:2 December 29, 1937 Thomas Francis Meagher Three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange.
Israel
Israel 8:11 October 28, 1948
  • Charles Askowith
  • Jacob Askowith
White with a blue hexagram known as the Star of David centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag.
Italy
Italy 2:3 January 1, 1948 Giuseppe Compagnoni Three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red.
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast December 3, 1959 Three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green.
Jamaica
Jamaica 1:2 August 6, 1962 Diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side).
Japan
Japan 2:3 August 13, 1999 Nichiren (allegedly) White with a large red disk in the center.
Jordan
Jordan 1:2 April 16, 1928 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.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan June 4, 1992 Shaken Niyazbekov 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.
Kenya
Kenya 2:3 December 12, 1963 Tom Mboya 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.
Kiribati
Kiribati 1:2 July 12, 1979 Arthur Grimble 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.
Kuwait
Kuwait November 7, 1961 Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side.
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan 3:5 December 26, 2023 Red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays; 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.
Laos
Laos 2:3 December 2, 1975 Sila Viravong Three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band.
Latvia
Latvia 1:2 August 21, 1991 Ansis Cīrulis (lv) Three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon.
Lebanon
Lebanon 2:3 September 21, 1990 Henri Pharaoun Three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band.
Lesotho
Lesotho October 4, 2006 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.
Liberia
Liberia 10:19 August 24, 1847
  • Susannah Lewis (lead)
  • Sarah Draper
  • Mary Hunter
  • Rachel Johnson
  • Matilda Newport
  • J. B. Russworm
  • Collinette Teage
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
Libya
Libya 1:2 August 3, 2011 Omar Faiek Shennib Three horizontal bands of red (top), black (double width), and green with a white crescent and star centered on the black stripe.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein 3:5 September 18, 1982 Two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band.
Lithuania
Lithuania March 20, 1989
  • Jonas Basanavičius
  • Tadas Daugirdas
  • Antanas Žmuidzinavičius
Three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg 3:5 March 17, 1972 Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue.
Madagascar
Madagascar 2:3 October 21, 1958 Andrianome Ranaivosoa Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side.
Malawi
Malawi May 28, 2012 Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered on the black band.
Malaysia
Malaysia 1:2 September 16, 1963 Mohamed Hamzah 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.
Maldives
Maldives 2:3 July 26, 1965 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.
Mali
Mali March 1, 1961 Mariam Traore Three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red.
Malta
Malta September 21, 1964 Two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red.
Marshall Islands 10:19 May 1, 1979 Emlain Kabua 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.
Mauritania
Mauritania 2:3 October 12, 2017 Green with a yellow, five-pointed star between the horns of a yellow, upward-pointing crescent moon; red stripes along the top and bottom edges.
Mauritius
Mauritius March 12, 1968 Gurudutt Moher Four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green.
Mexico
Mexico 4:7 September 16, 1968 Francisco Eppens (coat of arms) 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.
Micronesia 10:19 November 30, 1978 Gonzalo Santos (initial version) Light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered.
Moldova
Moldova 1:2 September 17, 2010 Three equal vertical bands of Prussian blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; the coat of arms is centered in the yellow band.
Monaco
Monaco 4:5 April 9, 1881 Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white.
Mongolia
Mongolia 1:2 February 12, 1992 Dodiin Choidog (mn) 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).
Montenegro
Montenegro September 16, 2004 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.
Morocco
Morocco 2:3 April 7, 1956 Disputed Red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as the Seal of Solomon in the center of the flag.
Mozambique
Mozambique May 1, 1983 Jorge Mwanamuzik (allegedly; initial version) 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.
Myanmar
Myanmar October 21, 2010 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.
Namibia
Namibia March 21, 1990 Frederick Brownell 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.
Nauru
Nauru 1:2 January 31, 1968 Blue with a narrow, horizontal, gold stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side.
Nepal
Nepal See Flag of Nepal § Aspect ratio
≈ 1.219:1
December 16, 1962 Shankar Nath Rimal 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.
Netherlands
Netherlands 2:3 February 19, 1937 Three equal horizontal bands of red (bright vermilion; top), white, and blue (cobalt).
New Zealand
New Zealand 1:2 November 25, 1947 Albert Hastings Markham Blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua 3:5 August 27, 1972 Three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band.
Niger
Niger 6:7 August 3, 1960 Three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk centered in the white band.
Nigeria
Nigeria 1:2 October 1, 1960 Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi Three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green.
North Korea
North Korea September 8, 1942 Disputed 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.
North Macedonia
North Macedonia October 5, 1995 Miroslav Grčev A yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field.
National flag of Norway
Norway 8:11 July 13, 1821 Meltzer Fredrik 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.
State flag of Norway
16:27 The civil flag of Norway in a tongued swallowtail (flag) shape
Oman
Oman 4:7 April 25, 1995 Qaboos bin Sa'id Al-Sa'id 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.
Pakistan
Pakistan 2:3 August 14, 1947 Syed Amir-uddin Kedwaii Green with a vertical white band on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field.
Palau
Palau 5:8 October 1, 1994 Blau Skebong Light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side.
Palestine
Palestine 1:2 November 15, 1988 Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side.
Panama
Panama 2:3 June 6, 1904 Disputed 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.
Papua New Guinea 3:4 September 16, 1975 Karike Susan 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.
Paraguay (obverse)
Paraguay 11:20 July 15, 2013 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.
Paraguay (reverse)
Civil flag of Peru
Peru 2:3 February 25, 1825 José de San Martín (initial version) Three equal, vertical bands alternating red, white, red
State flag of Peru
The civil flag with the coat of arms of Peru centered in the white band.
Philippines
Philippines 1:2 September 16, 1997 Emilio Aguinaldo 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.
National flag of Poland
Poland 5:8 August 1, 1919 Two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red
State flag and Civil flag of Poland
The civil flag defaced with the coat of arms of Poland wholly within the white stripe
Portugal
Portugal 2:3 June 11, 1911 Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro 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.
Qatar
Qatar 11:28 July 9, 1971 Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani Maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side.
Romania
Romania 2:3 December 27, 1989 Three equal vertical bands of cobalt blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red.
Russia
Russia December 11, 1991 Peter I of Russia Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red.
Rwanda
Rwanda December 31, 2001 Alphonse Kirimobenecyo Three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue band.
Saint Kitts and Nevis November 19, 1983 Edrice Lewis 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.
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia 1:2 February 22, 1979 Dunstan St. Omer Cerulean blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2:3 October 22, 1985 Julien van der Wal Three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern.
Samoa
Samoa 1:2 January 1, 1962
  • Malietoa Tanumafili II
  • Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole
Red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white, five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation.
San Marino
San Marino 3:4 July 22, 2011 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').
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe 1:2 November 5, 1975 Manuel Pinto da Costa 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.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia 2:3 March 15, 1973 Green with the Shahada in large white Thuluth script. Hoist side depicted to right.
Senegal
Senegal August 20, 1960 Three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band.
Civil flag of Serbia
Serbia 3:5 November 11, 2010 Three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white
State flag of Serbia
2:3 The civil flag 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
Seychelles
Seychelles 1:2 June 18, 1996 Philippe Uzice Five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone 2:3 April 27, 1961 Three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue.
Singapore
Singapore August 9, 1965 Toh Chin Chye 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.
Slovakia
Slovakia January 1, 1993
  • Ladislav Čisárik (current design)
  • Ladislav Vrtel (sk) (current design)
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.
Slovenia
Slovenia 1:2 June 25, 1991 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.
Solomon Islands July 7, 1978 Disputed 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.
Somalia
Somalia 2:3 July 1, 1960 Mohammed Awale Liban Light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center.
South Africa
South Africa April 27, 1994 Frederick Brownell 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.
South Korea
South Korea May 30, 2011 Lee Eung-jun (ko) White with a red (top) and blue taijitu in the center; there is a different black trigram from the I Ching in each corner of the white field.
South Sudan
South Sudan 1:2 July 9, 2011 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.
Civil flag of Spain
Spain 2:3 1978 Antonio Valdés y Fernández Bazán Three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red
National flag of Spain
October 28, 1981 The civil flag with the national coat of arms of Spain on the hoist side of the yellow band.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka 1:2 May 22, 1972 D.S. Senanayake 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.
Sudan
Sudan May 20, 1970 Abd al-Raḥman Aḥmad al-Jali (ar) Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side.
Suriname
Suriname 2:3 November 25, 1975 Jack Pinas (nl) 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.
Sweden
Sweden 5:8 June 22, 1906 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.
Switzerland
Switzerland 1:1 December 12, 1889 Red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag.
Syria
Syria 2:3 December 8, 2024 Three equal horizontal bands of green, white, and black; three small, red, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band.
Tajikistan
Tajikistan 1:2 November 24, 1992 Zuhur Habibullaev 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.
Tanzania
Tanzania 2:3 June 30, 1964 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.
Thailand
Thailand September 28, 1917 Vajiravudh Five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red.
Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste 1:2 May 20, 2002 Natalino Leitão (de) 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.
Togo
Togo Unclear April 27, 1960 Paul Ahyi 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.
Tonga
Tonga 1:2 November 4, 1875 Shirley Waldemar Baker Red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner.
Trinidad and Tobago 3:5 August 31, 1962 Carlisle Chang Red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side.
Tunisia
Tunisia 2:3 July 3, 1999 Red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star.
Turkey
Turkey May 29, 1936 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.
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan January 24, 2001 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.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu 1:2 April 11, 1997 Vione Natano 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.
Uganda
Uganda 2:3 October 9, 1962 Grace Ibingira 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.
Ukraine
Ukraine January 21, 1992 Two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow.
United Arab Emirates 1:2 December 2, 1971 Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side.
United Kingdom 1:2 January 1, 1801 Blue field on which the Cross of Saint Andrew counterchanged with the Cross of Saint Patrick, over all the Cross of Saint George fimbriated in white.
United States 10:19 July 4, 1960 Disputed 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.
National Pavilion
Uruguay 2:3 July 11, 1830 Joaquín Suárez 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.
Artigas flag
February 18, 1952; José Gervasio Artigas and José María de Roo Three horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with a Red Diagonal Stripe
Three horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and red. Upon the white band are printed the words Libertad o Muerte ('Freedom or Death').
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan 1:2 November 18, 1991 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.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu 3:5 July 30, 1980 Kalontas Malon 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.
Vatican City
Vatican City 1:1 June 7, 1929 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.
Civil flag of Venezuela
Venezuela 2:3 March 9, 2006 Three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the central blue band defaced by an arc of eight white five-pointed stars.
State flag of Venezuela
The civil flag with the coat of arms of Venezuela on the hoist side of the upper (yellow) band.
Vietnam
Vietnam July 2, 1976 Disputed Red field with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center.
Yemen
Yemen May 22, 1990 Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black.
Zambia
Zambia April 13, 1996 Gabriel Ellison Green field with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe 1:2 April 18, 1980 Cedric Herbert 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.

Flags of de facto states

See also

wikipedia, wiki, encyclopedia, book, library, article, read, free download, Information about List of national flags of sovereign states, What is List of national flags of sovereign states? What does List of national flags of sovereign states mean?