Bahrain

red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states,

with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side;

the five points represent the five pillars of Islam

Bangladesh

green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the

hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the

sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the

lush vegetation of Bangladesh

Barbados

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and

blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the

trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the

colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

Belarus

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

three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow,

and red

note: the design was based on the flag of France

Belize

blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom

edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the

coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a

mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in

the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green

garland

Benin

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom)

with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Bermuda

red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side

quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with

a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship

Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the

flag

Bhutan

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 dragon facing

away from the hoist side

Bolivia

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green

with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band

note: similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black

five-pointed star centered in the yellow band

Bosnia and Herzegovina

a wide medium 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 medium blue with seven

full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom

along the hypotenuse of the triangle

Botswana

light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in

the center

Bouvet Island

the flag of Norway is used

Brazil

green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a

blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each

state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the

night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with

the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)

British Indian Ocean Territory

white with six blue wavy horizontal

stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the

striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the

outer half of the flag

British Virgin Islands

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper

hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in

the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked

on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll

bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)

Brunei

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; the emblem includes a

swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned

crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

Bulgaria

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red

note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white

stripe, has been removed

Burkina Faso

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with

a yellow five-pointed star in the center

note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Burma

red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner

bearing 14, white, five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel

containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the seven

administrative divisions and seven states

Burundi

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

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

note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its

design

Cameroon

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and

yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band

note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Canada

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; the official colors of Canada are red

and white

Cape Verde

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, each representing one of

the islands, is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the

length of the flag from the hoist side

Cayman Islands

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side

quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half

of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above

a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a

scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE

SEAS

Central African Republic

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

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red

note: similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of

Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms

centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France

Chile

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 representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes

the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red represents the

blood spilled to achieve independence

note: design was influenced by the US flag

China

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

Christmas Island

territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper

hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image

of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is

blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia,

superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the

island

note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes

Clipperton Island

the flag of France is used

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

the flag of Australia is used

Colombia

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue,

and red

note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the

Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Comoros

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 white crescent with the convex side facing

the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a

line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and

the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -

Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial

collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros)

note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols

of Islam

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

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

Congo, Republic of the

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side

by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the

lower triangle is red

note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Cook Islands

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side

quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for

every island) centered in the outer half of the flag

Coral Sea Islands

the flag of Australia is used

Costa Rica

five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double

width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical

disk on the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a

light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just

below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the

words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA

Cote d'Ivoire

three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side),

white, and green

note: similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the

colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also

similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white,

and red; design was based on the flag of France

Croatia

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue

superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)

Cuba

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

white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the

name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two

green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches

symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek

and Turkish communities

note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has a white

field with narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance

from the top and bottom edges between which is centered a red

crescent and a red five-pointed star

Czech Republic

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red

with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

note: identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia

Denmark

red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the

flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side;

the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the

other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

Dhekelia

the flag of the UK is used

Djibouti

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

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

encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10

stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

Dominican Republic

a centered white cross that extends to the edges

divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist

side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a

small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch

(left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross;

above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA,

LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA

DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon

Ecuador

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue,

and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the

flag; similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not

bear a coat of arms

Egypt

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;

the national emblem (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; design is

based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria,

which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an

Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has

a plain white band

El Salvador

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and

blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the

coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words

REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag

of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the

white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA

DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar

to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X

pattern centered in the white band

Equatorial Guinea

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 (Unity, Peace, Justice)

Eritrea

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

pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three

equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

Ethiopia

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; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa,

and the three main colors of her flag were so often adopted by other

African countries upon independence that they became known as the

pan-African colors

European Union

blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged

in a circle in the center, representing the union of the peoples of

Europe; the number of stars is fixed

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

blue with the flag of the UK in

the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms

centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a

white ram (sheep raising was once the major economic activity) above

the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a

scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Faroe Islands

white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to

the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted

toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Fiji

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side

quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the

flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered

by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm

tree, bananas, and a white dove

Finland

white with a blue 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 Dannebrog (Danish flag)

France

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and

red; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the

origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution; the

design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags,

including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire,

Luxembourg, and Netherlands; the official flag for all French

dependent areas

French Polynesia

two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white

band; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white

wave pattern on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern on

the upper half; a stylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the

wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

the flag of France is used

Gabon

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

Gambia, The

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with

white edges, and green

Georgia

white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross

connecting all four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners

is a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears

to date back to the 14th century

Germany

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold

Ghana

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green

with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;

uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag

of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Gibraltar

two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red

with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band;

hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

Greece

nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white;

there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a

white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established

religion of the country

Greenland

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a

large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of

the disk is red, the bottom half is white

Grenada

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 (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer

of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven

administrative divisions

Guam

territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all

four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse

containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree

with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the

national flag

Guatemala

three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side),

white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white

band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the

national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE

SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain)

all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed

swords and framed by a wreath

Guernsey

white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of

England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed

cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross

Guinea

three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and

green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Guinea-Bissau

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; uses the popular

pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Guyana

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

Haiti

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a

centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a

palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing

the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

the flag of Australia is used

Holy See (Vatican City)

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

Honduras

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue

with five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered

in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former

Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador,

Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El

Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words

REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white

band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a

triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and

AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

Hong Kong

red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in

the center

Hungary

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

Iceland

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 Dannebrog (Danish flag)

India

three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange)

(top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel)

centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has

a small orange disk centered in the white band

Indonesia

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar

to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of

Poland, which is white (top) and red

Iran

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red;

the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in

the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in

the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) 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

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;

the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green

Arabic script is centered in the white band; similar to the flag of

Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain

white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin

centered in the white band; design is based upon the Arab Liberation

colors; Council of Representatives approved this flag as a

compromise temporary replacement for Ba'athist Saddam-era flag

Ireland

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and

orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and

has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green;

also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors

of green (hoist side), white, and red

Isle of Man

red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in

the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the

knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of

the flag, a two-sided emblem is used

Israel

white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as

the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal

horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

Italy

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and

red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green

(hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the

Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side),

white, and green; inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by

Napoleon in 1797

Jamaica

diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles -

green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)

Jan Mayen

the flag of Norway is used

Japan

white with a large red disk (representing the sun without

rays) in the center