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{{short description|Flag of a country or nation}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=December 2018}}
[[File:Flickr - …trialsanderrors - Johnson's new chart of national emblems, 1868.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|''Johnson's new chart of national emblems'', published {{Circa|1868}}. The large flags shown in the corners are the [[Flag of the United States#Historical progression of designs|37-star flag of the United States]] (flown 1867–1890), upper left; the [[Royal Standard of the United Kingdom]], upper, right; the [[Russian Imperial Standard]], lower left; and the [[Flag of France|French tricolore]] with inset [[French Imperial Eagle|Imperial Eagle]], lower right. Various other flags flown by ships are shown. The [[Flag of Cuba]] is labelled "Cuban [[Ten Years' War|(so called)]]". The [[Chinese dragon]] on the [[Flag of the Qing Dynasty|Flag of China]] was drawn mistakenly as a [[Welsh Dragon|western dragon]].]]
{{Nationalism sidebar|Development}}A '''national flag''' is a [[flag]] that represents and [[national symbol|symbolizes]] a given [[nation]]. It is [[Fly (flag)|flown]] by the [[government]] of that nation, but can also be flown by its [[citizen]]s. A national flag is typically designed with specific meanings for its colors and symbols, which may also be used separately from the flag as a symbol of the nation. The design of a national flag is sometimes altered after the occurrence of important historical events.

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of national flags|History of flags}}

Historically, flags originated as [[military standard]]s, used as [[field sign]]s. Throughout history, various examples of such proto-flags exist: the white cloth banners of the [[Zhou dynasty]]'s armies in the 11th century BC, the ''[[vexillum]]'' standards flown by the armies of the [[Roman Empire]], the [[Black Standard]] famously carried by [[Muhammad]] which later became the flag of the [[Abbasid Caliphate]], and the various "[[Raven banner]]s" flown by [[Viking]] chieftains. [[Angelino Dulcert]] published a series of comprehensive [[Portolan chart]]s in the 14th century AD, which famously showcased the flags of several polities depicted – although these are not uniformly "national flags", as some were likely the personal standards of the respective nation's rulers.

The practice of flying flags indicating the country of origin ''outside'' of the context of warfare became common with the [[maritime flag]]. During the 13th century, the republics of [[Republic of Genoa|Genoa]] and [[Republic of Venice|Venice]] both used maritime flags; [[William Gordon Perrin]] wrote that the republic of Genoa was "one of the earliest states to adopt a national flag".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Perrin |first=William Gordon |authorlink=William Gordon Perrin |title=British flags, their early history, and their development at sea; with an account of the origin of the flag as a national device |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1922 |pages=25}}</ref>

The current design of the [[flag of the Netherlands]] originates as a variant of the late 16th century orange-white-blue ''[[Prinsenvlag]]'' ("Prince's Flag"), that was used in the [[Dutch War of Independence]] (1568–1648), evolving in the early 17th century as the red-white-blue ''[[Statenvlag]]'' ("States Flag"), the naval flag of the [[States General of the Netherlands#Dutch Republic|States-General]] of the [[Dutch Republic]], making the Dutch flag perhaps the oldest [[Tricolour (flag)|tricolour flag]] in continuous use, although standardisation of the exact colours is of a much later date.<ref>{{cite web |title=Europe: Netherlands — The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/netherlands/ |publisher=CIA |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730075441/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/netherlands/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Worthington |first1=Daryl |title=Why Are So Many Flags Red, White and Blue? |url=https://www.newhistorian.com/many-flags-red-white-blue-part-one/7406/ |website=New Historian |access-date=28 January 2019 |date=17 October 2016 |archive-date=29 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129122755/https://www.newhistorian.com/many-flags-red-white-blue-part-one/7406/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[Age of Sail]] in the early 17th century, the [[Union Jack]] finds its origins, when [[James VI of Scotland]] inherited the English and Irish thrones (as James I). On 12 April 1606, the new flag representing this regal union between England and Scotland was specified in a royal decree, according to which the [[flag of England]] (a red cross on a white background, known as [[St George's Cross]]), and the [[flag of Scotland]] (a white [[saltire]] on a blue background, known as the Saltire or St Andrew's Cross), would be joined, forming the flag of Great Britain and first Union Flag<ref name="flag-of-the">{{Cite web|title=flag of the United Kingdom|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-the-United-Kingdom|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108201326/https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-the-United-Kingdom|url-status=live}}</ref> - but then without the red [[Cross of St. Patrick]]. It continued in use until 1 January 1801, the effective date of the legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland, when the Cross of St. Patrick (a red diagonal cross on white) was incorporated into the flag,<ref name="flag-of-the"/> giving the Union Jack its current design.

With the emergence of [[nationalism|nationalist]] sentiment from the late 18th century national flags began to be displayed in civilian contexts as well.<ref>{{HLS|12810|"Flags"}}</ref> Notable early examples include the [[US flag]], which was first adopted as a naval ensign in 1777 but began to be displayed as a generic symbol of the [[United States]] after the [[American Revolution]], and the [[French Tricolore|French Tricolor]], which became a symbol of the [[First French Republic|Republic]] in the 1790s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://users.skynet.be/lotus/flag/fra0-en.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421053559/http://users.skynet.be/lotus/flag/fra0-en.htm |archive-date=2008-04-21 |title=The French flag}}</ref>

Most [[countries of Europe]] standardised and codified the designs of their maritime flags as national flags, in the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The specifications of the [[flag of Denmark]], based on a flag that was in continuous use since the 14th-century, were codified in 1748, as a rectangular flag with certain proportions, replacing the variant with a ''split'' (swallow-tail).<ref>{{cite book|title=Dannebrog|url=http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Samfund,_jura_og_politik/Flag,_emblemer_og_heraldik/Flag_i_verden/Danmark_(Nationalflag)|access-date=2014-06-13|year=2014|publisher=Den Store Danske|language=da|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714171641/http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Samfund,_jura_og_politik/Flag,_emblemer_og_heraldik/Flag_i_verden/Danmark_(Nationalflag)|archive-date=2014-07-14}}</ref> The [[flag of Switzerland]] was introduced in 1889, also based on medieval war flags.
[[File:La prima bandiera italiana portata in Firenze - Francesco Saverio Altamura.jpg|thumb|''The first [[Flag of Italy|Italian flag]] brought to [[Florence]]'' by Francesco Saverio Altamura (1859)]]

In Europe, the red-white-blue tricolour design of the [[flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands]] became popular, since it was associated with a republican form of government through that country's long war of independence against the [[Spanish Crown]]. That association was greatly reinforced after the [[French Revolution]] (1789), when France used the same colours, but with vertical instead of horizontal stripes. Other countries in Europe (like [[Flag of Ireland|Ireland]], [[Flag of Italy|Italy]], [[Flag of Romania|Romania]] and [[Flag of Estonia|Estonia]]) and in South and Central America selected tricolours of their own to express their adherence to the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity as embodied in the French flag, although some adopted a monarchical form of government with a constitution instead of a republican government.<ref>{{cite web |title=flag - National flags |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-heraldry/National-flags |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101130920/https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-heraldry/National-flags |archive-date=1 January 2022 |access-date=1 January 2022 |website=Britannica |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Pedro Bruno - A Pátria.jpg|thumb|A 1919 painting depicting the [[Brazilian flag]] being embroidered by a family.]]
The [[Flags of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman flag]] (now the [[flag of Turkey]]) was adopted in 1844. Other non-European powers followed the trend in the late 19th century, the flag of [[Qing dynasty|Great Qing]] being introduced in 1862, that of [[flag of Japan|Japan]] being introduced in 1870. 
Also in the 19th century, most [[countries of South America]] introduced a flag as they became independent ([[Flag of Peru|Peru]] in 1820, [[Flag of Bolivia|Bolivia]] in 1851, [[Flag of Colombia|Colombia]] in 1860, [[Flag of Brazil|Brazil]] in 1822, etc.)<!--

[[Afghanistan]] had more changes of its national flag during the 20th and 21st centuries than any other country in the world, having 21 flags from 1901 to the present.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://flagspot.net/flags/af_his.html|title=Historical Flags (Afghanistan)|website=flagspot.net|access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref>
this is not an objectively verifiable statement, as it will depend on which Afghan "states" you are going to "recognize", prior to the foundation of the UN an almost intractable questions.
-->

Currently, there are 193 national flags in the world flown by [[sovereign states]] that are  [[Member states of the United Nations|members of the United Nations]].

==Process of adoption==

The national flag is often mentioned or described in a country's [[constitution]], but its detailed description may be delegated to a flag law passed by the legislature, or even [[Delegated legislation|secondary legislation]] or in monarchies a [[Order in Council|decree]].

Thus, the national flag is mentioned briefly in the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]] of 1949 "the federal flag is black-red-gold" (art. 22.2 ''Die Bundesflagge ist schwarz-rot-gold''), but its proportions were regulated in a document passed by the government in the following year. The [[Flag of the United States]] is not defined in the constitution but rather in a separate Flag Resolution passed in 1777.

Minor design changes of national flags are often passed on a legislative or executive level, while substantial changes have constitutional character. The design of the [[flag of Serbia]] omitting the communist star of the [[flag of Yugoslavia]] was a decision made in the [[Serbian constitutional referendum, 1992|1992 Serbian constitutional referendum]], but the adoption of a coat of arms within the flag was based on a government "recommendation" in 2003, adopted legislatively in 2009 and again subject to a minor design change in 2010. The flag of the United States underwent numerous changes because the number of stars represents the number of states, proactively defined in a [[Flag Acts (United States)|Flag Act]] of 1818 to the effect that "on the admission of every new state into the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag"; it was changed most recently in 1960 with the accession of [[Hawaii]].
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| caption1          = Flag of the [[Kingdom of Italy]] (1861–1946)
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| caption2          = Flag of the [[Italian Republic]] (1946–present)
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| image1            = Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958–1971), Flag of Syria (1980–2024).svg
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| caption1          = Flag of [[Ba'athist Syria]] (1980–2024)
| image2            = Flag of Syria (2025-).svg
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| caption2          = Flag of [[Syria]] (2025–present)
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On 17 March 1861, there was the [[proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy]], a formal act that sanctioned, with a normative act of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, the birth of the unified Kingdom of Italy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sunuraghe.it/2013/regno-di-sardegna-regno-ditalia-repubblica-italiana |title=Regno di Sardegna, Regno d'Italia, Repubblica Italiana |date=19 March 2013 |access-date=22 January 2021 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126191843/https://www.sunuraghe.it/2013/regno-di-sardegna-regno-ditalia-repubblica-italiana |url-status=live }}</ref> On 15 April 1861, the flag of the [[Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia]], in the form of a green, white and red tricolour, was declared the [[Flag of Italy|flag of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy]].<ref>Regio decreto n. 2072 del 24 settembre 1923, convertito nella legge n. 2264 del 24 dicembre 1923</ref> The tricolour therefore continued to be the national flag also of the new State, although not officially recognised by a specific law,{{sfn|Villa|2010|p=26}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.radiomarconi.com/marconi/bandiere/storia_bandiera.html|title=Storia della bandiera italiana|access-date=14 January 2016|archive-date=16 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116020632/http://www.radiomarconi.com/marconi/bandiere/storia_bandiera.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> but regulated with regard to the shape of military banners.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=201}}{{sfn|Bellocchi|2008|p=105}}{{sfn|Busico|2005|p=45}} With the royal decree nº 2072 of 24 September 1923 and subsequently with the law nº2264 of 24 December 1925, the Italian tricolour officially became the national flag of the Kingdom of Italy.{{sfn|Busico|2005|p=65}}{{sfn|Villa|2010|p=31}} On 13 June 1946, the [[1946 Italian institutional referendum|Italian Republic was officially founded]] and the last [[king of Italy]] [[Umberto II of Italy|Umberto II]], who succeeded his father [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy|Victor Emmanuel III]] on 9 May 1946, left the country on 13 June into exile. On the same day, the tricolour with the Savoy coat of arms in the centre was lowered from the [[Quirinal Palace]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cristinasiccardi.it/2-giugno-ricordo-di-un-galantuomo-umberto-ii-di-savoia-ultimo-re-ditalia-2/|title=2 giugno. Ricordo di un galantuomo: Umberto II di Savoia, ultimo Re d'Italia|access-date=15 March 2021|language=it|archive-date=7 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407211235/https://www.cristinasiccardi.it/2-giugno-ricordo-di-un-galantuomo-umberto-ii-di-savoia-ultimo-re-ditalia-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Italian flag was modified with the decree of the president of the Council of Ministers No. 1 of 19 June 1946. Compared to the monarchic banner, the Savoy coat of arms was eliminated.{{sfn|Maiorino|2002|p=273}}{{sfn|Villa|2010|p=33}}{{sfn|Tarozzi|1999|p=333}} This decision was later confirmed in the session of 24 March 1947 by the [[Constituent Assembly of Italy|Constituent Assembly]], which decreed the insertion of article 12 of the [[Italian Constitution]], subsequently ratified by the [[Italian Parliament]].

A change in national flag is often due to a change of regime, especially following a [[civil war]] or [[revolution]]. In such cases, the military origins of the national flag and its connection to political ideology ([[form of government]], monarchy vs. republic vs. theocracy, etc.) remains visible. In such cases national flags acquire the status of a [[political symbolism|political symbol]].

The [[flag of Germany]], for instance, was a tricolour of black-white-red under the [[German Empire]], inherited from the [[North German Confederation]] (1866). The [[Weimar Republic]] that followed adopted a black-red-gold tricolour. [[Nazi Germany]] went back to black-white-red in 1933, and black-red-gold was reinstituted by the two successor states, [[West Germany]] and [[East Germany]], with East Germany's flag being [[defacement (flag)|defaced]] with Communist symbols, following [[World War II]]. Similarly the [[flag of Libya]] introduced with the creation of the [[Kingdom of Libya]] in 1951 was abandoned in 1969 with the [[coup d'état]] led by [[Muammar Gaddafi]]. It was used again by [[National Transitional Council]] and by [[anti-Gaddafi forces]] during the [[2011 Libyan Civil War|Libyan Civil War]] in 2011 and officially adopted by the [[Libyan interim Constitutional Declaration]]. 

In [[Ba'athist Syria]], this was replaced by the [[flag of the United Arab Republic]] with red, white and black tribands with either two or three green stars or charged with the national coat of arms.<ref name="Flag">{{cite web |title=Syrian Flag |url=http://www.syrianhistory.com/syrian-flag |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420134815/http://www.syrianhistory.com/syrian-flag |archive-date=20 April 2011 |access-date=7 August 2012 |publisher=History of Syria}}</ref>

During the [[Syrian civil war]], the [[Syrian opposition to Bashar al-Assad|Syrian opposition]], represented by the [[Syrian National Council]], then by the [[National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces]]<ref name="CBS">{{cite web |date=27 December 2011 |title=Syria halts Homs siege as Arab monitors arrive |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/syria-halts-homs-siege-as-arab-monitors-arrive-1.1123057 |access-date=30 August 2012 |work=CBS News}}</ref> (commonly named the Syrian National Coalition) used the independence flag first used in 1932. The flag began to be used as a universal display of the protesting opposition in late 2011.<ref name="CBS" />

Following the [[fall of the Assad regime]] on 8 December 2024, the revolution flag, a modified version of the independence flag, began to be used within the country<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 2024 |title=Syrian rebels raise new flag, symbolising freedom after Assad's rule comes to an end |url=https://www.news9live.com/world/syrian-rebels-raise-new-flag-symbolising-freedom-after-assads-rule-comes-to-an-end-2769238 |access-date=8 December 2024 |website=News9live |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=8 December 2024 |title=Syrians wave revolutionary flag to celebrate end of Assad family's rule |url=https://www.business-standard.com/external-affairs-defence-security/news/syrians-wave-revolutionary-flag-to-celebrate-end-of-assad-family-s-rule-124120800497_1.html |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=Business Standard |location=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haq |first=Sana Noor |date=8 December 2024 |title=In a country splintered by civil war, could Syria's rebels usher in a new dawn? |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/08/middleeast/civil-war-syria-rebels-assad-intl/index.html |access-date=8 December 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> by the [[Syrian parliament]]<ref>{{cite web |title=مجلس الشعب السوري (الصفحة الرسمية) |trans-title=Syrian People's Council (official page) |url=https://www.facebook.com/Syrian.Peoples.Assembly |access-date=11 December 2024 |website=[[Facebook]] |publisher= |language=Arabic |quote=}}{{User-generated source|date=December 2024}}</ref> and the Syrian caretaker government,<ref>{{cite news |date=10 December 2024 |title=Syria crisis: Mohamed al-Bashir appointed caretaker Syrian PM for transitional government until March |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/syria-crisis-mohamed-al-bashir-appointed-caretaker-syrian-pm-for-transitional-government-until-march/videoshow/116183315.cms?from=mdr |access-date=11 December 2024 |work=[[The Economic Times]] |location=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Syrian Arabic Republic - Presidency of the Council |url=https://pministry.gov.sy/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315040826/https://pministry.gov.sy/ |archive-date=2025-03-15}}</ref> and at Syrian embassies abroad.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keN6aQbwRlE |title=Syria's Embassies In Turkey, Greece, And Russia Replace Ba'ath Flag With Syrian Revolution Flag |date=8 December 2024 |last=Forbes Breaking News |access-date=8 December 2024 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 2024 |title=End of Bashar al-Assad's Era: Syrian flag removed from consulate in Turkey |url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/08-Dec-2024/end-of-bashar-al-assads-era-syrian-flag-removed-from-consulate-in-turkey |access-date=8 December 2024 |website=Daily Pakistan English News |language=}}</ref><ref name="AlArabiya">{{cite news |date=9 December 2024 |title=Syrian opposition flag flies over embassy building in Moscow |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2024/12/09/syrian-opposition-flag-installed-on-embassy-building-in-russia- |access-date=10 December 2024 |work=Al Arabiya English |location=}}</ref> On 13 March 2025, an [[2025 Interim Constitution of Syria|interim constitution]] made the independence flag the primary flag.<ref name="Flag specification">{{Cite web |date=12 March 2025 |title=North Press Obtains Draft Articles of Syria's Constitution Draft |url=https://syrianobserver.com/syrian-actors/north-press-obtains-draft-of-syrias-constitutional-declaration.html |website=The Syrian Observer}}</ref> However, the final text ultimately retained the revolution flag.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=13 March 2025 |title=النص الكامل للإعلان الدستوري السوري (13 آذار 2025) |url=https://kassioun.org/news/item/82565-2025}}</ref>

==Usage==
There are three distinct types of national flag for use on land, and three for use at sea, though many countries use identical designs for several (and sometimes all) of these types of flag.

===On land===
On land, there is a distinction between [[civil flag]]s ([[International Federation of Vexillological Associations|FIAV]] symbol [[File:FIAV 100000.svg|23px]]), [[state flag]]s ([[File:FIAV 010000.svg|23px]]), and [[war flag|war or military flags]] ([[File:FIAV 001000.svg|23px]]). '''Civil flags''' may be flown by anyone regardless of whether they are linked to government, whereas '''state flags''' are those used officially by government agencies. '''War flags''' (also called '''military flags''') are used by military organizations such as Armies, Marine Corps, or Air Forces.

In practice, many countries (such as the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom]]) have identical flags for these three purposes; '''national flag''' is sometimes used as a vexillological term to refer to such a three-purpose flag ([[File:FIAV 111000.svg|23px]]). In a number of countries, however, and notably those in [[Latin America]], there is a distinction between civil and state flags. In most cases, the civil flag is a simplified version of the state flag, with the difference often being the presence of a coat of arms on the state flag that is absent from the civil flag.

Very few countries use a war flag that differs from the state flag. [[Flag of the Republic of China|Taiwan]], [[Flag of Japan|Japan]], and [[Flag of the People's Republic of China|China]] are notable examples of this. [[Swallowtail (flag)|Swallow-tailed flags]] are used as war flags and naval ensigns in [[Nordic countries]] and charged versions as presidential or royal standards. The [[Philippines]] does not have a distinctive war flag in this usual sense, but the [[flag of the Philippines]] is legally unique in that it is flown with the red stripe on top when the country is in a state of war, rather than the conventional blue.

{{Gallery
|title=
|mode=nolines|style=background:var(--background-color-neutral, beige); color:var(--color-base, black); padding:20px|whitebg=no|height=100|align=center
|Flag of Austria.svg|[[Civil flag]] of [[Austria]]
|Flag of Austria (state).svg|[[State flag]] of [[Austria]]
|Flag of the Republic of China.svg|[[Flag of Taiwan]]
}}
{{clear}}

===At sea===
The flag that indicates nationality on a ship is called an [[Ensign (flag)|ensign]]. As with the national flags, there are three varieties: the '''[[civil ensign]]''' ([[File:FIAV 000100.svg|23px]]), flown by private vessels; '''[[state ensign]]s''' (also called '''government ensigns'''; [[File:FIAV 000010.svg|23px]]), flown by government ships; and '''[[war ensign]]s''' (also called '''naval ensigns'''; [[File:FIAV 000001.svg|23px]]), flown by naval vessels. The ensign is flown from an [[Ensign (flag)|ensign]]-staff at the [[stern]] of the ship, or from a gaff when underway. Both these positions are superior to any other on the ship, even though the [[Mast (sailing)|masthead]] is higher. In the absence of a gaff the ensign may be flown from the [[yardarm]]. (See [[Maritime flags]].) National flags may also be flown by aircraft and the land vehicles of important officials. In the case of aircraft, those flags are usually painted on, and those are usually to be painted on in the position as if they were blowing in the wind.

In some countries, such as the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] (except for the [[Canadian Naval Ensign|Royal Canadian Navy's Ensign]]), the national ensign is identical to the national flag, while in others, such as the [[United Kingdom]], [[India]], [[Italy]], [[Japan]] and [[Thailand]], there are specific ensigns for maritime use. Most countries do not have a separate state ensign, although the United Kingdom is a rare exception, in having a [[red ensign]] for civil use, a [[white ensign]] as its naval ensign, and a [[blue ensign]] for government non-military vessels. Italian naval ensign bears the arms of the [[Italian Navy]]: a [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|shield]], surmounted by a [[Mural crown|turreted]] and [[Naval crown|rostrum crown]], which brings together in four parts the arms of four ancient [[maritime republics]] ([[Republic of Venice]], [[Republic of Genoa]], [[Republic of Pisa]] and [[Duchy of Amalfi|Republic of Amalfi]]).

{{Gallery
|title=
|mode=nolines|style=background:var(--background-color-neutral, beige); color:var(--color-base, black); padding:20px|whitebg=no|height=100|align=center
|Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|The [[White Ensign|naval ensign of the United Kingdom]]
|Naval Ensign of India.svg|The [[Indian Naval Ensign]], also referred to as the Indian White Ensign, or ''Nishaan'', is the [[naval ensign]] of the [[Indian Navy]]
|Naval Ensign of Italy.svg|The [[naval ensign]] of [[Italy]]
|Naval Ensign of Japan.svg|Naval ensign of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] and the [[Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force]]
|Naval Ensign of Thailand.svg|Royal Navy Thai Flag [[Naval ensign]] Emblem White  Elephant
}}
{{clear}}

===Protocol===
{{main|Flag protocol}}

[[File:Gijeong-ri Flag.jpg|thumb|The world's sixth tallest [[flagpole]] flying a {{Convert|270|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} [[Flag of North Korea]]. It is {{Convert|160|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in height, over [[Kijŏng-dong]] ("Peace village") near [[Panmunjom]], the border of [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]].]]
There is a great deal of protocol involved in the proper display of national flags. A general rule is that the national flag should be flown in the position of honour, and not in an inferior position to any other flag (although some countries make an exception for royal standards). The following rules are typical of the conventions when flags are flown on land:
*When a national flag is displayed together with any other flags, it must be hoisted first and lowered last.
*When a national flag is displayed together with the national flags of other countries, all the flags should be of approximately equal size{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} and must be flown at an equal height, although the national flag of the host country should be flown in the position of honour (in the centre of an odd number of flagpoles or at the far right — left from an observer's point of view — of an even number of flagpoles).
*The flags of [[Flag of Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia]], [[Flag of Iraq|Iraq]], [[Flag of Iran|Iran]], and [[Flag of Afghanistan|Afghanistan]] are often wrapped from left to right (which appears right to left from an observer's point of view) because they contain Arabic text that must be displayed correctly.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
*When a national flag is displayed together with flags other than national flags, it should be flown on a separate flagpole, either higher or in the position of honour.
*When a national flag is displayed together with any other flags on the same flagpole, it must be at the top, though separate flagpoles are preferable.
*When a national flag is displayed together with any other flag on crossed flagpoles, the national flag must be on the observer's left and its flagpole must be in front of the flagpole of the other flag.
*When a national flag is displayed together with another flag or flags in procession, the national flag must be on the marching right. If there is a row of flags, it should be in the position of honour.
*When a national flag, with some exceptions, is flown upside down it indicates distress. This however is merely tradition. It is not a recognised distress signal according to the [[International regulations for preventing collisions at sea]]. Further, a nation's flag is commonly flown inverted as a sign of protest or contempt against the country concerned. As of now, only the [[flag of the Philippines]] recognises the distress symbolism of the reverse flag.

===Hanging a flag vertically===
Most flags are hung vertically by rotating the flag pole. However, some countries have specific protocols for this purpose or even have special flags for vertical hanging; usually rotating some elements of the flag — such as the coat of arms — so that they are seen in an upright position.<ref>{{citation | title = Hanging Flags Vertically | date = 2005-12-31 | first = Phil | last = Nelson | url = https://www.fotw.info/flags/xf-vert.html | publisher = Flags of the World | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101217224828/https://www.fotw.info/flags/xf-vert.html | archive-date = 2010-12-17 | access-date = 2011-02-20 }}.</ref>

Examples of countries that have special protocol for vertical hanging are: [[Flag of Canada|Canada]], [[Flag of the Czech Republic|Czech Republic]], [[Flag of Greece|Greece]], [[Flag of Israel|Israel]], the [[Flag of the Philippines|Philippines]], [[Flag of South Africa|South Africa]], and the [[Flag of the United States|United States]] (reverse always showing); and the [[Flag of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] (obverse always showing).

Examples of countries that have special designs for vertical hanging are: [[Flag of Austria|Austria]], [[Flag of Cambodia|Cambodia]] (coat of arms must be rotated 90° and blue strips are narrowed), [[Flag of Dominica|Dominica]] (coat of arms must be rotated and reverse always showing), [[Flag of Germany|Germany]], [[Flag of Hungary|Hungary]], [[Flag of Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]] (crown must be rotated 90°), [[Flag of Mexico|Mexico]], [[Flag of Montenegro|Montenegro]] (coat of arms must be rotated 90° to normal position), [[Flag of Nepal|Nepal]], [[Flag of Slovakia|Slovakia]] (coat of arms must be rotated 90° to normal position), and [[Flag of Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia]] ([[shahada]] must be rotated 90°). A vertical banner is used instead of the horizontal flag for [[Flag of Malaysia|Malaysia]].

{{Gallery
|title=
|mode=nolines|style=background:var(--background-color-neutral, beige); color:var(--color-base, black); padding:20px|whitebg=no|height=100|align=center
|Flag of Cambodia vertical.svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Cambodia]].
|Vertical Flag of Dominica.svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Dominica]].
|Flag_of Germany (Hanging).svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Germany]].
|Flag of Thailand (vertical).png|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Thailand]].
|Flag_of Hungary vertical.svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Hungary]].
|Flag of Italy (vertical display).svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Italy]].
|Flag of Liechtenstein vertical.svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Liechtenstein]].
|Flag of Montenegro (vertical).svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Montenegro]].
|Vertical flag of Nepal.svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Nepal]].
|Flag of Slovakia vertical.svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Slovakia]].
|Flag of Saudi Arabia (Hanging).svg|Vertical variation of the [[flag of Saudi Arabia]].
|Flag of Malaysia (vertical).svg|Vertical banner variation of the [[flag of Malaysia]].
}}
{{clear}}

==Design==
[[File:Flag of Nepal.svg|thumb|100px|The [[flag of Nepal]] is the only national flag which is not a quadrilateral.]]
The art and practice of designing flags is known as [[vexillography]]. The design of national flags has seen a number of customs become apparent.

Most national flags are rectangular, or have a rectangular common variant, with the most notable exception being the [[flag of Nepal]]. The [[List of countries by proportions of national flags|ratios of height to width]] vary among national flags, but none is taller than it is wide, again except for the flag of Nepal. The flags of [[flag of Switzerland|Switzerland]] and the [[Flag of Vatican City|Vatican City]] are the only national flags which are exact squares.

The obverse and reverse of all national flags are either identical or mirrored, except for the [[flag of Paraguay]] and the partially recognized [[Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic]]. See [[Flags whose reverse differs from the obverse]] for a list of exceptions including non-national flags.

As of 2011 all national flags consist of at least two different colours. In many cases, the different colours are presented in either horizontal or vertical bands. It is particularly common for colours to be presented in [[Triband (flag)|bands of three]].
[[File:Flag of Cambodia.svg|thumb|The [[Flag of Cambodia|Cambodian flag]] features a depiction of [[Angkor Wat]] in the center, a temple historically associated with both Hinduism and Buddhism.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Theodorou |first=Angelina E. |title=64 countries have religious symbols on their national flags |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/11/25/64-countries-have-religious-symbols-on-their-national-flags/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Pew Research Center |date=25 November 2014 |language=en-US}}</ref>]]
It is common for many flags to feature national symbols, such as [[Coat of arms|coats of arms]]. National patterns are present in some flags. Variations in design within a national flag can be common in the flag's upper left quarter, or canton.  A third of the world's 196 countries currently have national flags that include religious symbols.<ref name=":0" /> This has led to controversy in some [[Secular state|secular states]] in regard to the [[separation of church and state]], when the national symbol is officially sanctioned by a [[government]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=64 countries have religious symbols on their national flags |date=25 November 2014 |url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/11/25/64-countries-have-religious-symbols-on-their-national-flags/}}</ref>

===Colours===
{{Main list|List of flags by color|List of flags by color combination
}}

[[File:Distribution colours in national flags.jpg|thumb|Distribution of colours in national flags]]

The most common colours in national flags are red, white, green, dark blue, yellow, light blue, and black.<ref name=bartneckClark2014>{{cite journal|last=Bartneck|first=Christoph|author2=Adrian Clark|title=Semi-Automatic Color Analysis For Brand Logos|journal=Color Research and Application|volume=40|pages=72–84|date=2014|doi=10.1002/col.21853 }}</ref> The only national flag not to include the colors red, white, or blue is [[Flag of Jamaica|Jamaica's]].<ref>{{cite web |title=What Do the Colors and Symbols of the Flag of Jamaica Mean? |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-do-the-colors-and-symbols-of-the-flag-of-jamaica-mean.html |website=World Atlas |access-date=17 July 2020 |archive-date=17 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717190503/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-do-the-colors-and-symbols-of-the-flag-of-jamaica-mean.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The occurrence of each colour in all the flags is listed in detail in the table below.<ref name=bartneckClark2014 /> The table shows that the colours light brown, dark brown and grey are only present in very small quantities. To be more precise these colours are currently only present in some of the symbols found within a few flags, such as in the case of the [[Flag of Spain|Spanish flag]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Colour !! Percentage of Flags !! Count of flags
|-
| red || 76.14% || 150
|-
| white || 71.57% || 141
|-
| blue || 51.78% || 102
|-
| yellow/gold || 45.18% || 89
|-
| green || 44.67% || 88
|-
| black || 30.46% || 60
|-
| orange || 4.57% || 9
|-
| brown || 4.06% || 8
|-
| gray || 3.05% || 6
|-
| purple || 1.52% || 3
|}

===Similarities===
{{multiple images
| align             = left
| perrow            = 2
| total_width       = 220px
| header            = Blue, yellow and red striped flags
| image1            = Flag of Chad.svg
| image2            = Flag of Romania.svg
| image3            = Flag of Andorra.svg
| image4            = Flag of Moldova.svg
| footer            = Flags from top left to bottom right:<br />[[flag of Chad|Chad]], [[flag of Romania|Romania]], [[flag of Andorra|Andorra]] and [[flag of Moldova|Moldova]]
}}

Although the national flag is meant to be a unique symbol representing a nation, many countries have highly similar flags. Examples include the flags of [[Flag of Monaco|Monaco]] and [[Flag of Indonesia|Indonesia]], which differ only slightly in proportion and the tint of red; the flags of the [[Flag of the Netherlands|Netherlands]] and [[Flag of Luxembourg|Luxembourg]], which differ in proportion as well as in the tint of blue used; the flags of [[Flag of Romania|Romania]] and [[Flag of Chad|Chad]], which differ only in the tint of blue, and the flags of [[Flag of Cuba|Cuba]] and [[Flag of Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico]], which differ only in proportion, placement and tint of colors.

{{Multiple image
| direction         = horizontal
| image1            = Flag of Cuba.svg
| alt1              = 
| align             = right
| caption1          = [[Flag of Cuba]] with 1:2 proportion
| image2            = Flag of Puerto Rico.svg
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = [[Flag of Puerto Rico]] with 2:3 proportion
| width             = 125
}}

The flags of [[Flag of Ireland|Ireland]] and [[Flag of Ivory Coast|Ivory Coast]] and the flags of [[Flag of Mali|Mali]] and [[Flag of Guinea|Guinea]] are (aside from shade or ratio differences) vertically mirrored versions from each other. This means that the reverse of one flag matches the obverse of the other. Unlike horizontally mirrored flags (like [[Flag of Poland|Poland]] and [[Flag of Indonesia|Indonesia]]) the direction in which these flags fly is crucial to identify them.
[[File:Similar Flags.jpg|thumb|Image showing many similar flags]]
There are three colour combinations that are used on several flags in certain regions. Blue, white, and red is a [[Pan-Slavic colours|common combination]] in [[Slavic Europe|Slavic countries]] such as the [[Flag of the Czech Republic|Czech Republic]], [[Flag of Slovakia|Slovakia]], [[Flag of Russia|Russia]], [[Flag of Serbia|Serbia]], [[Flag of Slovenia|Slovenia]], and [[Flag of Croatia|Croatia]] as well as among Western nations including [[Flag of Australia|Australia]], [[Flag of France|France]], [[Flag of Iceland|Iceland]], the [[Flag of the Netherlands|Netherlands]], [[Flag of New Zealand|New Zealand]], [[Flag of Norway|Norway]], the [[Flag of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]], and the [[Flag of the United States|United States]]. Many African nations use the [[Pan-African colours]] of red, yellow, and green, including [[Flag of Cameroon|Cameroon]], [[Flag of Ethiopia|Ethiopia]], [[Flag of Ghana|Ghana]], [[Flag of Guinea|Guinea]], [[Flag of Mali|Mali]] and [[Flag of Senegal|Senegal]]. Flags containing red, white, and black (a subset of the [[Pan-Arab colours]]) can be found particularly among the Arab nations such as [[Flag of Egypt|Egypt]], [[Flag of Iraq|Iraq]], [[Flag of Sudan|Sudan]] and [[Flag of Yemen|Yemen]].
[[File:Mexico Italy flag differences.gif|thumb|Comparison of similarities of the [[Flag of Italy|Italian]] and [[Flag of Mexico|Mexican flags]]]]

Due to the common arrangement of the same colours, at first sight, it seems that the only difference between the [[Flag of Italy|Italian]] and the [[Flag of Mexico|Mexican flag]] is only the [[coat of arms of Mexico]] present in the latter; in reality the Italian tricolour uses lighter shades of green and red, and has different proportions than the Mexican flag—those of the Italian flag are equal to 2:3, while the proportions of the Mexican flag are 4:7.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bandiere-nazionali.it/bandiera-messico.html|title=Bandiera Messico|access-date=17 February 2016|language=it|archive-date=18 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118014921/http://bandiere-nazionali.it/bandiera-messico.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The similarity between the two flags posed a serious problem in maritime transport, given that originally the Mexican mercantile flag was devoid of arms and therefore was consequently identical to the Italian Republican tricolour of 1946; to obviate the inconvenience, at the request of the [[International Maritime Organization]], both Italy and Mexico adopted naval flags with different crests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiomarconi.com/marconi/storiabandiera/|title=La bandiera Italiana|access-date=17 February 2016|language=it|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303042627/http://www.radiomarconi.com/marconi/storiabandiera/|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Many other similarities may be found among current national flags, particularly if inversions of colour schemes are considered, e.g., compare the [[flag of Senegal]] to that of [[Flag of Cameroon|Cameroon]] and [[Flag of Indonesia|Indonesia]] to [[Flag of Poland|Poland]] and [[Flag of Monaco|Monaco]]. Also the [[flag of Italy]] and the [[flag of Hungary]] use the same colours, although the order and direction differ (the Italian flag is vertical green-white-red and the Hungarian flag is horizontal red-white-green). The same goes for the [[flag of France]] and the [[flag of the Netherlands]] (the French flag is vertical blue-white-red and the Dutch flag is horizontal red-white-blue). 

==== Flag families ====
{{Main|Flag families}}

While some similarities are coincidental, others are part of a flag family, flags rooted in shared histories. For example, the flags of [[Flag of Colombia|Colombia]], of [[Flag of Ecuador|Ecuador]], and of [[Flag of Venezuela|Venezuela]] all use variants of the [[flag of Gran Colombia]], the country they composed upon their independence from [[Spain]], created by the Venezuelan independence hero [[Francisco de Miranda]]; and the flags of [[Flag of Kuwait|Kuwait]], of [[Flag of Jordan|Jordan]], and of [[Flag of Palestine|Palestine]] are all highly similar variants of the [[Pan-Arab colors|flag of the Arab revolt]] of 1916–1918. The flags of [[Flag of Romania|Romania]] and [[Flag of Moldova|Moldova]] are virtually the same, because of the common history and heritage. Moldova adopted the Romanian flag during the declaration of independence from the [[Soviet Union|USSR]] in 1991 (and was used in various demonstrations and revolts by the population) and later the [[Moldovan coat of arms]] (which is part of the [[Coat of arms of Romania|Romanian coat of arms]]) was placed in the centre of the flag. All [[Nordic countries]], with the exception of [[Flag of Greenland|Greenland]], use the [[Nordic Cross flag|Nordic Cross design]] ([[Flag of Iceland|Iceland]], [[Flag of Denmark|Denmark]], [[Flag of Norway|Norway]], [[Flag of Sweden|Sweden]], [[Flag of Finland|Finland]], in addition to the autonomous regions of the [[Flag of the Faroe Islands|Faroe Islands]] and [[Flag of Åland|Åland]]), a horizontal cross shifted to the left on a single-coloured background. The [[United States]] and [[United Kingdom]] both have red, white, and blue. This similarity is due to the fact that the first 13 states of the U.S. were formerly colonies of the United Kingdom. Some similarities to the [[United States]] flag with the red and white stripes are noted as well such as the [[flag of Malaysia]] and the [[flag of Liberia]], the latter of which was an American resettlement colony. Also, several former colonies of the United Kingdom, such as [[Flag of Australia|Australia]], [[Flag of Fiji|Fiji]] and [[Flag of New Zealand|New Zealand]] include the [[Union Jack]] in the top left corner.

{{Gallery
|title=
|mode=nolines|style=background:var(--background-color-neutral, beige); color:var(--color-base, black); padding:20px|whitebg=no|height=100|align=center
|Similar Slavic Flags.png|[[Slavs|Slavic]] countries flag family.
|Former Federal Republic of Central America flags family.png|Former [[Federal Republic of Central America]] countries flags family.
|NordicFlagFamily.png|[[Nordic countries|Nordic]] countries flag family. (Åland and the Faroe Islands are autonomous regions)
}}
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|Heraldry and Vexillology}}}}

{{div col}}
; Lists of flags
*[[Lists of flags]]
*[[List of national flags of sovereign states]]
*[[Gallery of flags of dependent territories]]
*[[Timeline of national flags]]
*[[List of flags by colour combination]]
*[[Commons:Category:Gallery pages of flags of country subdivisions|Gallery pages of flags of country subdivisions]]

; Other
*[[City flag]]
*[[Civil flag]]
*[[Ethnic flag]]
*[[Flag Day]]
*[[Flag desecration]]
*[[Flag families]]
*[[Flags of the World (website)|Flags of the World]]
*[[Flag protocol]]
*[[Glossary of vexillology]]
*[[Maritime flag]]
*[[National coat of arms]]
*[[National emblem]]
*[[National seal]]
*[[National symbol]]
*[[State flag]]
*[[Timeline of national flags]]
*[[Vexillology]]
*[[Glossary of vexillology]]
*[[Vexillological symbol]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Bellocchi |first=Ugo |title=Bandiera madre – I tre colori della vita|year=2008|publisher=Scripta Maneant|language=it|isbn=978-88-95847-01-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Busico|first=Augusta |title=Il tricolore: il simbolo la storia|year=2005|publisher=Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, Dipartimento per l'informazione e l'editoria|language=it|id=[[National Library Service of Italy|SBN]] [https://opac.sbn.it/bid/UBO2771748 IT\ICCU\UBO\2771748]}}
* {{cite book|last1=Maiorino |first1=Tarquinio|last2=Marchetti Tricamo|first2=Giuseppe |last3=Zagami |first3=Andrea |title=Il tricolore degli italiani. Storia avventurosa della nostra bandiera|year=2002 |publisher=Arnoldo Mondadori Editore|language=it|isbn=978-88-04-50946-2|ref={{sfnref|Maiorino|2002}}}}
* {{cite book|last1=Tarozzi|first1=Fiorenza|last2=Vecchio|first2=Giorgio |title=Gli italiani e il tricolore|year=1999|publisher=Il Mulino|language=it|isbn=88-15-07163-6|ref={{sfnref|Tarozzi|1999}}}}
* {{cite book|last=Villa|first=Claudio|title=I simboli della Repubblica: la bandiera tricolore, il canto degli italiani, l'emblema|year=2010|publisher=Comune di Vanzago|language=it|id=[[National Library Service of Italy|SBN]] [https://opac.sbn.it/bid/LO11355389 IT\ICCU\LO1\1355389]}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|National flags}}
*[http://flagspot.net/flags/ Flags of the World], a massive online [[vexillology|vexillological]] database on national and many other kinds of flags
*[http://www.national-symbol.com The World All Countries Flags]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, a website about national symbols
*[http://www.flags.net/ World Flag Database] reverse search for ID by colour and layout
*[http://www.vexilla-mundi.com] for flag construction diagrams, flags of subnational entities, historical flags and country subdivisions
*[https://russelljohn.net/journal/2019/05/extensive-list-of-similar-flags-from-around-the-world/ Extensive list of similar flags from around the world]

{{-}}

{{Vexillology}}
{{National symbols}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Flag}}
[[Category:National flags| ]]
[[Category:Types of flags]]