Oceania

Tonga

Western Samoa

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

Hawaiʻi

Australia

New Zealand

Guam
North America and the Caribbean

United States

Canada 22 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

Arapaho

Papago

Garifuna
Latin America

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

Honduras

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.

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.

Puerto Rico

Cuba

Uruguay
national flag 1010 Allowed to be flown by anyone.

Uruguay
flag of Artigas 1111 A traditional military emblem, ceremonially flown alongside the national flag at government buildings.

Uruguay
flag of the Treinta y Tres 1212 A historic flag, ceremonially flown alongside the national flag at government buildings.

Haiti

Dominican Republic

Chile

Panama

Venezuela
national ensign 1313 Flown by the government and armed forces, and unofficially used by many private citizens.

Venezuela
national flag 1414 Allowed to be flown by anyone.

Colombia

Ecuador

Bolivia
state flag 1515 Flown by the governmnent. The armed forces flew a similar flag with olive and laurel branches around the coat of arms.

Bolivia
national flag 1616 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Middle East and North Africa

Turkey

Tunisia

Morocco

Algeria 1717 Flown by nationalists and indepenence activists. The French colony in Algeria did not have an official flag.

Libya

Egypt
national flag 1818 Flown for all purposes.

Egypt
liberation flag 1919 Often flown alongside the national flag.

Palestine

Jordan

Iraq

Syria

Israel

Lebanon

Iran
state flag 2020 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 2121 Allowed to be flown by anyone. At sea, the ratio was 1:3.

Saudi Arabia

Kuwait 2222 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

Sudan

Kathiri State

Qu'aiti State

Kurdistan

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.

Nyasaland
NAC flag 2525 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 2626 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 2727 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 2828 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
Western Europe

France

Italy

Ireland

Andorra

Belgium

East Germany · West Germany

Netherlands

Luxembourg

Austria
national flag 2929 Flown by private citizens and municipalities.

Austria
federal service flag 3030 Flown by the federal government and the armed forces.

Spain

Switzerland

Denmark
national flag 3131 Allowed to be flown by anyone.

Denmark
sovereign flag 3232 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 3333 Allowed to be flown by anyone.

Norway
state flag 3434 Flown only on state-owned buildings and naval ships.

Iceland
national flag 3535 Allowed to be flown by anyone.

Iceland
state flag 3636 Flown on government buildings and coast guard ships.

Åland

Sweden 3737 Flown for all purposes. A three-tailed version of the national flag is flown by the military.

Finland
national flag 3838 Allowed to be flown by anyone.

Finland
state flag 3939 Flown by the government, border guard, and public universities. The armed forces fly a version with a swallowtail cut.

Faroe Islands

Greece
land flag 4040 Flown on land within Greece. The military flag had a crown in the centre of the cross.

Greece
sea flag 4141 Flown at sea and abroad. The naval ensign had a crown in the centre of the cross.

United Kingdom

England · Guernsey

Northern Ireland 4242 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 4343 Allowed to be flown by anyone.

Monaco
princely flag 4444 Flown over the Prince's Palace and government buildings.

Vatican City

Malta
traditional flag 4545 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 4646 The traditional Catalan flag.

Catalonia
estelada 4747 The flag preferred by supporters of Catalan independence.

Brittany

Cornwall

Galicia

Corsica

Flanders

Wallonia
Eastern Europe

Soviet Union

Albania

Czechoslovakia

Poland
state flag 4848 Flown over the Presidential Palace, parliament, provincial legislatures, and other government buildings. Private use highly restricted.

Poland
coat of arms flag 4949 Flown by embassies, airports, and merchant ships. Private use strictly banned.

Yugoslavia

Hungary

Bulgaria

Estonia 5050 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Estonian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation.

Lithuania 5151 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Lithuanian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation.

Latvia 5252 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

Sikkim

Ceylon

Maldive Islands

Jammu and Kashmir 5454 Flown in the Indian-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir.

Azad Kashmir 5555 Flown in the Pakistan-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir.

Nagaland 5656 Flown by nationalists and separatists. The Naga Hills area did not have an official flag within India.
East, Central and Southeast Asia

Japan

South Korea

North Korea

China

North Vietnam

South Vietnam

Tibet

Mongolia

Taiwan 5757 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 5858 Flown by the communist Pathet Lao government-in-exile in Hanoi.

Thailand

Cambodia

Philippines

Malaya

Indonesia

Brunei

Sarawak 5959 Sarawak also had a blue colonial ensign.

Shan

Karen 6060 Flown by Karen nationalists seeking independence and separation from Burma.

East Turkestan 6161 The national flag of the Uyghur people, banned within the People's Republic of China. Xinjiang Region does not have an official flag.
Other International and Cultural Flags

United Nations

Europe

Buddhist Flag

Romani

Pan-African Flag

Esperanto

Red Cross

Red Crescent

Red Lion and Sun

Olympic Games
Events of 1956
ARAPAHO • The Arapaho Nation adopted a flag on June 15.

BHUTAN • For the first time, multiple copies of the Bhutanese flag were made this year. Although based on a photograph of the original, the new flags differed in the colour and orientation of the dragon.



HUNGARY • The 1946 coat of arms was restored on October 25.



MOROCCO • France terminated its protectorate on March 2, and Spain folllowed suit on April 7.




NAGALAND • The Naga flag was hoisted for the first time on March 22.

SUDAN • Sudan gained its independence from an Anglo-Egyptian condominium on January 1. Its blue-yellow-green national flag was designed to be ethnically neutral, representing the Nile, the desert, and agriculture.

TUNISIA • France terminated its protectorate on March 20.

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 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
11 A traditional military emblem, ceremonially flown alongside the national flag at government buildings. ↩
12 A historic flag, ceremonially flown alongside the national flag at government buildings. ↩
13 Flown by the government and armed forces, and unofficially used by many private citizens. ↩
14 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
15 Flown by the governmnent. The armed forces flew a similar flag with olive and laurel branches around the coat of arms. ↩
16 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
17 Flown by nationalists and indepenence activists. The French colony in Algeria did not have an official flag. ↩
18 Flown for all purposes. ↩
19 Often flown alongside the national flag. ↩
20 Flown by the government, and often by private citizens. At sea, and in certain ceremonial settings on land, the ratio was 1:3. ↩
21 Allowed to be flown by anyone. At sea, the ratio was 1:3. ↩
22 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. ↩
23 Often (but not always) flown by the royal house and the government. ↩
24 Flown by anyone. ↩
25 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. ↩
26 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. ↩
27 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. ↩
28 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. ↩
29 Flown by private citizens and municipalities. ↩
30 Flown by the federal government and the armed forces. ↩
31 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
32 Flown by the royal house, the government, and the armed forces. Also granted to a select list of private institutions and companies. ↩
33 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
34 Flown only on state-owned buildings and naval ships. ↩
35 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
36 Flown on government buildings and coast guard ships. ↩
37 Flown for all purposes. A three-tailed version of the national flag is flown by the military. ↩
38 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
39 Flown by the government, border guard, and public universities. The armed forces fly a version with a swallowtail cut. ↩
40 Flown on land within Greece. The military flag had a crown in the centre of the cross. ↩
41 Flown at sea and abroad. The naval ensign had a crown in the centre of the cross. ↩
42 Flown by the government, sporting teams and by some private citizens. More or less exclusively a unionist symbol. ↩
43 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
44 Flown over the Prince's Palace and government buildings. ↩
45 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. ↩
46 The traditional Catalan flag. ↩
47 The flag preferred by supporters of Catalan independence. ↩
48 Flown over the Presidential Palace, parliament, provincial legislatures, and other government buildings. Private use highly restricted. ↩
49 Flown by embassies, airports, and merchant ships. Private use strictly banned. ↩
50 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Estonian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩
51 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Lithuanian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩
52 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Latvian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩
53 Banned within the People's Republic of China. The "Tibet Area" did not have an official flag. ↩
54 Flown in the Indian-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir. ↩
55 Flown in the Pakistan-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir. ↩
56 Flown by nationalists and separatists. The Naga Hills area did not have an official flag within India. ↩
57 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. ↩
58 Flown by the communist Pathet Lao government-in-exile in Hanoi. ↩
59 Sarawak also had a blue colonial ensign. ↩
60 Flown by Karen nationalists seeking independence and separation from Burma. ↩
61 The national flag of the Uyghur people, banned within the People's Republic of China. Xinjiang Region does not have an official flag. ↩