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.
Nyasaland
NAC flag 33 Flag of the Nyasaland African Congress, which sought independence from Great Britain. Direct predecessor of the flag of Malawi. The colony was part of the nominally self-governing Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which had a rarely-used British ensign with the federation coat of arms.
Kenya
KAU flag 44 Flag of the Kenya African Union, which sought independence from Great Britain. Direct predecessor of the modern flag of Kenya. The colony also had a rarely-used British ensign with a red lion badge.
African National Congress
Tanganyika
TANU flag 55 Flag of the Tanganyika African National Union, which sought independence from Great Britain. Direct predecessor of the 1961 flag of Tanganyika, and by extension the flag of Tanzania. The colony also had a rarely-used British ensign with a giraffe badge.
Gold Coast
CPP flag 66 Flag of the Convention People's Party, which sought independence from Great Britain. Direct predecessor of the flag of Ghana. The colony also had a rarely-used British ensign with an elephant badge.
South Africa
Liberia
Congo
Somalia
Eritrea
Buganda
Swaziland
Zanzibar
Middle East and North Africa
Turkey
Tunisia
Morocco 77 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. Ships operating out of Tangier had their own ensign, which had the city's coat of arms next to the pentagram.
Morocco
Spanish merchant flag 88 Flown by merchant ships operating out of the Spanish zone in northern Morocco. The Moroccan national flag was flown on land.
Algeria 99 Flown by nationalists and indepenence activists. The French colony in Algeria did not have an official flag.
Libya
Egypt
national flag 1010 Flown for all purposes.
Egypt
liberation flag 1111 Often flown alongside the national flag.
Palestine
Jordan
Iraq
Syria
Iran
state flag 1212 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 1313 Allowed to be flown by anyone. At sea, the ratio was 1:3.
Israel
Lebanon
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait 1414 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
Fujairah
Muscat and Oman
Ras al-Khaimah · Sharjah
Abu Dhabi · Dubai · Ajman · Umm al-Quwain
Bahrain
Qatar
Qu'aiti State
Kurdistan
Assyrians
Druze
Western Europe
France
Italy
Ireland
Andorra
Belgium
East Germany · West Germany
Netherlands
Luxembourg
Austria
national flag 1515 Flown by private citizens and municipalities.
Austria
federal service flag 1616 Flown by the federal government and the armed forces.
Spain
Switzerland
Denmark
national flag 1717 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Denmark
sovereign flag 1818 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 1919 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Norway
state flag 2020 Flown only on state-owned buildings and naval ships.
Iceland
national flag 2121 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Iceland
state flag 2222 Flown on government buildings and coast guard ships.
Åland
Sweden 2323 Flown for all purposes. A three-tailed version of the national flag is flown by the military.
Finland
national flag 2424 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Finland
state flag 2525 Flown by the government, border guard, and public universities. The armed forces fly a version with a swallowtail cut.
Faroe Islands
Greece
land flag 2626 Flown on land within Greece. The military flag had a crown in the centre of the cross.
Greece
sea flag 2727 Flown at sea and abroad. The naval ensign had a crown in the centre of the cross.
United Kingdom
England · Guernsey
Northern Ireland 2828 Flown by the government, sporting teams and by some private citizens. More or less exclusively a unionist symbol.
Scotland
Jersey
Wales
San Marino
Liechtenstein
Monaco
national flag 2929 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Monaco
princely flag 3030 Flown over the Prince's Palace and government buildings.
Vatican City
Malta
traditional flag 3131 Flown 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.
Portugal
Saarland
Basque Country
Isle of Man
Catalonia
senyera 3232 The traditional Catalan flag.
Catalonia
estelada 3333 The flag preferred by supporters of Catalan independence.
Brittany
Cornwall
Galicia
Corsica
Flanders
Wallonia
Eastern Europe
Soviet Union
Albania
Czechoslovakia
Poland
Yugoslavia
Hungary
Bulgaria
Estonia 3434 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Estonian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation.
Lithuania 3535 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Lithuanian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation.
Latvia 3636 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
Pakistan
Afghanistan
Nepal
Bhutan 3838 There was apparently only a single physical version of this flag ever made.
Sikkim
Ceylon
Maldive Islands
Jammu and Kashmir 3939 Flown in the Indian-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir.
Azad Kashmir 4040 Flown in the Pakistan-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir.
East, Central and Southeast Asia
Japan
South Korea
North Korea
China
North Vietnam
South Vietnam
Tibet
Mongolia
Taiwan 4141 The flag of the Republic of China, the government of Taiwan. Banned on the mainland, as the People's Republic of China claimed sovereignty over the island. Regarded as the flag of China at the United Nations.
Burma
Laos
Laos
Pathet Lao flag 4242 Flown by the communist Pathet Lao government-in-exile in Hanoi.
Thailand
Cambodia
Philippines
Malaya
Indonesia
Brunei
Sarawak 4343 Sarawak also had a blue colonial ensign.
Shan
Karen 4444 Flown by Karen nationalists seeking independence and separation from Burma.
East Turkestan 4545 The national flag of the Uyghur people, banned within the People's Republic of China. Xinjiang Province did not have an official flag.
Oceania
Australia
New Zealand
Hawaiʻi
Western Samoa
Tonga
Wallis and Futuna
Guam
North America and the Caribbean
United States
Canada 4646 Not legally the national flag, but allowed to be flown wherever a "distinctive Canadian flag" was needed.
Québec
Alaska
Texas
Acadia
Belize
Virgin Islands (U.S.)
California
Mi’kmaq
Métis
Papago
Garifuna
Latin America
Brazil
Mexico
Peru
national ensign 4747 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 4848 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Guatemala
Argentina
Honduras
Nicaragua
El Salvador
national flag 4949 The most common flag, flown over most government buildings, at ceremonies, by diplomatic missions and often by public citizens.
El Salvador
inscribed flag 5050 An alternative government flag, most commonly flown by the armed forces but also on some public buildings and offices.
El Salvador
plain flag 5151 The simplest version of the national flag, flown by some private citizens.
Paraguay
front side
Paraguay
back side
Costa Rica
national flag 5252 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 5353 Flown by the government and by diplomatic missions, although also used sometimes by private citizens.
Puerto Rico
Cuba
Uruguay
national flag 5454 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Uruguay
flag of Artigas 5555 A traditional military emblem, ceremonially flown alongside the national flag at government buildings.
Uruguay
flag of the Treinta y Tres 5656 A historic flag, ceremonially flown alongside the national flag at government buildings.
Haiti
Dominican Republic
Chile
Panama
Venezuela
national ensign 5757 Flown by the government and armed forces, and unofficially used by many private citizens.
Venezuela
national flag 5858 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Colombia
Ecuador
Bolivia
state flag 5959 Flown by the governmnent. The armed forces flew a similar flag with olive and laurel branches around the coat of arms.
Bolivia
national flag 6060 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Other International and Cultural Flags
United Nations
Buddhist Flag
Romani
Pan-African Flag
Esperanto
Red Cross
Red Crescent
Red Lion and Sun
Olympic Games
Events of 1954
INDOCHINA • The July 21 Geneva Accords formalized the division between North and South Vietnam. The South left the French Union and became a fully sovereign state.
The ceasefire in Cambodia went into effect on August 7, and in October the remaining Khmer Issarak withdrew to North Vietnam.
SOMALIA • The Somali flag was unveiled on October 12.
SWAZILAND • A political organization in Swaziland adopted the flag of Swazi Pioneer Corps (designed in 1941) as a national flag.
TANGANYIKA • The Tanganyika African National Union was established in July. Its tricolour flag became the basis for the Tanganyikan flag when the country became independent in 1961.
TRIESTE • The Free Territory of Trieste was effectively divided between Italy and Yugoslavia on October 5. The border was formally established in the 1975 Treaty of Osimo.
VENEZUELA • There was a minor change to the inscription on the coat of arms on February 19.
Notes
1 Often (but not always) flown by the royal house and the government. ↩
2 Flown by anyone. ↩
3 Flag of the Nyasaland African Congress, which sought independence from Great Britain. Direct predecessor of the flag of Malawi. The colony was part of the nominally self-governing Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which had a rarely-used British ensign with the federation coat of arms. ↩
4 Flag of the Kenya African Union, which sought independence from Great Britain. Direct predecessor of the modern flag of Kenya. The colony also had a rarely-used British ensign with a red lion badge. ↩
5 Flag of the Tanganyika African National Union, which sought independence from Great Britain. Direct predecessor of the 1961 flag of Tanganyika, and by extension the flag of Tanzania. The colony also had a rarely-used British ensign with a giraffe badge. ↩
6 Flag of the Convention People's Party, which sought independence from Great Britain. Direct predecessor of the flag of Ghana. The colony also had a rarely-used British ensign with an elephant badge. ↩
7 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. Ships operating out of Tangier had their own ensign, which had the city's coat of arms next to the pentagram. ↩
8 Flown by merchant ships operating out of the Spanish zone in northern Morocco. The Moroccan national flag was flown on land. ↩
9 Flown by nationalists and indepenence activists. The French colony in Algeria did not have an official flag. ↩
10 Flown for all purposes. ↩
11 Often flown alongside the national flag. ↩
12 Flown by the government, and often by private citizens. At sea, and in certain ceremonial settings on land, the ratio was 1:3. ↩
13 Allowed to be flown by anyone. At sea, the ratio was 1:3. ↩
14 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. ↩
15 Flown by private citizens and municipalities. ↩
16 Flown by the federal government and the armed forces. ↩
17 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
18 Flown by the royal house, the government, and the armed forces. Also granted to a select list of private institutions and companies. ↩
19 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
20 Flown only on state-owned buildings and naval ships. ↩
21 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
22 Flown on government buildings and coast guard ships. ↩
23 Flown for all purposes. A three-tailed version of the national flag is flown by the military. ↩
24 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
25 Flown by the government, border guard, and public universities. The armed forces fly a version with a swallowtail cut. ↩
26 Flown on land within Greece. The military flag had a crown in the centre of the cross. ↩
27 Flown at sea and abroad. The naval ensign had a crown in the centre of the cross. ↩
28 Flown by the government, sporting teams and by some private citizens. More or less exclusively a unionist symbol. ↩
29 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
30 Flown over the Prince's Palace and government buildings. ↩
31 Flown 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. ↩
32 The traditional Catalan flag. ↩
33 The flag preferred by supporters of Catalan independence. ↩
34 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Estonian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩
35 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Lithuanian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩
36 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Latvian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩
37 Banned within the People's Republic of China. The "Tibet Area" did not have an official flag. ↩
38 There was apparently only a single physical version of this flag ever made. ↩
39 Flown in the Indian-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir. ↩
40 Flown in the Pakistan-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir. ↩
41 The flag of the Republic of China, the government of Taiwan. Banned on the mainland, as the People's Republic of China claimed sovereignty over the island. Regarded as the flag of China at the United Nations. ↩
42 Flown by the communist Pathet Lao government-in-exile in Hanoi. ↩
43 Sarawak also had a blue colonial ensign. ↩
44 Flown by Karen nationalists seeking independence and separation from Burma. ↩
45 The national flag of the Uyghur people, banned within the People's Republic of China. Xinjiang Province did not have an official flag. ↩
46 Not legally the national flag, but allowed to be flown wherever a "distinctive Canadian flag" was needed. ↩
47 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. ↩
48 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
49 The most common flag, flown over most government buildings, at ceremonies, by diplomatic missions and often by public citizens. ↩
50 An alternative government flag, most commonly flown by the armed forces but also on some public buildings and offices. ↩
51 The simplest version of the national flag, flown by some private citizens. ↩
52 The most common Costa Rican flag. Officially designated for private citizens, but in practice often used on government buildings and schools too. ↩
53 Flown by the government and by diplomatic missions, although also used sometimes by private citizens. ↩
54 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
55 A traditional military emblem, ceremonially flown alongside the national flag at government buildings. ↩
56 A historic flag, ceremonially flown alongside the national flag at government buildings. ↩
57 Flown by the government and armed forces, and unofficially used by many private citizens. ↩
58 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
59 Flown by the governmnent. The armed forces flew a similar flag with olive and laurel branches around the coat of arms. ↩
60 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩