Algeriatwo equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; ared, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over thetwo-color boundary; the colors represent Islam (green), purity andpeace (white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are alsoIslamic symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of otherMuslim countries because the Algerians believe the long crescenthorns bring happiness
American Samoablue, with a white triangle edged in red that isbased on the fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown andwhite American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carryingtwo traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a"Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whiskknown as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbolsbroadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects therelationship between the United States and American Samoa
Andorrathree vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red,with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; thelatter band is slightly wider than the other two so that the ratioof band widths is 8:9:8; the coat of arms features a quarteredshield with the emblems of (starting in the upper left andproceeding clockwise): Urgell, Foix, Bearn, and Catalonia; the mottoreads VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR (Strength United is Stronger); the flagcombines the blue and red French colors with the red and yellow ofSpain to show Franco-Spanish protectionnote: similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have anational coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, whichdoes bear a national emblem
Angolatwo equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with acentered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within halfa cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer andsickle); red represents liberty, black the African continent, thesymbols characterize workers and peasants
Anguillablue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-sidequadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer halfof the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in aninterlocking circular design on a white background with aturquoise-blue field below; the white in the background representspeace; the blue base symbolizes the surrounding sea, as well asfaith, youth, and hope; the three dolphins stand for endurance,unity, and strength
Antigua and Barbudared, with an inverted isosceles triangle basedon the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontalbands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow risingsun in the black band; the sun symbolizes the dawn of a new era,black represents the African heritage of most of the population,blue is for hope, and red is for the dynamism of the people; the "V"stands for victory; the successive yellow, blue, and white coloringis also meant to evoke the country's tourist attractions of sun,sea, and sand
Argentinathree equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white,and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sunwith a human face known as the Sun of May; the colors represent theclear skies and snow of the Andes; the sun symbol commemorates theappearance of the sun through cloudy skies on 25 May 1810 during thefirst mass demonstration in favor of independence; the sun featuresare those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun
Armeniathree equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange;the color red recalls the blood shed for liberty, blue the Armenianskies as well as hope, and orange the land and the courage of theworkers who farm it
Arubablue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across thelower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in theupper hoist-side corner; the star represents Aruba and its red soiland white beaches, its four points the four major languages(Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, English) as well as the four points ofa compass, to indicate that its inhabitants come from all over theworld; the blue symbolizes Caribbean waters and skies; the stripesrepresent the island's two main "industries": the flow of touriststo the sun-drenched beaches and the flow of minerals from the earth
Ashmore and Cartier Islandsthe flag of Australia is used
Australiablue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-sidequadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-sidequadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representingthe federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the stardepicts one point for each of the six original states and onerepresenting all of Australia's internal and external territories;on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Crossconstellation in white with one small five-pointed star and fourlarger, seven-pointed stars
Austriathree equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red;the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest -national banners in the world; according to tradition, in 1191,following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V ofAustria's white tunic became completely blood-spattered; uponremoval of his wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; thered-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as hisbanner
Azerbaijanthree equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, andgreen; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered inthe red band; the blue band recalls Azerbaijan's Turkic heritage,red stands for modernization and progress, and green refers toIslam; the crescent moon is an Islamic symbol, while theeight-pointed star represents the eight Turkic peoples of the world
Bahamas, Thethree equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold,and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoistside; the band colors represent the golden beaches of the islandssurrounded by the aquamarine sea; black represents the vigor andforce of a united people, while the pointing triangle indicates theenterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop therich resources of land and sea
Bahrainred, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states,with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side;the five points represent the five pillars of Islamnote: until 2002 the flag had eight white points, but this wasreduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag
Bangladeshgreen field with a large red disk shifted slightly to thehoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and thesacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes thelush vegetation of Bangladesh
Barbadosthree equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, andblue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; theband colors represent the blue of the sea and sky and the gold ofthe beaches; the trident head represents independence and a breakwith the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a completetrident)
Belarusred horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-halfthe width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist sidebears Belarusian national ornamentation in red; the red band colorrecalls past struggles from oppression, the green band representshope and the many forests of the country
Belgiumthree equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow,and red; the vertical design was based on the flag of France; thecolors are those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lionwith red claws and tongue on a black field)
Belizeblue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottomedges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; thecoat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of amahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish inthe Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a greengarland of 50 mahogany leaves; the colors are those of the two mainpolitical parties: blue for the PUP and red for the UDP; variouselements of the coat of arms - the figures, the tools, the mahoganytree, and the garland of leaves - recall the logging industry thatled to British settlement of Belizenote: Belize's flag is the only national flag that depicts humanbeings; two British overseas territories, Montserrat and the BritishVirgin Islands, also depict humans
Benintwo equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom)with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hopeand revival, yellow wealth, and red couragenote: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Bermudared, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-sidequadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (a white shield with a redlion standing on a green grassy field holding a scrolled shieldshowing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609)centered on the outer half of the flag; it was the shipwreck of thevessel, filled with English colonists originally bound for Virginia,that led to settling of Bermudanote: the flag is unusual in that it is only British overseasterritory that uses a red ensign, all others use blue
Bhutandivided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; theupper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centeredalong the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facingaway from the hoist side; the dragon, called the Druk (ThunderDragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands forpurity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the backgroundcolors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: theorange is associated with Bhuddism, while the yellow denotes theruling dynasty
Boliviathree equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and greenwith the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; red stands forbravery and the blood of national heroes, yellow for the nation'smineral resources, and green for the fertility of the landnote: similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large blackfive-pointed star centered in the yellow band; in 2009, apresidential decree made it mandatory for a so-called wiphala - asquare, multi-colored flag representing the country's indigenouspeoples - to be used alongside the traditional flag
Bosnia and Herzegovinaa wide medium blue vertical band on the flyside with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the topof the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with sevenfull five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottomalong the hypotenuse of the triangle; the triangle approximates theshape of the country and its three points stand for the constituentpeoples - Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs; the stars represent Europeand are meant to be continuous (thus the half stars at top andbottom); the colors (white, blue, and yellow) are often associatedwith neutrality and peace, and traditionally are linked with Bosnia
Botswanalight blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe inthe center; the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while theblack and white bands represent racial harmony
Bouvet Islandthe flag of Norway is used
Brazilgreen with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing ablue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars; the globe hasa white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order andProgress); the current flag was inspired by the banner of the formerEmpire of Brazil (1822-1889); on the imperial flag, the greenrepresented the House of Braganza of Pedro I, the first Emperor ofBrazil, while the yellow stood for the Habsburg Family of his wife;on the modern flag the green represents the forests of the countryand the yellow rhombus its mineral wealth; the blue circle andstars, which replaced the coat of arms of the original flag, depictthe sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889 - theday the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars haschanged with the creation of new states and has risen from anoriginal 21 to the current 27 (one for each state and the FederalDistrict)
British Indian Ocean Territory white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown (the symbols of the territory) centered on the outer half of the flag; the wavy stripes represent the Indian Ocean; although not officially described, the six blue stripes may stand for the six main atolls of the archipelago
British Virgin Islandsblue, with the flag of the UK in the upperhoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered inthe outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flankedon either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scrollbearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful); the islands werenamed by COLUMBUS in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11 virginfollowers (some sources say 11,000) who reputedly were martyred bythe Huns in the 4th or 5th century; the figure on the banner holdinga lamp represents the saint, the other lamps symbolize her followers
Bruneiyellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost doublewidth) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the nationalemblem in red is superimposed at the center; yellow is the color ofroyalty and symbolizes the sultanate; the white and black bandsdenote Brunei's chief ministers; the emblem includes five maincomponents: a swallow-tailed flag, the royal umbrella representingthe monarchy, the wings of four feathers symbolizing justice,tranquility, prosperity, and peace, the two upraised handssignifying the government's pledge to preserve and promote thewelfare of the people, and the crescent moon denoting Islam, thestate religion; the state motto "Always render service with God'sguidance" appears in yellow Arabic script on the crescent; a ribbonbelow the crescent reads "Brunei, the Abode of Peace"
Bulgariathree equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, andred; the pan-Slavic white-blue-red colors were modified bysubstituting a green band (representing freedom) for the bluenote: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the whitestripe, has been removed
Burkina Fasotwo equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green witha yellow five-pointed star in the center; red recalls the country'sstruggle for independence, green is for hope and abundance,andyellow represents the country's mineral wealthnote: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Burmadesign consists of three equal horizontal stripes of yellow(top), green, and red; centered on the green band is a large whitefive-pointed star that partially overlaps onto the adjacent coloredstripes; the design revives the triband colors used by Burma from1943-45, during the Japanese occupation
Burundidivided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top andbottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly side) with a white disksuperimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed starsoutlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above,two stars below); green symbolizes hope and optimism, white purityand peace, and red the blood shed in the struggle for independence;the three stars in the disk represent the three major ethnic groups:Hutu, Twa, Tutsi, as well as the three elements in the nationalmotto: unity, work, progress
Cambodiathree horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width),and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Watoutlined in black in the center of the red band; red and blue aretraditional Cambodian colorsnote: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in itsdesign
Cameroonthree equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, andyellow, with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band;the vertical tricolor recalls the flag of France; red symbolizesunity, yellow the sun, happiness, and the savannahs in the north,and green hope and the forests in the south; the star is referred toas the "star of unity"note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Canadatwo vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width)with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf iscentered in the white square; the maple leaf has long been aCanadian symbol; the official colors of Canada are red and white
Cape Verdefive unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue- equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by threebands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, anda bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; acircle of 10, yellow, five-pointed stars is centered on the redstripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoistside; blue stands for the sea and the sky, the circle of starsrepresents the 10 major islands united into a nation, the stripessymbolize the road to formation of the country through peace (white)and effort (red)
Cayman Islandsa blue field, with the flag of the UK in the upperhoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on theouter half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a crest with apineapple, representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle,representing Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing agolden lion, symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three greenstars (representing the three islands) surmounting white and bluewavy lines representing the sea and a scroll at the bottom bearingthe motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Central African Republicfour equal horizontal bands of blue (top),white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; ayellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band; bannercombines the Pan-African and French flag colors; red symbolizes theblood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue represents thesky and freedom, white peace and dignity, green hope and faith, andyellow tolerance; the star represents aspiration towards a vibrantfuture
Chadthree equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, andred; the flag combines the blue and red French (former colonial)colors with the red and yellow of the Pan-African colors; bluesymbolizes the sky, hope, and the south of the country, which isrelatively well-watered; yellow represents the sun, as well as thedesert in the north of the country; red stands for progress, unity,and sacrificenote: similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags ofAndorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of armscentered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
Chiletwo equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; a bluesquare the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end ofthe white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in thecenter representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizesthe sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red represents theblood spilled to achieve independencenote: design was influenced by the US flag
Chinared with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smalleryellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward themiddle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner; the color redrepresents revolution, while the stars symbolize the four socialclasses - the working class, the peasantry, the urban pettybourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) - unitedunder the Communist Party of China
Christmas Islandterritorial flag; divided diagonally from upperhoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow imageof the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, the lower triangle is bluewith the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia,superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of theislandnote: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
Clipperton Islandthe flag of France is used
Cocos (Keeling) Islandsthe flag of Australia is used
Colombiathree horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue,and red; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner ofGran Columbia, the short-lived South American republic that broke upin 1830; various interpretations of the colors exist and include:yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the seas on itsshores, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom;alternatively, the colors have been described as representing moreelemental concepts such as sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyaltyand vigilance (blue), and valour and generosity (red); or simply theprinciples of liberty, equality, and fraternitynote: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears theEcuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
Comorosfour equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, andblue, with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centeredwithin the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facingthe hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in aline between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands andthe four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -Mwali, N'gazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorialcollectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros)note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbolsof Islam
Congo, Democratic Republic of the sky blue field divided diagonally from the lower hoist corner to upper fly corner by a red stripe bordered by two narrow yellow stripes; a yellow, five-pointed star appears in the upper hoist corner; blue represents peace and hope, red the blood of the country's martyrs, and yellow the country's wealth and prosperity; the star symbolizes unity and the brilliant future for the country
Congo, Republic of thedivided diagonally from the lower hoist sideby a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and thelower triangle is red; green symbolizes agriculture and forests,yellow the friendship and nobility of the people, red is unexplainedbut has been associated with the struggle for independencenote: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Cook Islandsblue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-sidequadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one forevery island) centered in the outer half of the flag
Coral Sea Islandsthe flag of Australia is used
Costa Ricafive horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (doublewidth), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white ellipticaldisk toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained theearlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, inresponse to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided toincorporate the French colors into the national flag and a centralred stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for thesky, opportunity, and perseverence, white denotes peace, happiness,and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as wellas the generosity and vibrancy of the peoplenote: somewhat resembles the flag of North Korea; similar to theflag of Thailand but with the blue and red colors reversed
Cote d'Ivoirethree equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side),white, and green; orange symbolizes the land (savannah) of the northand fertility, white stands for peace and unity, green representsthe forests of the south and the hope for a bright futurenote: similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has thecolors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; alsosimilar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white,and red; design was based on the flag of France
Croatiathree equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue -the Pan-Slav colors - superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms; thecoat of arms consists of one main shield (a checkerboard of 13 redand 12 silver (white) fields) surmounted by five smaller shieldsthat form a crown over the main shield; the five small shieldsrepresent five historic regions, they are (from left to right):Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonianote: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag ofRussia
Cubafive equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom)alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on thehoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center; the bluebands refer to the three old divisions of the island: central,occidental, and oriental; the white bands describe the purity of theindependence ideal; the triangle symbolizes liberty, equality, andfraternity, while the red color stands for the blood shed in theindependence struggle; the white star, called La Estrella Solitaria(the Lone Star) lights the way to freedom and was taken from theflag of Texasnote: design similar to the Puerto Rican flag, with the colors ofthe bands and triangle reversed
Curacaoon a blue field a horizontal yellow band somewhat below thecenter divides the flag into proportions of 5:1:2; two five-pointedwhite stars - the smaller above and to the left of the larger -appear in the canton; the blue of the upper and lower sectionssymbolizes the sky and sea respectively; yellow represents the sun;the stars symbolize Curacao and its uninhabited smaller sisterisland of Klein Curacao; the five star points signify the fivecontinents from which Curacao's people derive
Cypruswhite with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (thename Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above twogreen crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branchessymbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greekand Turkish communitiesnote: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag retains thewhite field of the Cyprus national flag but displays narrowhorizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top andbottom edges between which are centered a red crescent and a redfive-pointed star; the banner is modeled after the Turkish nationalflag but with the colors reversed
Czech Republictwo equal horizontal bands of white (top) and redwith a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist sidenote: is identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia; usesthe Pan-Slav colors inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia
Denmarkred with a white cross that extends to the edges of theflag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side;the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is oneof the oldest national flags in the world; traditions as to theorigin of the flag design vary, but the best known is a legend thatthe banner fell from the sky during an early-13th century battle;caught up by the Danish king before it ever touched the earth, thisheavenly talisman inspired the royal army to victory; in actuality,the flag may derive from a crusade banner or ensignnote: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by theother Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
Dhekeliathe flag of the UK is used
Djiboutitwo equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and lightgreen with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist sidebearing a red five-pointed star in the center; blue stands for seaand sky and the Issa Somali people; green symbolizes earth and theAfar people; white represents peace; the red star recalls thestruggle for independence and stands for unity
Dominicagreen, with a centered cross of three equal bands - thevertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and thehorizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed inthe center of the cross is a red disk bearing a Sisserou Parrot,unique to Dominica, encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edgedin yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions(parishes); green symbolizes the island's lush vegetation; thetriple-colored cross represents the Christian Trinity; the yellowcolor denotes sunshine, the main agricultural products (citrus andbananas), and the native Carib Indians; black is for the rich soiland the African heritage of most citizens; white signifies rivers,waterfalls, and the purity of aspirations; the red disc stands forsocial justice
Dominican Republica centered white cross that extends to the edgesdivides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoistside) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; asmall coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch(left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross;above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA,LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICADOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is openedto a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truthshall set you free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation,and red for the blood of heroes
Ecuadorthree horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue,and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of theflag; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of GranColumbia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; theyellow color represents sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth, bluethe sky, sea, and rivers, and red the blood of patriots spilled inthe struggle for freedom and justicenote: similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does notbear a coat of arms
Egyptthree equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist sidewith a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing thename of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; the bandcolors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression(black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by abright future (white)note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in thewhite band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in thewhite band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band
El Salvadorthree equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, andblue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; thecoat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the wordsREPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; the banner is basedon the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic ofCentral America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and theCaribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between thetwo bodies of water, as well as peace and prosperitynote: similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coatof arms centered in the white band - it features a triangleencircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICACENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, whichhas five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the whiteband
Equatorial Guineathree equal horizontal bands of green (top),white, and red, with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoistside and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat ofarms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland andfive offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cottontree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ,JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice); green symbolizes the jungle andnatural resources, blue represents the sea that connects themainland to the islands, white stands for peace, and red recalls thefight for independence
Eritreared isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividingthe flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, thelower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch iscentered on the hoist side of the red triangle; green stands for thecountry's agriculture economy, red signifies the blood shed in thefight for freedom, and blue symbolizes the bounty of the sea; thewreath-olive branch symbol is similar to that on the first flag ofEritrea from 1952; the shape of the red triangle broadly mimics theshape of the country
Estoniathree equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, andwhite; various interpretations are linked to the flag colors; bluerepresents faith, loyalty, and devotion, while also reminiscent ofthe sky, sea, and lakes of the country; black symbolizes the soil ofthe country and the dark past and suffering endured by the Estonianpeople; white refers to the striving towards enlightenment andvirtue, and is the color of birch bark and snow, as well as summernights illuminated by the midnight sun
Ethiopiathree equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, andred, with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating fromthe angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on thethree bands; green represents hope and the fertility of the land,yellow symbolizes justice and harmony, while red stands forsacrifice and heroism in the defense of the land; the blue of thedisk symbolizes peace and the pentagram represents the unity andequality of the nationalities and peoples of Ethiopianote: Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and thethree main colors of her flag (adopted ca. 1895) were so oftenadopted by other African countries upon independence that theybecame known as the Pan-African colors; the emblem in the center ofthe current flag was added in 1996
European Uniona blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arrangedin a circle in the center; blue represents the sky of the Westernworld, the stars are the peoples of Europe in a circle, a symbol ofunity; the number of stars is fixed
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was once the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
Faroe Islandswhite with a red cross outlined in blue extending tothe edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shiftedtoward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag);referred to as Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark," the flagresembles those of neighboring Iceland and Norway, and uses the samethree colors - but in a different sequence; white represents theclear Faroese sky as well as the foam of the waves; red and blue aretraditional Faroese colors
Fijilight blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-sidequadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of theflag; the blue symbolizes the Pacific ocean and the Union Jackreflects the links with Great Britain; the shield - taken fromFiji's coat of arms - depicts a yellow lion above a white fieldquartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depictstalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
Finlandwhite with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag;the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in thestyle of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the blue represents thethousands of lakes scattered across the country, while the white isfor the snow that covers the land in winter
Francethree equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, andred; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), theorigin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution when the"ancient French color" of white was combined with the blue and redcolors of the Parisian militia; the official flag for all Frenchdependent areasnote: the design and/or colors are similar to a number of otherflags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Ireland,Italy, Luxembourg, and Netherlands
French Polynesiatwo red horizontal bands encase a wide white bandin a 1:2:1 ratio; centered on the white band is a disk with a blueand white wave pattern depicting the sea on the lower half and agold and white ray pattern depicting the sun on the upper half; astylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the wave pattern; theship has a crew of five represented by five stars that symbolize thefive island groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colorsnote: similar to the red-white-red flag of Tahiti, the largest ofthe islands in French Polynesia, which has no emblem in the whiteband; the flag of France is used for official occasions
French Southern and Antarctic Landsthe flag of France is used
Gabonthree equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue;green represents the country's forests and natural resources, goldrepresents the equator (which transects Gabon) as well as the sun,blue represents the sea
Gambia, Thethree equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue withwhite edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah,blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests andagriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace
Georgiawhite rectangle with a central red cross extending to allfour sides of the flag; each of the four quadrants displays a smallred bolnur-katskhuri cross; although adopted as the officialGeorgian flag in 2004, the five-cross flag design appears to dateback to the 14th century
Germanythree equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold;these colors have played an important role in German history and canbe traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor - ablack eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field
Ghanathree equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green,with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;red symbolizes the blood shed for independence, yellow representsthe country's mineral wealth, while green stands for its forests andnatural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of Africanfreedomnote: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar tothe flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellowband
Gibraltartwo horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and redwith a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band;hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band;the design is that of Gibraltar's coat of arms granted on 10 July1502 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain; the castlesymbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, while the key representsGibraltar's strategic importance - the key to the Mediterranean
Greecenine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white;a blue square bearing a white cross appears in the upper hoist-sidecorner; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the establishedreligion of the country; there is no agreed upon meaning for thenine stripes or for the colors; the exact shade of blue has neverbeen set by law and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time
Greenlandtwo equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with alarge disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half ofthe disk is red, the bottom half is white; the design represents thesun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as thoseof the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom ofDenmark
Grenadaa rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (topand bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with ared border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointedstars with three centered in the top red border, three centered inthe bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at thecenter of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on thehoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producerof nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars stand for the sevenadministrative divisions, with the central star denoting thecapital, St. George; yellow represents the sun and the warmth of thepeople, green stands for vegetation and agriculture, and redsymbolizes harmony, unity, and courage
Guamterritorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on allfour sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipsecontaining a beach scene, a proa or outrigger canoe with sail, and apalm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; theproa is sailing in Agana Bay with the promontory of Punta DosAmantes, near the capital, in the background; blue represents thesea and red the blood shed in the struggle against oppressionnote: the US flag is the national flag
Guatemalathree equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side),white, and light blue, with the coat of arms centered in the whiteband; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (thenational bird) representing liberty and a scroll bearing theinscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date ofindependence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossedrifles signifying Guatemala's willingness to defend itself and apair of crossed swords representing honor and framed by a laurelwreath symbolizing victory; the blue bands stand for the PacificOcean and the Caribbean Sea and the sea and sky; the white banddenotes peace and purity
Guernseywhite with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint ofEngland) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armedcross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint Georgecross; the red cross represents the old ties with England and thefact that Guernsey is a British Crown dependency; the gold cross isa replica of the one used by Duke William of Normandy at the Battleof Hastings
Guineathree equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, andgreen; red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation andwork; yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, andfor justice; green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unitynote: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colorsfrom left to right are the reverse of those on the flags ofneighboring Mali and Senegal
Guinea-Bissautwo equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and greenwith a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a blackfive-pointed star centered in the red band; yellow symbolizes thesun; green denotes hope; red represents blood shed during thestruggle for independence; the black star stands for African unitynote: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the flagdesign was heavily influenced by the Ghanian flag
Guyanagreen, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoistside) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow,black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white borderbetween the yellow and the green; green represents forest andfoliage; yellow stands for mineral resources and a bright future;white symbolizes Guyana's rivers; red signifies zeal and thesacrifice of the people; black indicates perseverance
Haititwo equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with acentered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains apalm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearingthe motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength); the colorsare taken from the French Tricolor and represent the union of blacksand mulattoes
Heard Island and McDonald Islandsthe flag of Australia is used
Holy See (Vatican City)two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side)and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossedkeys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara,centered in the white band; the yellow color represents the pope'sspiritual power, the white his worldly power
Hondurasthree equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, andblue, with five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X patterncentered in the white band; the stars represent the members of theformer Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, ElSalvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; the blue bandssymbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; the white bandrepresents the land between the two bodies of water and the peaceand prosperity of its peoplenote: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a roundemblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICACENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag ofNicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the wordsREPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom,centered in the white band
Hong Kongred with a stylized, white, five-petal Bauhinia flower inthe center; each petal contains a small, red, five-pointed star inits middle; the red color is the same as that on the Chinese flagand represents the motherland; the fragrant Bauhinia - developed inHong Kong the late 19th century - has come to symbolize the region;the five stars echo those on the flag of China
Hungarythree equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green;the flag dates to the national movement of the 18th and 19thcenturies, and fuses the medieval colors of the Hungarian coat ofarms with the revolutionary tricolor form of the French flag;folklore attributes virtues to the colors: red for strength, whitefor faithfulness, and green for hope; alternatively, the red is seenas being for the blood spilled in defense of the land, white forfreedom, and green for the pasturelands that make up so much of thecountry
Icelandblue with a red cross outlined in white extending to theedges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to thehoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colorsrepresent three of the elements that make up the island: red is forthe island's volcanic fires, white recalls the snow and ice fieldsof the island, and blue is for the surrounding ocean
Indiathree equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange)(top), white, and green, with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel)centered in the white band; saffron represents courage, sacrifice,and the spirit of renunciation; white signifies purity and truth;green stands for faith and fertility; the blue chakra symbolizes thewheel of life in movement and death in stagnationnote: similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange diskcentered in the white band
Indonesiatwo equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; thecolors derive from the banner of the Majapahit Empire of the13th-15th centuries; red symbolizes courage, white represents puritynote: similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similarto the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red
Iranthree equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red;the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah inthe shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered inthe white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script isrepeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11times along the top edge of the red band; green is the color ofIslam and also represents growth, white symbolizes honesty andpeace, red stands for bravery and martyrdom
Iraqthree equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in greenArabic script is centered in the white band; the band colors derivefrom the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black),overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a brightfuture (white); the Council of Representatives approved this flag in2008 as a compromise temporary replacement for the Ba'athistSaddam-era flagnote: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but noscript, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt,which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band
Irelandthree equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, andorange; officially the flag colors have no meaning, but a commoninterpretation is that the green represents the Irish nationalist(Gaelic) tradition of Ireland; orange represents the Orangetradition (minority supporters of William of Orange); whitesymbolizes peace (or a lasting truce) between the green and theorangenote: similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and hasthe colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; alsosimilar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors ofgreen (hoist side), white, and red
Isle of Manred with the Three Legs of Man emblem (triskelion), inthe center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at theknee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides ofthe flag, a two-sided emblem is used; the flag is based on thecoat-of-arms of the last recognized Norse King of Mann, Magnus III(r. 1252-1265); the triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sunsymbol
Israelwhite with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known asthe Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equalhorizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag; thebasic design resembles a Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which iswhite with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates backto medieval times
Italythree equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, andred; design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleonin 1797; colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with thegreen uniform color of the Milanese civic guardnote: similar to the flag of Mexico, which is longer, uses darkershades of red and green, and has its coat of arms centered on thewhite band; Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side),white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire,which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green
Jamaicadiagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles -green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side); greenrepresents hope, vegetation, and agriculture, black reflectshardships overcome and to be faced, and yellow recalls goldensunshine and the island's natural resources
Jan Mayenthe flag of Norway is used
Japanwhite with a large red disk (representing the sun withoutrays) in the center
Jerseywhite with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners ofthe flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a redshield with three lions in yellow; according to tradition, the shipsof Jersey - in an attempt to differentiate themselves from Englishships flying the horizontal cross of St. George - rotated the crossto the "X" (saltire) configuration; because this arrangement stillresembled the Irish cross of St. Patrick, the yellow Plantagenetcrown and Jersey coat of arms were added
Jordanthree equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing theAbbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, andgreen, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangleon the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, andbearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the sevenverses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the sevenpoints on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, nationalspirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design isbased on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I
Kazakhstana gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppeeagle, both centered on a sky blue background; the hoist sidedisplays a national ornamental pattern "koshkar-muiz" (the horns ofthe ram) in gold; the blue color is of religious significance to theTurkic peoples of the country, and so symbolizes cultural and ethnicunity; it also represents the endless sky as well as water; the sun,a source of life and energy, exemplifies wealth and plenitude; thesun's rays are shaped like grain, which is the basis of abundanceand prosperity; the eagle has appeared on the flags of Kazakh tribesfor centuries and represents freedom, power, and the flight to thefuture
Kenyathree equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green;the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shieldcovering crossed spears is superimposed at the center; blacksymbolizes the majority population, red the blood shed in thestruggle for freedom, green stands for natural wealth, and white forpeace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom
Kiribatithe upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flyingover a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with threehorizontal wavy white stripes to represent the Pacific ocean; thewhite stripes represent the three island groups - the Gilbert, Line,and Phoenix Islands; the 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 GilbertIslands and Banaba (formerly Ocean Island); the frigate birdsymbolizes authority and freedom
Korea, Norththree horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triplewidth), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist sideof the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star; thebroad red band symbolizes revolutionary traditions; the narrow whitebands stands for purity, strength, and dignity; the blue bandssignify sovereignty, peace, and friendship; the red star representssocialism
Korea, Southwhite with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in thecenter; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching(Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field; the Koreannational flag is called Taegukki; white is a traditional Koreancolor and represents peace and purity; the blue section representsthe negative cosmic forces of the yin, while the red symbolizes theopposite positive forces of the yang; each trigram (kwae) denotesone of the four universal elements, which together express theprinciple of movement and harmony
Kosovocentered on a dark blue field is the geographical shape ofKosovo in a gold color surmounted by six white, five-pointed starsarrayed in a slight arc; each star represents one of the majorethnic groups of Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma, andBosniaks
Kuwaitthree equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and redwith a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; colors and designare based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I; green representsfertile fields, white stands for purity, red denotes blood onKuwaiti swords, black signifies the defeat of the enemy
Kyrgyzstanred field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 raysrepresenting the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays runcounterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of thesun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylizedrepresentation of a "tunduk" - the crown of a traditional Kyrgyzyurt; red symbolizes bravery and valor, the sun evinces peace andwealth
Laosthree horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), andred with a large white disk centered in the blue band; the red bandsrecall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents theMekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moonagainst the Mekong River, but also signifies the unity of the peopleunder the Pathet Lao, as well as the country's bright future
Latviathree horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width),and maroon; the flag is one of the older banners in the world; amedieval chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe beingused by Latvian tribes in about 1280
Lebanonthree horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white(middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar treecentered in the white band; the red bands symbolize blood shed forliberation, the white band denotes peace, the snow of the mountains,and purity; the green cedar tree is the symbol of Lebanon andrepresents eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity
Lesothothree horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green inthe proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, andprosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a blackBasotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag wasunfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence
Liberia11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)alternating with white; a white five-pointed star appears on a bluesquare in the upper hoist-side corner; the stripes symbolize thesignatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence; the bluesquare represents the African mainland, and the star represents thefreedom granted to the ex-slaves; according to the constitution, theblue color signifies liberty, justice, and fidelity, the white colorpurity, cleanliness, and guilelessness, and the red colorsteadfastness, valor, and fervornote: the design is based on the US flag
Libyaplain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (thestate religion)
Liechtensteintwo equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red witha gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors mayderive from the blue and red livery design used in theprincipality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown wasintroduced in 1937 to distinguish the flag from that of Haiti
Lithuaniathree equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, andred; yellow symbolizes golden fields, as well as the sun, light, andgoodness; green represents the forests of the countryside, inaddition to nature, freedom, and hope; red stands for courage andthe blood spilled in defense of the homeland
Luxembourgthree equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, andlight blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses adarker blue and is shorter; the coloring is derived from the GrandDuke's coat of arms (a red lion on a white and blue striped field)
Macaugreen with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water inwhite, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large inthe center of the arc and two smaller on either side; the lotus isthe floral emblem of Macau, the three petals represent the peninsulaand two islands that make up Macau; the five stars echo those on theflag of China
Macedoniaa yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) with eight broadeningrays extending to the edges of the red field; the red and yellowcolors have long been associated with Macedonia
Madagascartwo equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with avertical white band of the same width on hoist side; by tradition,red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, white for purity
Malawithree equal horizontal bands of red (top), black, and green;a white sun disc is centered on the black band, its surrounding 45white rays extend partially into the red and green bands; blackrepresents the native peoples, red the blood shed in their strugglefor freedom, and green the color of nature; the sun representsMalawi's economic progress since attaining independence
Malaysia14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating withwhite (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-sidecorner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; theflag is often referred to as Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory); the14 stripes stand for the equal status in the federation of the 13member states and the federal government; the 14 points on the starrepresent the unity between these entities; the crescent is atraditional symbol of Islam; blue symbolizes the unity of the Malaypeople and yellow is the royal color of Malay rulersnote: the design is based on the flag of the US
Maldivesred with a large green rectangle in the center bearing avertical white crescent moon; the closed side of the crescent is onthe hoist side of the flag; red recalls those who have sacrificedtheir lives in defense of their country, the green rectanglerepresents peace and prosperity, and the white crescent signifiesIslam
Malithree equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, andrednote: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colorsfrom left to right are the same as those of neighboring Senegal(which has an additional green central star) and the reverse ofthose on the flag of neighboring Guinea
Maltatwo equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in theupper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross,edged in red; according to legend, the colors are taken from the redand white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed abi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontestedexplanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of SaintJohn who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI ofthe United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to the islanders fortheir exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; sinceindependence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeareddirectly on the white field
Marshall Islandsblue with two stripes radiating from the lowerhoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; a white star with fourlarge rays and 20 small rays appears on the hoist side above the twostripes; blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the orange stripesignifies the Ralik Chain or sunset and courage, while the whitestripe signifies the Ratak Chain or sunrise and peace; the starsymbolizes the cross of Christianity, each of the 24 rays designatesone of the electoral districts in the country and the four largerrays highlight the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit,Wotje, and Ebeye; the rising diagonal band can also be interpretedas representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago'sposition just to the north
Mauritaniagreen with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow,horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; thecrescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam;the gold color stands for the sands of the Sahara
Mauritiusfour equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow,and green; red represents the blood shed for independence, blue theIndian Ocean surrounding the island, yellow has been interpreted asthe new light of independence, golden sunshine, or the brightfuture, and green can symbolize either agriculture or the lushvegetation of the island
Mayotteunofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayottecentered on a white field, above which the name of the islandappears in red capital letters; the main elements of the coat ofarms are a blue upper half with white upturned crescent moon and ared lower half with two yellow ylang-ylang flowers, supported oneither side by a white seahorse, and set above a scroll with themotto RA HACHIRI (We are Vigilant)note: the flag of France used for official occasions
Mexicothree equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, andred; Mexico's coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beakperched on a cactus) is centered in the white band; green signifieshope, joy, and love; white represents peace and honesty; red standsfor hardiness, bravery, strength, and valor; the coat of arms isderived from a legend that the wandering Aztec people were to settleat a location where they would see an eagle on a catus eating asnake; the city they founded, Tenochtitlan, is now Mexico Citynote: similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter, uses lightershades of red and green, and does not have anything in its white band