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List of national flags by design - Wikipedia Jump to content

List of national flags by design

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Flags of member nation-states flying outside the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York (2007)
The parts of a flag using the terms of vexillology
Further information: Glossary of vexillology and Vexillological symbol

A national flag is a one that represents and symbolizes a country or nation-state. Flags — and the related (royal) standards, ensigns, banners, and pennons / pennants — come in many shapes and designs, which often indicate something about what the flag represents, but generally national flags are rectangular or sometimes square-shaped.

Common design elements of flags include shapes as charges — such as crescent moons, crosses, stars, stripes, and suns — layout elements such as including a canton (a rectangle with a distinct design, such as another national flag), and the overall shape of a flag, such as the aspect ratio of a rectangular flag — whether the flag is square or rectangle, and how wide it is — or the choice of a non-rectangular flag. Sometimes these flags are used as a short-hand guide to represent languages on say, tourist information or versions of websites on internet.

Many countries with shared history, culture, ethnicity, or religion have similarities in their flags that represent this connection. Sets of flags in this list within the same category may represent countries' shared connections — as with the Scandinavian countries exhibiting the Nordic cross on their flags — or the design similarity may be a coincidence — as with the red and white flags of Indonesia and Monaco and Poland.

For clarity, unless stated, all flags shown are the civil flag (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag − the vexillological symbol of identification from FIAV, Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques) or the national flag (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag) of the nation state / sovereign country recognised as such by the United Nations — the state flags, (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag − usually those of the government), along with the flags of autonomous countries, regions, and territories of a UN nation state are annotated in italics as such.

Historical flags are marked with the Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag vexillological symbol and flags that are used widely, but without any legal basis (de facto), are marked with the Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag vexillological symbol.

Shape and aspect ratio

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Most flags are rectangular / oblong. In Nordic nations, some have swallowtail shapes as the state flag, though the civil flag is oblong. The only nation state to fly a civil flag that is non-rectangular is   Nepal .

A great many national flags have a single defined aspect ratio. The most common aspect ratio is 2:3, followed by 1:2, with only a few being 1:1 (square-shaped). Some nations' flags have multiple acceptable ratios, or do not define any ratio at all, such as the Union Jack of the United Kingdom having its commonest aspect ratios of 1:2 followed by 2:3.

The following flags have a distinctive specified shape or aspect ratio


Borders

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Further information: Bordure and Orle (heraldry)

Diagonal divisions and stripes

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Diagonally divided field
See also: Division of the field § Common divisions of the field


Diagonal stripes
  • Flag of Bonaire , — single broad off-centre diagonal white stripe ,
    Flag of Bonaire
    — single broad off-centre diagonal white stripe
    (The Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territory of the Dutch Crown)
  • Flag of Brunei , — two diagonal white and black stripes
    Flag of Brunei
    — two diagonal white and black stripes
  • Flag of Wiphala , — implied 13 diagonals of squares in a rainbow pattern of seven colours in a seven-by-seven square ,
    Flag of Wiphala
    — implied 13 diagonals of squares in a rainbow pattern of seven colours in a seven-by-seven square
    (alternative recognised flag of Bolivia used since 2009 for the native Incan peoples of South America in Bolivia and surrounding nations)


Fimbriated diagonal stripes
Further information: Bend (heraldry)


Many radiating diagonal stripes

Horizontal divisions and stripes

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Horizontal bi-colour divisions and stripes

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One horizontal bi-colour division — equal


One horizontal bi-colour division — unequal


One horizontal bi-colour division with a band or a pile (triangle) at the hoist


Three horizontal bi-colour stripes — equal
See also: triband (flag) and fess


Three horizontal bi-colour stripes — thin-and-thick


Three horizontal bi-colour stripes with a band or a pile (triangle) at the hoist


Three horizontal bi-colour stripes — fimbriated thin-and-thick
See also: Fimbriation


Many horizontal bi-colour stripes — equal — with or without a band, a canton, or a pile (triangle) at the hoist


Many horizontal bi-colour stripes — unequal

Horizontal tri-colour stripes

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Three horizontal tri-colour stripes — equal


Three horizontal tri-colour stripes — unequal


Three horizontal tri-colour stripes with a band or a pile (triangle) at the hoist


Three horizontal tri-colour stripes — fimbriated


Many horizontal tri-colour stripes — equal


Horizontal stripes in many colours

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Four horizontal stripes in four colours — equal


Five horizontal stripes in five colours — equal

Vertical divisions and stripes

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Vertical bi-colour divisions and stripes

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One vertical bi-colour division — equal


One vertical bi-colour division — unequal


One vertical bi-colour division — unequal serrated


Three vertical bi-colour stripes — equal
See also: triband (flag) and pale (heraldry)


Three vertical bi-colour stripes — unequal
Further information: Canadian pale


Vertical tri-colour stripes

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See also: tricolour


Historical

Mobile charge — Circle

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Further information: Charge (heraldry) and roundel

One circle in centre

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One circle off-centre

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One broken or implied circle

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Mobile charge — National coat of arms / badge

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Further information: Coat of arms and Heraldic badge

National coat of arms / badge — civil / national flags

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National coat of arms / badge — state flags only

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The following are the government / state flag only — the civil flag is without the coat of arms.

Further information: state flag


Mobile charge — National emblem / seal

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Further information: National emblem


Ordinary / mobile charge — Cross

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Further information: Ordinary (heraldry) and History of Christian flags

Quadrilateral division

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Upright centred cross

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Upright centred cross — Saint George's Cross
Further information: Christian cross variants and St George's Cross


Upright off-centre cross — Nordic Cross

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Nordic Cross in two colours


Nordic Cross fimbriated in three colours
Further information: Nordic Cross


Diagonal cross / saltire crosses of SS. Andrew and Patrick

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Further information: Saltire


Upright and diagonal centred crosses

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British ensign-derived flag / The Union Jack in the canton


Historical flags (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag)
Notably, the British Union Jack features in many territorial and sub-national flags usually based on the Red Ensign, (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag — e.g.  Bermuda), or Blue Ensign, (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag — e.g.  New South Wales). The White Ensign (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag) is used in a few cases with backgrounds of other colours, (e.g.  The British Antarctic Territory and  Niue), or a unique pattern in the field, (e.g.  The British Indian Ocean Territory and  Hawaii). Notably, the Royal Air Force Ensign is used as the basis for  Fiji and  Tuvalu flags. Some flags use the Union Jack other than at the canton, (e.g.  British Columbia). Unofficial flags (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag) also use it, (e.g.  The Ross Dependency of Antarctica).
Further information: List of countries and territories with the Union Jack displayed on their flag
See also: Union Jack, British ensign, Flags of the British Empire, and List of United Kingdom flags


Other crosses in the canton or on the charged coat of arms / emblem

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Mobile charge — Astronomical

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Sun

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Sun — "Sun of May" / "Sun in splendour" (a rayed sun with a face)
Further information: Sun of May and Sun in splendour


Sun — "Vergina Sun" (an ancient Macedonian stylized rayed sun)
Further information: Sun (heraldry) and Vergina Sun


Moon

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Full Moon


Crescent Moon
Further information: crescent


Crescent Moon and Star


Crescent Moon and Stars
Further information: crescent and star


Star

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Further information: star (heraldry) and five-pointed star
Five-pointed star — one star in centre


Five-pointed star — an off-centre star


Five-pointed star — a star in a canton
See also: Canton (flag)


Five-pointed stars — many equal stars


Five-pointed stars — many equal stars in circle pattern


Five-pointed stars — many unequal stars


Six-pointed star — one star


Six-pointed star — many equal stars


One many-pointed star


Stars and stripes — stars and alternating stripes


Stars and stripes — stars and varying stripes


Stars in the pattern of the Southern Cross constellation
Further information: Crux and Flags depicting the Southern Cross

Mobile charge — Living organisms

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Human and body parts

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Animals

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Birds


Eagles and hawks


Lions


Livestock


Other animals


Historical flags (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag )


Plants

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Further information: Fleurs-de-lys


Historical flags (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag)


Mobile charge — Other objects

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Building

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Headgear

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Cap / hat


Crown / tiara


Map

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Ships

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Tool, instrument, device, or book

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Historical flags (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag )


Historical flags (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag ) — with a crossed hammer and sickle emblem


Weaponry

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Other symbols

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Mobile charge — Text

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Main article: List of inscribed flags

Country name

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Motto

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Country name and motto

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  • Flag of Afghanistan , (2013–2021) , — in calligraphic text at the top is the Shahada, the Takbir written beneath it, the year of 1398 in the Islamic calendar, with the lowest line of text: "Afghanistan" in the Pashto alphabet
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag of Afghanistan
    (2013–2021)
    — in calligraphic text at the top is the Shahada, the Takbir written beneath it, the year of 1398 in the Islamic calendar, with the lowest line of text: "Afghanistan" in the Pashto alphabet
  • Flag of Brunei , — in the Jawi script, the line of text on the crescent: Sentiasa Membuat Kebajikan Dengan Petunjuk Allah , ("Always render service with God's guidance") , with the lower line: Brunei Darussalam
    Flag of Brunei
    — in the Jawi script, the line of text on the crescent: Sentiasa Membuat Kebajikan Dengan Petunjuk Allah
    ("Always render service with God's guidance")
    with the lower line: Brunei Darussalam
  • Flag of the Dominican Republic , — Spanish: Dios, Patria, Libertad , ("God, Homeland, Freedom") the motto above the coat of arms in the centre, the name of the country below
    Flag of the Dominican Republic
    — Spanish: Dios, Patria, Libertad
    ("God, Homeland, Freedom") the motto above the coat of arms in the centre, the name of the country below
  • Flag of El Salvador , — the name of the country encircles the coat of arms, with the motto inside, , Spanish: Dios, Unión, Libertad , ("God, Unity, Freedom") ,
    Flag of El Salvador
    — the name of the country encircles the coat of arms, with the motto inside,
    Spanish: Dios, Unión, Libertad
    ("God, Unity, Freedom")
    (government/state flag — civil flag is without the arms)
  • Flag of Paraguay , — the name of the country encircles the central seal on the obverse, with the motto circling the seal on the reverse, , Spanish: Republica del Paraguay — Paz y Justicia , ("The Republica of Paraguay — Peace and Justice")
    Flag of Paraguay
    — the name of the country encircles the central seal on the obverse, with the motto circling the seal on the reverse,
    Spanish: Republica del Paraguay — Paz y Justicia
    ("The Republica of Paraguay — Peace and Justice")


Other texts

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Ordinary charge — Hoist variants

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Vertical band on hoist

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See also: Side (heraldry)


Canton — upper left quarter

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Historical flags (Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag )
See also: Canton (flag)


Triangle(s) on hoist — pile

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See also: Pile (heraldry)


Triangle(s) on hoist — pall

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See also: Pall (heraldry)


Mobile charge — Chevrons, triangles, and quadrilaterals in the centre

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See also: chevron (insignia)


See also

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References

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  1. ^ "letter to the German nunciature (2010-05-27)" (PDF) (in German). Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  2. ^ "The Flag of Venice". BANDIERE VENETE. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Logo of the Council of Europe". Council of Europe. Archived from the original on 2 January 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
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