1948 - World Flag Chart

Oceania
◀︎ ▶︎

Tonga

Western Samoa

red, white maltese cross, French flag outlined in white

Wallis and Futuna ^{1¹ The flag of the kingdom of ʻUvea, used as an unofficial symbol for the entire territory.}

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

Hawaiʻi

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

Australia

blue British ensign, red southern cross outlined in white

New Zealand

Guam

North America and the Caribbean
◀︎ ▶︎

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

United States

Canada ^{2² Not legally the national flag, but allowed to be flown wherever a "distinctive Canadian flag" was needed.}

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

Québec

Alaska

white-red, thick blue stripe, white star

Texas

Acadia

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

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 ^{3³ 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 ^{4⁴ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

Guatemala

Argentina

Nicaragua

El Salvador

national flag ^{5⁵ The most common flag, flown over most government buildings, at ceremonies, by diplomatic missions and often by public citizens.}

El Salvador

inscribed flag ^{6⁶ An alternative government flag, most commonly flown by the armed forces but also on some public buildings and offices.}

El Salvador

plain flag ^{7⁷ The simplest version of the national flag, flown by some private citizens.}

Honduras

Paraguay

front side

Paraguay

back side

Costa Rica

national flag ^{8⁸ 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 ^{9⁹ 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 ^{10¹⁰ 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 ^{11¹¹ Flown by the government and armed forces, and unofficially used by many private citizens.}

Venezuela

national flag ^{12¹² Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

Bolivia

state flag ^{13¹³ Flown by the governmnent. The armed forces flew a similar flag with olive and laurel branches around the coat of arms.}

Bolivia

national flag ^{14¹⁴ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

Middle East and North Africa
◀︎ ▶︎

Turkey

Tunisia

Morocco ^{15¹⁵ 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 ^{16¹⁶ Flown by merchant ships operating out of the Spanish zone in northern Morocco. The Moroccan national flag was flown on land.}

Algeria ^{17¹⁷ 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

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

Transjordan

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

Iraq

Syria

white, two thin blue stripes, blue star of David

Israel

Lebanon

Iran

state flag ^{18¹⁸ 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 ^{19¹⁹ Allowed to be flown by anyone. At sea, the ratio was 1:3.}

Saudi Arabia

Kuwait ^{20²⁰ 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 ^{21²¹ The number of points could vary.}

maroon, ornate serrated white stripe, white Arabic word

Qatar ^{22²² 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

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

Sub-Saharan Africa
◀︎ ▶︎

Ethiopia

royal flag ^{23²³ Often (but not always) flown by the royal house and the government.}

Ethiopia

national flag ^{24²⁴ 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

Western Europe
◀︎ ▶︎

France

Italy

Ireland

Andorra

Belgium

Netherlands

Luxembourg

Austria

national flag ^{25²⁵ Flown by private citizens and municipalities.}

Austria

federal service flag ^{26²⁶ Flown by the federal government and the armed forces.}

Spain

Denmark

national flag ^{27²⁷ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

red, white nordic cross, swallowtail cut

Denmark

sovereign flag ^{28²⁸ 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 ^{29²⁹ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

red, white-blue nordic cross, swallowtail cut

Norway

state flag ^{30³⁰ Flown only on state-owned buildings and naval ships.}

Iceland

national flag ^{31³¹ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

blue, white-red nordic cross, swallowtail cut

Iceland

state flag ^{32³² Flown on government buildings and coast guard ships.}

Sweden ^{33³³ Flown for all purposes. A three-tailed version of the national flag is flown by the military.}

Finland

national flag ^{34³⁴ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

Finland

state flag ^{35³⁵ Flown by the government, border guard, and public universities. The armed forces fly a version with a swallowtail cut.}

Faroe Islands

Greece

land flag ^{36³⁶ 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 ^{37³⁷ 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 ^{38³⁸ Allowed to be flown by anyone.}

Monaco

princely flag ^{39³⁹ Flown over the Prince's Palace and government buildings.}

Vatican City

Malta

traditional flag ^{40⁴⁰ 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 ^{41⁴¹ The traditional Catalan flag.}

9 red-yellow stripes, blue triangle, white star

Catalonia

estelada ^{42⁴² 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 ^{43⁴³ 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 ^{44⁴⁴ Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Estonian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation.}

Lithuania ^{45⁴⁵ Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Lithuanian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation.}

Latvia ^{46⁴⁶ 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

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

Ceylon

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

Maldive Islands

Jammu and Kashmir ^{47⁴⁷ Flown in the Indian-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir.}

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

Azad Kashmir ^{48⁴⁸ Flown in the Pakistan-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir.}

East, Central and Southeast Asia
◀︎ ▶︎

Japan ^{49⁴⁹ Flown over the Imperial Palace and a handful of other government buildings. Private citizens could only fly the flag on national holidays.}

white, red-blue taeguk, four black trigrams

South Korea

blue-red-blue, white outlines, white disc, red star

North Korea

China

Burma

Democratic Republic of Vietnam

State of Vietnam

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

Tibet

red-blue-red, yellow soyombo, yellow star

Mongolia

red, three white elephants under an umbrella

Laos

Laos

Lao Issara flag ^{50⁵⁰ Flown by the nationalist Lao Issara government-in-exile in Bangkok.}

Siam

Cambodia

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 ^{51⁵¹ Sarawak also had a blue colonial ensign.}

Shan

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

Karen ^{52⁵² Flown by Karen nationalists seeking independence and separation from Burma.}

East Turkestan ^{53⁵³ The Uyghur nationalist flag. Xinjiang Province did not have an official flag.}

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 1948
◀︎ ▶︎

BULGARIA • The national emblem was modified on March 30.

BURMA • Burma became independent from the United Kingdom on January 4.

CAMBODIA • A new flag design was adopted on October 29.

CEYLON • The Dominion of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) became independent from the United Kingdom on February 4. Its new national flag was based on the nineteenth-century royal standard of the Kingdom of Kandy.

GUAM • A red border was added to the territorial flag on February 9.

HYDERABAD • India invaded the state of Hyderabad. It surrendered on September 18, effectively ending its attempted independence.

ISRAEL • Israel declared independence from the British Mandate of Palestine on May 14. The flag of the Zionist movement was confirmed as the national flag on October 28.

KOREA • The Republic of Korea was declared in the South on August 15, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was declared in the North on September 9. South Korea continued flying the Taeguk flag, but North Korea adopted a new flag designed by Moscow.

QUÉBEC • The Fleurdelisé flag (without any Sacred Heart iconography) was officially adopted on January 21.

ROMANIA • Romania added an emblem to its flag on January 8. On April 13 the design of the emblem was changed.

VIETNAM • The French-controlled Provisional Central Government of Vietnam adopted a flag on June 2.

WESTERN SAMOA • Western Samoa adopted a flag on May 26.

Notes

¹ The flag of the kingdom of ʻUvea, used as an unofficial symbol for the entire territory. ↩

² Not legally the national flag, but allowed to be flown wherever a "distinctive Canadian flag" was needed. ↩

³ 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. ↩

⁴ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

⁵ The most common flag, flown over most government buildings, at ceremonies, by diplomatic missions and often by public citizens. ↩

⁶ An alternative government flag, most commonly flown by the armed forces but also on some public buildings and offices. ↩

⁷ The simplest version of the national flag, flown by some private citizens. ↩

⁸ The most common Costa Rican flag. Officially designated for private citizens, but in practice often used on government buildings and schools too. ↩

⁹ Flown by the government and by diplomatic missions, although also used sometimes by private citizens. ↩

¹⁰ Flown by Puerto Rican nationalists. Display of the flag was initially banned under American rule. ↩

¹¹ Flown by the government and armed forces, and unofficially used by many private citizens. ↩

¹² Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

¹³ Flown by the governmnent. The armed forces flew a similar flag with olive and laurel branches around the coat of arms. ↩

¹⁴ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

¹⁵ 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. ↩

¹⁶ Flown by merchant ships operating out of the Spanish zone in northern Morocco. The Moroccan national flag was flown on land. ↩

¹⁷ Flown by nationalists and indepenence activists. The French colony in Algeria did not have an official flag. ↩

¹⁸ Flown by the government, and often by private citizens. At sea, and in certain ceremonial settings on land, the ratio was 1:3. ↩

¹⁹ Allowed to be flown by anyone. At sea, the ratio was 1:3. ↩

²⁰ 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. ↩

²¹ The number of points could vary. ↩

²² 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. ↩

²³ Often (but not always) flown by the royal house and the government. ↩

²⁴ Flown by anyone. ↩

²⁵ Flown by private citizens and municipalities. ↩

²⁶ Flown by the federal government and the armed forces. ↩

²⁷ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

²⁸ Flown by the royal house, the government, and the armed forces. Also granted to a select list of private institutions and companies. ↩

²⁹ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

³⁰ Flown only on state-owned buildings and naval ships. ↩

³¹ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

³² Flown on government buildings and coast guard ships. ↩

³³ Flown for all purposes. A three-tailed version of the national flag is flown by the military. ↩

³⁴ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

³⁵ Flown by the government, border guard, and public universities. The armed forces fly a version with a swallowtail cut. ↩

³⁶ Flown on land within Greece. The military flag had a crown in the centre of the cross. ↩

³⁷ Flown at sea and abroad. The naval ensign had a crown in the centre of the cross. ↩

³⁸ Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩

³⁹ Flown over the Prince's Palace and government buildings. ↩

⁴⁰ 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. ↩

⁴¹ The traditional Catalan flag. ↩

⁴² The flag preferred by supporters of Catalan independence. ↩

⁴³ 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. ↩

⁴⁴ Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Estonian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩

⁴⁵ Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Lithuanian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩

⁴⁶ Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Latvian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩

⁴⁷ Flown in the Indian-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir. ↩

⁴⁸ Flown in the Pakistan-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir. ↩

⁴⁹ Flown over the Imperial Palace and a handful of other government buildings. Private citizens could only fly the flag on national holidays. ↩

⁵⁰ Flown by the nationalist Lao Issara government-in-exile in Bangkok. ↩

⁵¹ Sarawak also had a blue colonial ensign. ↩

⁵² Flown by Karen nationalists seeking independence and separation from Burma. ↩

⁵³ The Uyghur nationalist flag. Xinjiang Province did not have an official flag. ↩

The World Flag Chart

◀︎ Flags of 1948 ▶︎

Oceania
◀︎ ▶︎

North America and the Caribbean
◀︎ ▶︎

Latin America
◀︎ ▶︎

Middle East and North Africa
◀︎ ▶︎

Sub-Saharan Africa
◀︎ ▶︎

Western Europe
◀︎ ▶︎

Eastern Europe
◀︎ ▶︎

South Asia and the Indian Ocean
◀︎ ▶︎

East, Central and Southeast Asia
◀︎ ▶︎

Other International and Cultural Flags
◀︎ ▶︎

Events of 1948
◀︎ ▶︎

Notes

Events of 1948◀︎ ▶︎

Notes

Events of 1948
◀︎ ▶︎