List of national flags by design


A national flag is a flag that represents and symbolizes a country.[] Flags come in many different shapes and designs, which often represent something about the country or people that the flag represents. Common design elements of flags include shapes such as stars, stripes, and crosses, layout elements such as including a canton, and the overall shape of a flag, such as the aspect ratio of a rectangular flag or the choice of a non-rectangular flag.
Many countries with shared history, culture, ethnicity, or religion have similarities in their flags that represent this connection. Sets of flags in this list within the same category may represent countries' shared connections, or the design similarity may be a coincidence.

Uncommon flag shapes

Four-pointed

One pentagram in center

One five-pointed star in center

See also the list of flags featuring crescents, below, many of which include a five-pointed star in the crescent.

One five-pointed star on hoist

Multiple five-pointed stars of equal size

Hexagram

Many-pointed

One many-pointed star

The Southern Cross or Crux, a constellation visible in the Southern Hemisphere, is depicted on flags and coats of arms of various countries and sub-national entities. This star constellation is visible mostly in the southern hemisphere and it therefore symbolises the southern location of its users.

Facing up

Facing fly

Facing diagonally

One circle in center

One circle on hoist

One broken or implied circle

Triangle(s) in centre

Horizontal

Two colors

Two equal horizontal stripes in two colors
Two unequal horizontal stripes in two colors
Three equal horizontal stripes in two colors
Three fimbriated thick-and-thin horizontal stripes in two colors

Three colors

Three equal horizontal stripes in three colors

Four colors

Four equal horizontal stripes in four colors
Seven equal horizontal stripes in four colors
Seven unequal horizontal stripes in three colors

Five colors

Five equal horizontal stripes in five colors

Two equal vertical stripes in two colors

Two unequal vertical stripes in two colors

Three equal vertical stripes in two colors

Three equal vertical stripes in three colors

Three unequal vertical stripes

Four unequal vertical stripes in four colors

Two crossing horizontal and vertical stripes

[Nordic Cross flag]
[Saint George's Cross]
In canton
Others

Diagonal

Two diagonal stripes

Two crossing diagonal stripes

Cross

Upright centred cross

Nordic Cross

Nordic Cross in two colours

Nordic Cross in three colours

One cross in emblem

Diagonal cross

Upright and diagonal centred crosses

Additionally, the Union Jack features in many territorial and sub-national flags. These are often Red Ensigns or Blue Ensigns. A small number have backgrounds of other colours or a unique pattern in the field. A small number put the Union Jack somewhere other than the canton. Unofficial flags, such as also use it.

Divisions

Upper left divided from rest of flag

A canton in a flag is a rectangular area at the top hoist corner of a flag, occupying up to a quarter of the flag's area. The canton of a flag may be a flag in its own right. For instance, British ensigns have the Union Jack as their canton, as do their derivatives such as the national flags of Australia and New Zealand. Following the practice of British ensigns, a canton sometimes contains a symbol of national unity such as the blue field and white stars of the U.S. flag. In these cases, the canton may be called simply the union.
The U.S. flag's canton derives from the British use of the Union Jack in the canton of its possessions. Subsequently, many New World nations that were inspired by the U.S. incorporated elements likewise inspired by the U.S. flag. As a result, many extant uses of a prominent canton derive either from British territorial history, or U.S. influence and inspiration.
See also #Cross section
;St. Andrew's Cross
;Cross of Burgundy

Other symbols and pictures

Sun

Bird

and lion

Building

Trapezium

Square

Other symbols

Country name

*