Flags of the World

Afghanistan Flag

The Flag of Afghanistan has had a few changes over the past century. The current flag was adopted by the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan's transitional government in 2004. This flag is quite similar to the Afghan flag during the monarchy that lasted from 1930 to 1973. The main difference between that flag and today's flag is the shahadah at the top of the coat of arms. This flag was adopted on January 4, 2004.

The Afghanistan Flag has three equal vertical stripes of black, red and green with an emblem in the center of the red stripe. The emblem is classic Afghan mosque with a Mecca facing mihrab in white.

Albania Flag

The Albanian National Flag is a solid red base with a double headed black eagle emblem in the center. This flag was officially adopted as the flag of Albania on April 7, 1992. Albania literally means Land of the Eagles.

The center emblem on the Albanian Flag was adapted from the 1600's Coat of Arms of Gjergj Kastrioti (also known as Skanderbeg). He led an Albanian revolt against the Ottoman Empire that resulted in a period of independence from 1443 to 1468. The red color of the Albanian Flag represents hardiness, bravery, strength and valor.

Algeria Flag

The Algeria National Flag is made of a green and white stripe, vertical and equal, with a Red Crescent and star in the middle of the flag. The white side of the flag symbolizes purity and the green side is for Islam. The Red Crescent originated on the Turkish flag and has become an Islamic symbol. This flag was adopted on July 3, 1962.

The Algeria Flag is rumored to be a variation of a flag that was used by military leader Abd el-Kader from 1837 to1847.

Andorra Flag

The Flag of Andorra consists of three equal vertical stripes of blue, yellow and red. The Andorra flag was adopted in 1866 and also contains a coat of arms in the center of the yellow stripe.

Prior to 1866, the Andorra Flag was yellow and red. The blue stripe was added to indicate that France and Spain were both represented in the flag. Due to the political situation of Andorra, being a landlocked principality in Southwestern Europe between France and Spain, there are two versions of the Andorra coat of arms, thus two versions of the Andorra Flag.

Angola Flag

The flag of Angola contains two equal horizontal stripes, red on the top and black on the bottom. In the center of the flag is a yellow emblem of a partial cog wheel, a machete and a star. The current Angola Flag was adopted on November 11, 1975 after Angola became independent of Portugal.

The red on the Angola flag symbolizes the blood shed during the oppression and Angola struggled to gain independence. The black half represents the African Continent. The yellow emblem in the center is similar to the former Soviet Union symbol of Communism. The color yellow symbolizes the wealth of Angola. The emblem's cogwheel represents the laborers of the country, the machete represents peasants, the country's armed struggle and agricultural production. The star of the Angola Flag represents international solidarity and progress.

Anguilla Flag

The current Anguilla Flag was adopted on May 30, 1990 and is the country's fifth flag since 1957. Anguilla was first colonized by English settlers in 1650, thus the reason for the Union Jack symbol on the top left center of the blue flag. On the right side of the Anguilla Flag is a shield with three orange dolphins and turquoise blue water.

The dolphin shied represents wisdom, strength and friendship. This is technically an unofficial Anguilla National flag used for decorative and distinguishing purposes inside and outside the county. The light blue stripe on the coat of arms was made because the Government of Anguilla could not afford flags with the correct shade of blue.

Antigua & Barbuda Flag

Adopted on February 27, 1967, the Antigua & Barbuda Flag was designed by high school art teacher, Reginald Samuels. The flag consists of 2 red triangles on each side of the flag and a third triangle in the middle that has white, blue and black stripes. Within the black stripe at the top of the triangle is a yellow sun.

Each color of the Antigua & Barbuda Flag has a symbolic meaning. The red symbolizes energy, the black is for the African ancestry of the country, and the blue stands for hope. The succession of the black, blue and white from the sun down symbolizes the sun, sea and sand.

Argentina Flag

The Flag of Argentina shows three equal horizontal stripes, sky blue on top and bottom and a white stripe in the center. The white stripe also has a sun emblem, Sun of May, in the middle with alternating rays of straight and wavy lines. The Argentina Flag has looked the same since its adoption on February 25, 1818.

There are several stories on the meaning of the Argentina Flag including the blue representing the Rio de la Plata and the white representing the silver. The name of the country originated from the Latin word for silver, Argentum. The blue color on the flag is called 'celeste' by Argentines.

Armenia Flag

Simple by design, but complex in meaning, the Armenia Flag is made up of three equal horizontal stripes. The stripes are red, blue and orange from top to bottom. The Armenia Flag was first used as the national flag during Armenia's short independence after WWI from 1918 to 1921. The flag was readopted on August 24, 1990 shortly before Armenia again gained independence from the former Soviet Union.

The most widely held belief is that the red on the Armenia Flag represents the blood shed by Armenian soldiers as they defended their country, the blue represents the sky and the orange represents the farmers and the fertile soil of the land. Others have said that the red is for the sun's energy, the blue is for the sky and the orange is for the harvest.

Aruba Flag

The Aruba flag was adopted on March 18, 1976 after more than 700 designs were submitted in a competition. The base of the Aruba flag is a light blue. There are two thin horizontal stripes toward the bottom of the flag and a four point red star outlined in white in the top left corner of the flag.

The light blue base of flight represents the sky and water, the red star symbolizing the island itself. Some say that the four points also represent the four main languages of Aruba, Spanish, English, Dutch and Papiamento. The yellow stripes have many meanings including the wanglo, a yellow rainflower; an abundance of gold, aloe and oil.

Australia Flag

The Australia Flag is dark blue with six white stars and a British Union Jack symbol in the upper left corner. The five white stars on the right side of the Australia Flag make up the Southern Cross constellation which is visible anywhere in Australia, while one large seven point stars sits alone under the Union Jack on the bottom left. That seven pointed star symbolize the six states and territories that make up the Commonwealth of Australia.

The Australia flag was adopted on May 22, 1909 after a competition was held in the late 1800s. There were more than 32,000 entries and six of the designs were so similar that the flag was based on all of them.

Austria Flag

The Austria Flag is another world flag that is quite simple by design. It features two red stripes and one white stripe, all horizontal and equal with the white stripe in between the two reds. The Austria Flag is believed to be one of the oldest designs in the world.

The Austria Flag was originally designed by Duke Frederick II, a 13th century Duke also known as Frederick the Quarrelsome. The current national Flag of Austria was adopted on April 27, 1984.

Azerbaijan Flag

The National Flag of Azerbaijan has three equal horizontal stripes, from top to bottom, blue, red and green; with a white crescent and eight pointed star in the center of the red stripe. The blue stripe represents the Turks, the red stripe is for progress and the green stripe is for Islam. The eight pointed star stands for the eight branches of the Turkic people. The crescent is also a symbol of Islam.

The Azerbaijan Flag was officially adopted on February 5, 1991.