Sub-Saharan Africa
Ethiopia
Ghana
Rwanda
Guinea
Mali
Senegal
Cameroon
Chad
Nigeria
Côte d'Ivoire
Niger
Sierra Leone
Gabon
Guinea-Bissau
Cape Verde
Madagascar
Burkina Faso
Angola
Congo
Malawi
Kenya
African National Congress
Mozambique
Tanzania
Benin
Zambia
Zaire
São Tomé and Príncipe
Zimbabwe
Uganda
Togo
Liberia
Burundi
Equatorial Guinea
Lesotho
The Gambia
Botswana
Swaziland
Namibia
SWAPO flag 11 Flag of the South West Africa People's Organisation, which sought independence from South Africa. Direct predecessor of the flag of Namibia. The territorial government did not have an official flag.
Central African Republic
South Africa
Somalia
Djibouti
Eritrea
EPLF flag 22 Flag of the Eritrean Liberation Front, which sought independence from Ethiopia. Direct predecessor of the modern flag. The provincial government did not have an official flag.
Southern Sudan
SPLM flag 33 Flag of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, which sought independence for the southern part of Sudan. Direct predecessor of the modern flag. The region did not have an official flag within Sudan.
Oromia
OLF flag 44 Flag of the Oromo Liberation Front, a nationalist liberation movement within Ethiopia. Oromia did not have an official flag within Ethiopia at this time.
Tigray
TPLF flag 55 Flag of the Tigray People's Liberation Front, a nationalist liberation movement within Ethiopia. Direct predecessor of the modern regional flag. Tigray did not have an official flag within Ethiopia at this time.
Middle East and North Africa
Turkey
Tunisia
Morocco
Algeria
Mauritania
Libya
Palestine
Jordan
Western Sahara
Polisario flag 66 Flown by the Polisario Front and the unrecognized Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, which claims to be the rightful government of the disputed Western Sahara. Most of the territory is occupied by Morocco.
United Arab Emirates
Kuwait
Egypt
Sudan
Iraq
Syria
North Yemen
South Yemen
Israel
Cyprus
Northern Cyprus
Lebanon
Iran
Oman
Bahrain
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Kurdistan
Druze
Assyrians
Western Europe
France
Italy
Ireland
Andorra
Belgium
Netherlands
Luxembourg
Austria
national flag 77 Flown by private citizens and municipalities.
Austria
federal service flag 88 Flown by the federal government and the armed forces.
Spain
West Germany
East Germany
Switzerland
Denmark
national flag 99 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Denmark
sovereign flag 1010 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 1111 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Norway
state flag 1212 Flown only on state-owned buildings and naval ships.
Faroe Islands
Iceland
national flag 1313 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Iceland
state flag 1414 Flown on government buildings and coast guard ships.
Åland
Sweden 1515 Flown for all purposes. A three-tailed version of the national flag is flown by the military.
Finland
national flag 1616 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Finland
state flag 1717 Flown by the government, border guard, and public universities. The armed forces fly a version with a swallowtail cut.
Greece
United Kingdom
England
Guernsey
Northern Ireland
Ulster banner 1818 Northen Ireland has not had an official flag since 1973, but the Ulster Banner is still flown by some sporting teams and private citizens. More or less exclusively a unionist symbol. Nationalists tend to fly the Irish tricolour instead.
Scotland
Wales
San Marino
Liechtenstein
Monaco
national flag 1919 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Monaco
princely flag 2020 Flown over the Prince's Palace and government buildings.
Gibraltar
Vatican City
Malta
Portugal
Azores
Madeira
Canary Islands
Galicia
Jersey
Catalonia
senyera 2121 The traditional Catalan flag, and the official flag of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia.
Catalonia
estelada 2222 The flag preferred by supporters of Catalan independence.
Brittany
Cornwall
Corsica
Flanders
Wallonia
Isle of Man
Basque Country
Sápmi
Eastern Europe
Soviet Union 2323 The hammer and sickle was only on the front side of the flag.
Albania
Czechoslovakia
Poland
state flag 2424 Flown over the Presidential Palace, parliament, provincial legislatures, and other government buildings. Private use strictly banned.
Poland
coat of arms flag 2525 Flown by embassies, airports, and merchant ships. Private use strictly banned.
Yugoslavia
Hungary
Bulgaria
Estonia 2626 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Estonian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation.
Lithuania
Latvia 2727 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
Bangladesh
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
mujahideen flag 2929 Flag of the Afghan Interim Government in Pakistan, flown by mujahideen fighters within the country.
Nepal
Bhutan
Sri Lanka
Maldives
Comoros
Seychelles
Mauritius
Mayotte 3030 Flown by the departmental council and used as a local flag.
Chagos Islands 3131 Flown by the Chagossians, who were forcibly removed from the islands by the British to make way for a military base.
Jammu and Kashmir 3232 Flown in the Indian-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir.
Azad Kashmir 3333 Flown in the Pakistan-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir.
Balochistan 3434 Flown by Baloch nationalists seeking independence from Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. The star is sometimes flipped upside down or replaced by a white sun. The provincial government of Balochistan in Pakistan flies a green flag with a white camel emblem.
Nagaland 3535 Flown by nationalists and separatists. The Indian state of Nagaland does not have an official flag.
Kannada 3636 The popular but unofficial flag of the Kannada people. The Indian state of Karnataka does not have an official flag.
East, Central and Southeast Asia
Japan
South Korea
North Korea
Vietnam
China
Tibet
Mongolia
Taiwan 3737 The flag of the Republic of China, which is the government of Taiwan. Banned on the mainland, as the People's Republic of China claims sovereignty over the island. At major international sporting events like the Olympics, Taiwan competes under the name "Chinese Taipei" and flies a neutral flag.
Myanmar
Thailand
Laos
Cambodia 3838 Flown by the State of Cambodia, the partially-recognized state in control of Phnom Penh.
Cambodia
CGDK flag 3939 Flown by the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea, the Khmer Rouge-led government-in-exile which retained control of Cambodia's UN seat.
Philippines
Malaysia
Indonesia
Singapore
Brunei
Sarawak
East Timor 4040 Flown by nationalists seeking the indpenedence of Timor-Leste. Under Indonesian occupation, flying the flag was illegal. The rarely-used official flag of "Timor Timur" was orange with the provincial seal in the middle.
Shan
Rohingya
Karen 4141 Flown by Karen nationalists seeking independence and separation from Myanmar. Kayin State has its own flag, a blue-white-red tricolour with a white star in the top left.
Sabah
East Turkestan 4242 The national flag of the Uyghur people, banned within the People's Republic of China. Xinjiang Region does not have an official flag.
Ainu
Oceania
Papua New Guinea
Aboriginal Australians
Vanuatu
Kanaky-New Caledonia
FLNKS flag 4343 Flag of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front, which sought the independence from France.
Solomon Islands
Australia
Aotearoa New Zealand
Cook Islands
Fiji
Tuvalu
Niue
Marshall Islands
Nauru
Micronesia
Palau
Kiribati
Hawaiʻi
Western Samoa
Tonga
Wallis and Futuna
Maohi Nui
Rapa Nui
Northern Mariana Islands
Guam
American Samoa
Norfolk Island
Christmas Island
Bougainville
North America
Canada
Greenland
United States
Bermuda
Saint Pierre and Miquelon 4444 A popular but unofficial local flag.
Québec
Newfoundland
California
Alaska
Texas
Acadia
Mi’kmaq
Métis
Northern Cheyenne
Choctaw
Cherokee
Oglala Lakota
Haida
Arapaho
Blackfeet
Seminole
Navajo
Tohono O’odham
Innu
The Caribbean
Jamaica
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Trinidad and Tobago
Antigua and Barbuda
Guyana
Dominica
Grenada
Guyane
Suriname
Guadeloupe 4545 An unofficial flag flown by Guadeloupe nationalists. There is also a rarely used "heraldic banner" based on the coat of arms of Pointe-à-Pitre.
Martinique 4646 An unofficial flag flown by Martinican nationalists and occasionally by local municipalities.
The Bahamas
Saint Lucia
Barbados
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Bonaire
Aruba
Curaçao
Sint Maarten
Saba
Netherlands Antilles
Anguilla 4747 The unofficial but popular cultural flag of the island.
Virgin Islands (U.S.)
Belize
Garifuna
Latin America
Brazil
Mexico
Peru
national ensign 4848 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 4949 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Guatemala
Argentina
Honduras
Nicaragua
El Salvador
national flag 5050 The most common flag, flown over most government buildings, at ceremonies, by diplomatic missions and often by public citizens.
El Salvador
inscribed flag 5151 An alternative government flag, most commonly flown by the armed forces but also on some public buildings and offices.
El Salvador
plain flag 5252 The simplest version of the national flag, flown by some private citizens.
Paraguay
front side
Paraguay
back side
Costa Rica
national flag 5353 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 5454 Flown by the government and by diplomatic missions, although also used sometimes by private citizens.
Puerto Rico
Cuba
Uruguay
national flag 5555 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Uruguay
flag of Artigas 5656 A traditional military emblem, ceremonially flown alongside the national flag at government buildings.
Uruguay
flag of the Treinta y Tres 5757 A historic flag, ceremonially flown alongside the national flag at government buildings.
Haiti
Dominican Republic
Chile
Panama
Venezuela
national ensign 5858 Flown by the government and armed forces, and unofficially used by many private citizens.
Venezuela
national flag 5959 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Colombia
Ecuador
Bolivia
state flag 6060 Flown by the governmnent. The armed forces flew a similar flag with olive and laurel branches around the coat of arms.
Bolivia
national flag 6161 Allowed to be flown by anyone.
Aymara
Quechua
Misak
Other International and Cultural Flags
United Nations
Europe
Organization of African Unity
Commonwealth of Nations
La Francophonie
Buddhist Flag
Romani
Pan-African Flag
Warrior Flag
Esperanto
Red Cross
Red Crescent
Pride Flag
Olympic Games
Events of 1989
AFGHANISTAN • Mujahideen fighter Sibghatullah Mojaddedi became President of the Pakistan-based Afghan Interim Government on 24 February 1989. A golden seal depicting a mosque was added to the flag.
CAMBODIA • On May 1, the People's Republic of Kampuchea changed its name to the State of Cambodia and adopted a new flag.
CHEROKEE • On September 9, The Cherokee Nation added a black seven-pointed star, representing the people who lost their lives on the Trail of Tears, to the top right corner of its flag.
HAIDA • The Haida Nation adopted a flag sometime this year.
MYANMAR • Burma announced that the official English translation of its name was Myanmar on June 18.
ROMANIA • The communist emblem was removed from the national flag on December 27.
Notes
1 Flag of the South West Africa People's Organisation, which sought independence from South Africa. Direct predecessor of the flag of Namibia. The territorial government did not have an official flag. ↩
2 Flag of the Eritrean Liberation Front, which sought independence from Ethiopia. Direct predecessor of the modern flag. The provincial government did not have an official flag. ↩
3 Flag of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, which sought independence for the southern part of Sudan. Direct predecessor of the modern flag. The region did not have an official flag within Sudan. ↩
4 Flag of the Oromo Liberation Front, a nationalist liberation movement within Ethiopia. Oromia did not have an official flag within Ethiopia at this time. ↩
5 Flag of the Tigray People's Liberation Front, a nationalist liberation movement within Ethiopia. Direct predecessor of the modern regional flag. Tigray did not have an official flag within Ethiopia at this time. ↩
6 Flown by the Polisario Front and the unrecognized Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, which claims to be the rightful government of the disputed Western Sahara. Most of the territory is occupied by Morocco. ↩
7 Flown by private citizens and municipalities. ↩
8 Flown by the federal government and the armed forces. ↩
9 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
10 Flown by the royal house, the government, and the armed forces. Also granted to a select list of private institutions and companies. ↩
11 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
12 Flown only on state-owned buildings and naval ships. ↩
13 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
14 Flown on government buildings and coast guard ships. ↩
15 Flown for all purposes. A three-tailed version of the national flag is flown by the military. ↩
16 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
17 Flown by the government, border guard, and public universities. The armed forces fly a version with a swallowtail cut. ↩
18 Northen Ireland has not had an official flag since 1973, but the Ulster Banner is still flown by some sporting teams and private citizens. More or less exclusively a unionist symbol. Nationalists tend to fly the Irish tricolour instead. ↩
19 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
20 Flown over the Prince's Palace and government buildings. ↩
21 The traditional Catalan flag, and the official flag of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia. ↩
22 The flag preferred by supporters of Catalan independence. ↩
23 The hammer and sickle was only on the front side of the flag. ↩
24 Flown over the Presidential Palace, parliament, provincial legislatures, and other government buildings. Private use strictly banned. ↩
25 Flown by embassies, airports, and merchant ships. Private use strictly banned. ↩
26 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Estonian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩
27 Flown by the diplomatic service in exile and the Latvian disaspora. Flying the national flag was banned under the Soviet occupation. ↩
28 Banned within the People's Republic of China. The Tibet Autonomous Region does not have an official flag. ↩
29 Flag of the Afghan Interim Government in Pakistan, flown by mujahideen fighters within the country. ↩
30 Flown by the departmental council and used as a local flag. ↩
31 Flown by the Chagossians, who were forcibly removed from the islands by the British to make way for a military base. ↩
32 Flown in the Indian-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir. ↩
33 Flown in the Pakistan-controlled parts of the disputed region of Kashmir. ↩
34 Flown by Baloch nationalists seeking independence from Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. The star is sometimes flipped upside down or replaced by a white sun. The provincial government of Balochistan in Pakistan flies a green flag with a white camel emblem. ↩
35 Flown by nationalists and separatists. The Indian state of Nagaland does not have an official flag. ↩
36 The popular but unofficial flag of the Kannada people. The Indian state of Karnataka does not have an official flag. ↩
37 The flag of the Republic of China, which is the government of Taiwan. Banned on the mainland, as the People's Republic of China claims sovereignty over the island. At major international sporting events like the Olympics, Taiwan competes under the name "Chinese Taipei" and flies a neutral flag. ↩
38 Flown by the State of Cambodia, the partially-recognized state in control of Phnom Penh. ↩
39 Flown by the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea, the Khmer Rouge-led government-in-exile which retained control of Cambodia's UN seat. ↩
40 Flown by nationalists seeking the indpenedence of Timor-Leste. Under Indonesian occupation, flying the flag was illegal. The rarely-used official flag of "Timor Timur" was orange with the provincial seal in the middle. ↩
41 Flown by Karen nationalists seeking independence and separation from Myanmar. Kayin State has its own flag, a blue-white-red tricolour with a white star in the top left. ↩
42 The national flag of the Uyghur people, banned within the People's Republic of China. Xinjiang Region does not have an official flag. ↩
43 Flag of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front, which sought the independence from France. ↩
44 A popular but unofficial local flag. ↩
45 An unofficial flag flown by Guadeloupe nationalists. There is also a rarely used "heraldic banner" based on the coat of arms of Pointe-à-Pitre. ↩
46 An unofficial flag flown by Martinican nationalists and occasionally by local municipalities. ↩
47 The unofficial but popular cultural flag of the island. ↩
48 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. ↩
49 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
50 The most common flag, flown over most government buildings, at ceremonies, by diplomatic missions and often by public citizens. ↩
51 An alternative government flag, most commonly flown by the armed forces but also on some public buildings and offices. ↩
52 The simplest version of the national flag, flown by some private citizens. ↩
53 The most common Costa Rican flag. Officially designated for private citizens, but in practice often used on government buildings and schools too. ↩
54 Flown by the government and by diplomatic missions, although also used sometimes by private citizens. ↩
55 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
56 A traditional military emblem, ceremonially flown alongside the national flag at government buildings. ↩
57 A historic flag, ceremonially flown alongside the national flag at government buildings. ↩
58 Flown by the government and armed forces, and unofficially used by many private citizens. ↩
59 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩
60 Flown by the governmnent. The armed forces flew a similar flag with olive and laurel branches around the coat of arms. ↩
61 Allowed to be flown by anyone. ↩