Namibia

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 yellow,

12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green; red

signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build

a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace,

unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky

and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and

rain; the yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes

vegetation and agricultural resources

Nauru

blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the

center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the

hoist side; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, the star indicates

the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow

stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

Navassa Island

the flag of the US is used

Nepal

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; the color red represents the rhododendron (Nepal's

national flower) and is a sign of victory and bravery, the blue

border signifies peace and harmony; the two right triangles are a

combination of two single pennons (pennants) that originally

symbolized the Himalaya Mountains while their charges represented

the families of the king (upper) and the prime minister, but today

they are understood to denote Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's

two main religions; the moon represents the serenity of the Nepalese

people and the shade and cool weather in the Himalayas, while the

sun depicts the heat and higher temperatures of the lower parts of

Nepal; the moon and the sun are also said to express the hope that

the nation will endure as long as these heavenly bodies

note: Nepal is the only country in the world whose flag is not

rectangular or square

Netherlands

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

blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue

and is longer; the colors were those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange,

who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter

half of the 16th century; originally the upper band was orange, but

because it tended to fade to red over time, the red shade was

eventually made the permanent color; the banner is perhaps the

oldest tricolor in continuous use

New Caledonia

the flag of France is used

New Zealand

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; the stars represent the Southern Cross

constellation

Nicaragua

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 triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE

NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; the banner

is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic

of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and

the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between

the two bodies of water

note: 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

Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern

centered in the white band

Niger

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

with a small orange disk centered in the white band; the orange band

denotes the drier northern regions of the Sahara; white stands for

purity and innocence; green symbolizes hope and the fertile and

productive southern and western areas, as well as the Niger River;

the orange disc represents the sun and the sacrifices made by the

people

note: similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel

centered in the white band

Nigeria

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

green; the color green represents the forests and abundant natural

wealth of the country, white stands for peace and unity

Niue

yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side

quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars -

a large star on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star on each

arm of the bold red cross; the larger star stands for Niue, the

smaller stars recall the Southern Cross constellation on the New

Zealand flag and symbolize links with that country; yellow

represents the bright sunshine of Niue and the warmth and friendship

between Niue and New Zealand

Norfolk Island

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

and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in

the slightly wider white band; green stands for the rich vegetation

on the island, and the pine tree - endemic to the island - is a

symbol of Norfolk Island

note: somewhat reminiscent of the flag of Canada with its use of

only two colors and depiction of a prominent local floral symbol in

the central white band

Northern Mariana Islands

blue, with a white, five-pointed star

superimposed on a gray latte stone (the traditional foundation stone

used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath; blue

symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the star represents the Commonwealth;

the latte stone and the floral head wreath display elements of the

native Chamorro culture

Norway

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 Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors

recall Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white)

and Sweden (blue)

Oman

three horizontal bands of white, 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; white represents peace and prosperity, red recalls

battles against foreign invaders, and green symbolizes the Jebel

Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility

Pakistan

green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of

religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and

star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color

green are traditional symbols of Islam

Palau

light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the

hoist side; the blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents

the moon; Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for

human activity; it is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and

tranquility

Panama

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; the blue and red

colors are those of the main political parties (Conservatives and

Liberals respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the

blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the

red star signifies authority and law

Papua New Guinea

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; red, black, and

yellow are traditional colors of Papua New Guinea; the bird of

paradise - endemic to the island of New Guinea - is an emblem of

regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New

Guinea as a nation; the Southern Cross, visible in the night sky,

symbolizes Papua New Guinea's connection with Australia and several

other countries in the South Pacific

Paraguay

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

with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the

emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the

left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star

within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY,

all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears

a circular seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of

Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice)); red

symbolizes bravery and patriotism, white represents integrity and

peace, and blue denotes liberty and generosity

note: the three color bands resemble those on the flag of the

Netherlands; one of only three national flags that differ on their

obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia

Peru

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

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

features a shield bearing a vicuna (representing fauna), a cinchona

tree (the source of quinine, signifying flora), and a yellow

cornucopia spilling out coins (denoting mineral wealth); red recalls

blood shed for independence, white symbolizes peace

Philippines

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;

blue stands for peace and justice, red symbolizes courage, the white

equal-sided triangle represents equality; the rays recall the first

eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, while the stars

represent the three major geographical divisions of the country:

Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897

note: in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at

the top

Pitcairn Islands

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper

hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered

on the outer half of the flag; the green, yellow, and blue of the

shield represents the island rising from the ocean; the green field

features a yellow anchor surmounted by a bible (both the anchor and

the bible were items found on the HMS Bounty); sitting on the crest

is a Pitcairn Island wheelbarrow from which springs a slip of miro

(a local plant)

Poland

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

derive from the Polish emblem - a white eagle on a red field

note: similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red

(top) and white

Portugal

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; explanations

for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation

has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the

nation

Puerto Rico

five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom)

alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist

side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; the

white star symbolizes Puerto Rico; the three sides of the triangle

signify the executive, legislative and judicial parts of the

government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters; red

symbolizes the blood shed by warriors, while white represents

liberty, victory, and peace

note: design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the

Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

Qatar

maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on

the hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars,

white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies

Qatar as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" in the wake

of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916

note: the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE

and Bahrain; according to some sources, the dominant color was

formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun

and the new shade was eventually adopted

Romania

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

red; modeled after the flag of France, the colors are those of the

principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and

blue), which united in 1861 to form Romania; the national coat of

arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed

note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker;

also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

Russia

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

note: the colors may have been based on those of the Dutch flag;

despite many popular interpretations, there is no official meaning

assigned to the colors of the Russian flag; this flag inspired other

Slav countries to adopt horizontal tricolors of the same colors but

in different arrangements, and so red, blue, and white became the

Pan-Slav colors

Rwanda

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; blue represents happiness and peace, yellow

economic development and mineral wealth, green hope of prosperity

and natural resources; the sun symbolizes unity, as well as

enlightenment and transparency from ignorance

Saint Barthelemy

the flag of France is used

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

blue with the flag of

the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian

shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the upper third of

the shield depicts a white plover (wire bird) on a yellow field; the

remainder of the shield depicts a rocky coastline on the left,

offshore is a three-masted sailing ship with sails furled but flying

an English flag

Saint Kitts and Nevis

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; green signifies the island's fertility, red

symbolizes the struggles of the people from slavery, yellow denotes

year-round sunshine, and black represents the African heritage of

the people; the white stars stand for the islands of Saint Kitts and

Nevis, but can also express hope and liberty, or independence and

optimism

Saint Lucia

blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black

arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border; the

blue color represents the sky and sea, gold stands for sunshine and

prosperity, and white and black the racial composition of the island

(with the latter being dominant); the two major triangles invoke the

twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), cone-shaped volcanic plugs

that are a symbol of the island

Saint Martin

the flag of France is used

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

a yellow three-masted sailing ship facing

the hoist side rides on a blue background with scattered, white,

wavy lines under the ship; a continuous black-over-white wavy line

divides the ship from the white wavy lines; on the hoist side, a

vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called

ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the

corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four

sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine

pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized

yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three

heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque

Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the blue on the main portion

of the flag symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean and the stylized ship

represents the Grande Hermine in which Jacques Cartier "discovered"

the islands in 1536

note: the flag of France used for official occasions

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

three vertical bands of blue (hoist

side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three

green diamonds arranged in a V pattern, which stands for Vincent;

the diamonds recall the islands as the "Gems of the Antilles"; blue

conveys the colors of a tropical sky and crystal waters, yellow

signifies the golden Grenadine sands, and green represents lush

vegetation

Samoa

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

bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern

Cross constellation; red stands for courage, blue represents

freedom, and white signifies purity

San Marino

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

(Liberty); the white and blue colors are also said to stand for

peace and liberty respectively

Sao Tome and Principe

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; green stands for the country's

rich vegetation, red recalls the struggle for independence, and

yellow represents cocoa, one of the country's main agricultural

products; the two stars symbolize the two main islands

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Saudi Arabia

green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the

Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as

"There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a

white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design

dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with

the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932; the flag

is manufactured with differing obverse and reverse sides so that the

Shahada reads - and the sword points - correctly from right to left

on both sides

note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse

and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Paraguay

Senegal

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

and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow

band; green represents Islam, progress, and hope; yellow signifies

natural wealth and progress; red symbolizes sacrifice and

determination; the star denotes unity and hope

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors

from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Mali and the

reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea

Serbia

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

- the Pan-Slav colors representing freedom and revolutionary ideals;

charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the

hoist side; the principal field of the coat of arms represents the

Serbian state and displays a white two-headed eagle on a red shield;

a smaller red shield on the eagle represents the Serbian nation, and

is divided into four quarters by a white cross; a white Cyrillic "C"

in each quarter stands for the phrase "Only Unity Saves the Serbs";

a royal crown surmounts the coat of arms

note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of

Russia

Seychelles

five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red,

white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist

side; the oblique bands are meant to symbolize a dynamic new country

moving into the future; blue represents sky and sea, yellow the sun

giving light and life, red the peoples' determination to work for

the future in unity and love, white social justice and harmony,

green the land and natural environment

Sierra Leone

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

blue; green symbolizes agriculture, mountains, and natural

resources, white represents unity and justice, and blue the sea and

the natural harbor in Freetown

Singapore

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; red denotes

brotherhood and equality; white signifies purity and virtue; the

waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy;

the five stars represent the nation's ideals of democracy, peace,

progress, justice, and equality

Sint Maarten

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

white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the center of the

triangle displays the Sint Maarten coat of arms; the arms consist of

an orange-bordered blue shield prominently displaying the white

court house in Philipsburg, as well as a bouquet of yellow sage (the

national flower) in the upper left, and the silhouette of a

Dutch-French friendship monument in the upper right; the shield is

surmounted by a yellow rising sun in front of which is a Brown

Pelican in flight; a yellow scroll below the shield bears the motto:

SEMPER PROGREDIENS (Always Progressing); the three main colors are

identical to those on the Dutch flag

note: the flag somewhat resembles that of the Philippines, but with

the main red and blue bands reversed; the banner more closely evokes

the wartime Philippine flag

Slovakia

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

derive from the Pan-Slav colors; the Slovakian coat of arms

(consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white

Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the

bands but offset slightly to the hoist side

note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of

Russia

Slovenia

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

derive from the medieval coat of arms of the Duchy of Carniola; the

Slovenian seal (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, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of

Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early

15th centuries) appears in the upper hoist side of the flag centered

on the white and blue bands

Solomon Islands

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; blue represents the ocean; green the land;

and yellow sunshine; the five stars stand for the five main island

groups of the Solomon Islands

Somalia

light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the

center; the blue field was originally influenced by the flag of the

UN, but today is said to denote the sky and the neighboring Indian

Ocean; the five points of the star represent the five regions in the

horn of Africa that are inhabited by Somali people: the former

British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland (which together make up

Somalia), Djibouti, Ogaden (Ethiopia), and the Northern Frontier

District (Kenya)

South Africa

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;

the flag colors do not have any official symbolism, but the Y stands

for the "convergence of diverse elements within South African

society, taking the road ahead in unity"; black, yellow, and green

are found on the flag of the African National Congress, while red,

white, and blue are the colors in the flags of the Netherlands and

the UK, whose settlers ruled South Africa during the colonial era

note: the South African flag is the only national flag to display

six colors as part of its primary design