1947 - World Flag Chart

Sub-Saharan Africa
◀︎ ▶︎

Ethiopia

royal flag ^{1¹ Often (but not always) flown by the royal house and the government.}

Ethiopia

national flag ^{2² Flown by anyone.}

African National Congress

orange-white-blue, a cross made up of the Union Jack, Orange Free State, and Transvaal flags

South Africa

11 red-white stripes, blue canton, white star

Liberia

Congo

Buganda

Zanzibar

Middle East and North Africa
◀︎ ▶︎

Turkey

Tunisia

Morocco ^{3³ Moroccan merchant ships in the French zone flew what was called the "Arab ensign", the national flag with a French tricolour added to the top-left corner.}

red, green canton outlined in white, white pentagram

Morocco

Spanish merchant flag ^{4⁴ Flown by merchant ships operating out of the Spanish zone in northern Morocco. The Moroccan national flag was flown on land.}

Algeria ^{5⁵ Flown by nationalists and indepenence activists. The French colony in Algeria did not have an official flag.}

green, white crescent and three white stars

Egypt

Palestine ^{6⁶ Flown unofficially by the Arab community. Merchant ships flew a red British ensign with a badge that said "PALESTINE". The Jewish community flew the modern flag of Israel.}

black-white-green, red triangle, white 7-pointed star

Transjordan

black-white-green, red trapezoid, two white 7-pointed stars

Iraq

Syria

Lebanon

Iran

state flag ^{7⁷ Flown by the government, and often by private citizens. At sea, and in certain ceremonial settings on land, the ratio was 1:3.}

Iran

national flag ^{8⁸ Allowed to be flown by anyone. At sea, the ratio was 1:3.}

Saudi Arabia

Kuwait ^{9⁹ There were many variations of this flag, depending on who was flying it and when. Some versions would have added inscriptions, decorations or royal symbols. The flag could also be triangular.}

Yemen

Muscat and Oman

Bahrain ^{10¹⁰ The number of points could vary.}

maroon, ornate serrated white stripe, white Arabic word

Qatar ^{11¹¹ The design of the flag wasn't laid down in law, and this may have been one of many variations in use at the time.}

Abu Dhabi · Dubai · Ajman · Umm al-Quwain

Ras al-Khaimah · Sharjah · Kalba

white, two thin blue stripes, blue star of David

Eretz-Israel ^{12¹² Flown by the Jewish community in the British mandate of Palestine. Direct ancestor of the flag of Israel.}

red-yellow-blue, three blue-green-blue circles, three gray towers

Qu'aiti State

Kurdistan

purple-white-red, triangle of three white stars in the top-left

Assyrians

Druze

Western Europe
◀︎ ▶︎

France

Italy

Ireland

Andorra

Belgium

Netherlands

Luxembourg

Austria

national flag ^{13¹³ Flown by private citizens and municipalities.}

Austria

federal service flag ^{14¹⁴ Flown by the federal government and the armed forces.}

Spain

Denmark

national flag ^{15¹⁵ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

red, white nordic cross, swallowtail cut

Denmark

sovereign flag ^{16¹⁶ Flown by the royal house, the government, and the armed forces. Also granted to a select list of private institutions and companies.}

Norway

merchant flag ^{17¹⁷ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

red, white-blue nordic cross, swallowtail cut

Norway

state flag ^{18¹⁸ Flown only on state-owned buildings and naval ships.}

Iceland

national flag ^{19¹⁹ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

blue, white-red nordic cross, swallowtail cut

Iceland

state flag ^{20²⁰ Flown on government buildings and coast guard ships.}

Sweden ^{21²¹ Flown for all purposes. A three-tailed version of the national flag is flown by the military.}

Finland

national flag ^{22²² Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

Finland

state flag ^{23²³ Flown by the government, border guard, and public universities. The armed forces fly a version with a swallowtail cut.}

Faroe Islands

Greece

land flag ^{24²⁴ Flown on land within Greece. The military flag had a crown in the centre of the cross.}

9 blue-white stripes, blue canton containing a white cross

Greece

sea flag ^{25²⁵ Flown at sea and abroad. The naval ensign had a crown in the centre of the cross.}

blue, red-white pinwheel saltire outlined in white, red cross outlined in white

United Kingdom

England · Guernsey

Scotland

Jersey

Switzerland

San Marino

Liechtenstein

Monaco

national flag ^{26²⁶ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

Monaco

princely flag ^{27²⁷ Flown over the Prince's Palace and government buildings.}

Vatican City

Malta

traditional flag ^{28²⁸ Flown unofficially, mostly by civilian ships. Plain flags without the George Cross were also common. The colonial government had a blue ensign with the Maltese coat of arms on it.}

red, thick green stripe, yellow armillary sphere, coat of arms

Portugal

red, white nordic cross, blue quadrants on the left

Saarland

Basque Country

Isle of Man

Trieste

Catalonia

senyera ^{29²⁹ The traditional Catalan flag.}

9 red-yellow stripes, blue triangle, white star

Catalonia

estelada ^{30³⁰ The flag preferred by supporters of Catalan independence.}

9 black-white stripes, white canton, 11 ermine spots

Brittany

Cornwall

Åland

blue-white-red-white-blue, swallowtail cut

Germany

provisional civil ensign ^{31³¹ Flown by German ships, but explicitly not as a national flag, and not given any of the ceremonial respect typically given to national flags. Not used on land. Known as the "C-Pennant" since it was derived for the maritime signal flag for the letter C.}

Galicia

Corsica

Wales

Flanders

Wallonia

Eastern Europe
◀︎ ▶︎

Soviet Union

red, black two-headed eagle, yellow hollow star

Albania

Czechoslovakia

Poland

blue-white-red, red star outlined in yellow

Yugoslavia

Hungary

Bulgaria

Estonia ^{32³² Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Estonian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation.}

Lithuania ^{33³³ Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Lithuanian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation.}

Latvia ^{34³⁴ Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Latvian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation.}

Romania

South Asia and the Indian Ocean
◀︎ ▶︎

India

green, thick white stripe, white crescent and star

Pakistan

Afghanistan

orange, two sets of green-white-green-green-white stripes, coat of arms, Urdu inscriptions

Hyderabad

red double-tailed pennant outlined in blue, white moon, white sun

Nepal

white, yellow wheel surrounded by colourful decorations, ornate border

Sikkim

maroon, yellow outline, yellow lion, four yellow leaves

Sinhalese Flag ^{35³⁵ Flown by Sinhalese nationalists in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. There was also an infrequently-used blue British colonial ensign with an elephant badge.}

red, black-white barberpole-striped edge, green rectangle, white crescent

Maldive Islands

Jammu and Kashmir ^{36³⁶ Flown in the Indian-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir.}

green, four white stripes, orange canton, white crescent and star

Azad Kashmir ^{37³⁷ Flown in the Pakistan-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir.}

East, Central and Southeast Asia
◀︎ ▶︎

Japan ^{38³⁸ Flown over the Imperial Palace and a handful of other government buildings. Private citizens could not fly the flag without permission.}

white, red-blue taeguk, four black trigrams

Korea

China

Burma

Vietnam

white triangle, 12-red-blue wedges, yellow sun, two snow lions, yellow border

Tibet

red-blue-red, yellow soyombo, yellow star

Mongolia

Cambodia

red, three white elephants under an umbrella

Laos

Laos

Lao Issara flag ^{39³⁹ Flown by the nationalist Lao Issara government-in-exile in Bangkok.}

Siam

blue-red, white triangle, yellow sun, three yellow stars

Philippines

Indonesia

white-yellow-red-black, white oval, tiger

Malaya

Brunei

yellow, vertically divided black-red cross, yellow crown

Sarawak ^{40⁴⁰ Sarawak also had a blue colonial ensign.}

Shan

red-white-blue, thick blue stripe, red sunburst and yellow drum

Karen ^{41⁴¹ Flown by Karen nationalists seeking independence and separation from Burma.}

East Turkestan ^{42⁴² The Uyghur nationalist flag. Xinjiang Province did not have an official flag.}

Oceania
◀︎ ▶︎

blue British ensign, white 7-pointed star and southern cross

Australia

blue British ensign, red southern cross outlined in white

New Zealand

white-red-blue-white-red-blue-white-red, union jack

Hawaiʻi

Tonga

red, white maltese cross, French flag outlined in white

Wallis and Futuna

Guam

North America and the Caribbean
◀︎ ▶︎

13 red-white stripes, blue canton, 48 white stars

United States

Canada ^{43⁴³ Not legally the national flag, but allowed to be flown wherever a "distinctive Canadian flag" was needed.}

Alaska

white-red, thick blue stripe, white star

Texas

Acadia

blue, white cross, four white fleurs-de-lis, sacred heart

Québec

white, American eagle flanked on either side by the blue letters

Virgin Islands (U.S.)

California

white, red offset cross, red star, red crescent

Mi’kmaq

Métis

yellow-purple, staff with 11 feathers dangling from it

Papago

Garifuna

Latin America
◀︎ ▶︎

green, yellow diamond, blue and white celestial sphere

Brazil

Mexico

Peru

national ensign ^{44⁴⁴ Flown by the government, the navy, the national police, and national sports teams. Raised at major ceremonies. The army uses a similar flag with a different coat of arms.}

Peru

national flag ^{45⁴⁵ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

Guatemala

Argentina

Nicaragua

El Salvador

national flag ^{46⁴⁶ The most common flag, flown over most government buildings, at ceremonies, by diplomatic missions and often by public citizens.}

El Salvador

inscribed flag ^{47⁴⁷ An alternative government flag, most commonly flown by the armed forces but also on some public buildings and offices.}

El Salvador

plain flag ^{48⁴⁸ The simplest version of the national flag, flown by some private citizens.}

Honduras

Paraguay

front side

Paraguay

back side

Costa Rica

national flag ^{49⁴⁹ The most common Costa Rican flag. Officially designated for private citizens, but in practice often used on government buildings and schools too.}

Costa Rica

national ensign ^{50⁵⁰ Flown by the government and by diplomatic missions, although also used sometimes by private citizens.}

5 red-white stripes, blue triangle, white star

Puerto Rico ^{51⁵¹ Flown by Puerto Rican nationalists. Display of the flag was initially banned under American rule.}

5 blue-white stripes, red triangle, white star

Cuba

9 white-blue stripes, white canton, yellow sun

Uruguay

blue-red, white square containing a coat of arms

Haiti

blue-red quarters, white cross, coat of arms

Dominican Republic

Chile

white-red-white-blue quarters, blue star, red star

Panama

Colombia

Ecuador

yellow-blue-red, arc of 7 white stars, coat of arms

Venezuela

national ensign ^{52⁵² Flown by the government and armed forces, and unofficially used by many private citizens.}

Venezuela

national flag ^{53⁵³ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

Bolivia

state flag ^{54⁵⁴ Flown by the governmnent. The armed forces flew a similar flag with olive and laurel branches around the coat of arms.}

Bolivia

national flag ^{55⁵⁵ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

Other International and Cultural Flags
◀︎ ▶︎

blue, white map of the world, white wreath

United Nations

blue-yellow-red-white-orange-multicolour

Buddhist Flag

Romani

Pan-African Flag

Esperanto

Red Cross

Red Crescent

Red Lion and Sun

Olympic Games

Events of 1947
◀︎ ▶︎

BULGARIA • An emblem was added to the national flag on December 4.

BURMA • A new flag, based on the flag of the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League, was adopted on September 24.

The Shan national flag was adopted on February 7. On February 12 the Panglong Agreement was signed, envisioning the creation of a unitary autonomous Shan State within an independent Burma.

LAOS • The Royal Government adopted a new flag on May 11.

SAARLAND • The French-administered Saar Protectorate was established in occupied Germany on December 15.

SOUTH ASIA • British India was partitioned into the independent states of India and Pakistan on August 15. The Indian flag — which was based on that of the Indian National Congress — had been adopted on July 22. The Pakistani flag — based on that of the Muslim League — had been adopted on August 11.

The Nizam of Hyderabad, who was at the time the richest man in the world, refused to accede to India and declared his state independent instead. His attempted separation would come to an end just over a year later.

The tiny Kingdom of Sikkim, which was technically outside of the British Raj, became a protectorate of India. It would not be annexed until 1975.

Pakistan invaded the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir on October 22. The area it occupied was constituted as Azad Kashmir under a green and white flag on October 24. The remainder of the state hastily aceded to India on October 26 in exchange for military assistance, and continued flying the red plough flag.

The rest of the 565 princely states on the subcontinent ended up acceding to one of the two new countries. The Indian states were more or less fully integrated by 1950, and their state flags were abandonded. The princely states within Pakistan held on for a few more years until being abolished by administrative reforms in the 1950s. Within a few short years, one of the world's major flag design traditions was extinguished. Today, Nepal is the only country keeping alive the swallowtail flag pattern that was once common throughout South Asia.

(Below, from left to right: The flags of Ajaigarh, Alirajpur, Alwar, Bahawalpur, Banswara, Baoni, Baroda, Barwani, Benares, Bharatpur, Bhavnagar, Bhopal, Bikaner, Bilaspur, Bundi, Cambay, Charkhari, Chhatarpur, Cooch Behar, Dewas, Dhar, Dholpur, Dhrangadhra, Dungarpur, Faridkot, Garhwal, Gwalior, Idar, Indore, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Janjira, Jaora, Jhabua, Jhalawar, Jodhpur, Kalat, Kapurthala, Karauli, Khairpur, Kishangarh, Kochin, Kolhapur, Kota, Kutch, Mandi, Manipur, Mewar, Mysore, Nabha, Orchha, Panna, Patiala, Porbandar, Pratapgarh, Pudukkottai, Rajgarh, Rajpipla, Rampur, Ratlam, Rewa, Sailana, Sirohi, Sitamau, Suket, Tonk, Travancore, Tripura, and Wankaner.)

TRIESTE • A nominal Free Territory around the city of Trieste was established under UN auspicies on September 15. The white halberd, a traditional symbol of the city, was used as the territorial flag.

Notes

¹ Often (but not always) flown by the royal house and the government. ↩

² Flown by anyone. ↩

³ Moroccan merchant ships in the French zone flew what was called the "Arab ensign", the national flag with a French tricolour added to the top-left corner. ↩

⁴ Flown by merchant ships operating out of the Spanish zone in northern Morocco. The Moroccan national flag was flown on land. ↩

⁵ Flown by nationalists and indepenence activists. The French colony in Algeria did not have an official flag. ↩

⁶ Flown unofficially by the Arab community. Merchant ships flew a red British ensign with a badge that said "PALESTINE". The Jewish community flew the modern flag of Israel. ↩

⁷ Flown by the government, and often by private citizens. At sea, and in certain ceremonial settings on land, the ratio was 1:3. ↩

⁸ Allowed to be flown by anyone. At sea, the ratio was 1:3. ↩

⁹ There were many variations of this flag, depending on who was flying it and when. Some versions would have added inscriptions, decorations or royal symbols. The flag could also be triangular. ↩

¹⁰ The number of points could vary. ↩

¹¹ The design of the flag wasn't laid down in law, and this may have been one of many variations in use at the time. ↩

¹² Flown by the Jewish community in the British mandate of Palestine. Direct ancestor of the flag of Israel. ↩

¹³ Flown by private citizens and municipalities. ↩

¹⁴ Flown by the federal government and the armed forces. ↩

¹⁵ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

¹⁶ Flown by the royal house, the government, and the armed forces. Also granted to a select list of private institutions and companies. ↩

¹⁷ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

¹⁸ Flown only on state-owned buildings and naval ships. ↩

¹⁹ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

²⁰ Flown on government buildings and coast guard ships. ↩

²¹ Flown for all purposes. A three-tailed version of the national flag is flown by the military. ↩

²² Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

²³ Flown by the government, border guard, and public universities. The armed forces fly a version with a swallowtail cut. ↩

²⁴ Flown on land within Greece. The military flag had a crown in the centre of the cross. ↩

²⁵ Flown at sea and abroad. The naval ensign had a crown in the centre of the cross. ↩

²⁶ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

²⁷ Flown over the Prince's Palace and government buildings. ↩

²⁸ Flown unofficially, mostly by civilian ships. Plain flags without the George Cross were also common. The colonial government had a blue ensign with the Maltese coat of arms on it. ↩

²⁹ The traditional Catalan flag. ↩

³⁰ The flag preferred by supporters of Catalan independence. ↩

³¹ Flown by German ships, but explicitly not as a national flag, and not given any of the ceremonial respect typically given to national flags. Not used on land. Known as the "C-Pennant" since it was derived for the maritime signal flag for the letter C. ↩

³² Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Estonian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩

³³ Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Lithuanian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩

³⁴ Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Latvian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩

³⁵ Flown by Sinhalese nationalists in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. There was also an infrequently-used blue British colonial ensign with an elephant badge. ↩

³⁶ Flown in the Indian-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir. ↩

³⁷ Flown in the Pakistan-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir. ↩

³⁸ Flown over the Imperial Palace and a handful of other government buildings. Private citizens could not fly the flag without permission. ↩

³⁹ Flown by the nationalist Lao Issara government-in-exile in Bangkok. ↩

⁴⁰ Sarawak also had a blue colonial ensign. ↩

⁴¹ Flown by Karen nationalists seeking independence and separation from Burma. ↩

⁴² The Uyghur nationalist flag. Xinjiang Province did not have an official flag. ↩

⁴³ Not legally the national flag, but allowed to be flown wherever a "distinctive Canadian flag" was needed. ↩

⁴⁴ Flown by the government, the navy, the national police, and national sports teams. Raised at major ceremonies. The army uses a similar flag with a different coat of arms. ↩

⁴⁵ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

⁴⁶ The most common flag, flown over most government buildings, at ceremonies, by diplomatic missions and often by public citizens. ↩

⁴⁷ An alternative government flag, most commonly flown by the armed forces but also on some public buildings and offices. ↩

⁴⁸ The simplest version of the national flag, flown by some private citizens. ↩

⁴⁹ The most common Costa Rican flag. Officially designated for private citizens, but in practice often used on government buildings and schools too. ↩

⁵⁰ Flown by the government and by diplomatic missions, although also used sometimes by private citizens. ↩

⁵¹ Flown by Puerto Rican nationalists. Display of the flag was initially banned under American rule. ↩

⁵² Flown by the government and armed forces, and unofficially used by many private citizens. ↩

⁵³ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

⁵⁴ Flown by the governmnent. The armed forces flew a similar flag with olive and laurel branches around the coat of arms. ↩

⁵⁵ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

The World Flag Chart

◀︎ Flags of 1947 ▶︎

Sub-Saharan Africa
◀︎ ▶︎

Middle East and North Africa
◀︎ ▶︎

Western Europe
◀︎ ▶︎

Eastern Europe
◀︎ ▶︎

South Asia and the Indian Ocean
◀︎ ▶︎

East, Central and Southeast Asia
◀︎ ▶︎

Oceania
◀︎ ▶︎

North America and the Caribbean
◀︎ ▶︎

Latin America
◀︎ ▶︎

Other International and Cultural Flags
◀︎ ▶︎

Events of 1947
◀︎ ▶︎

Notes

Events of 1947◀︎ ▶︎

Notes

Events of 1947
◀︎ ▶︎