Flags are more than just colorful pieces of fabric - they're powerful symbols of national identity, history, and culture. Join us as we explore the most visually striking and meaningful national flags from around the world, uncovering the fascinating stories behind their unique designs and symbolism.
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00:00The flag flying over the Peace Tower is now so popular, the waiting list to receive one
00:06is 48 years long.
00:08Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most unique flag patterns
00:12and backstories from the world stage.
00:14The Betsy Ross flag was the first official flag of the United States.
00:19Number 20.
00:20Mexico
00:21The history of the Aztec Empire greatly influences the symbol found within the center of this
00:25triple-colored flag.
00:26Tenochtitlan was the name previously used for the area that currently rests within Mexico's
00:31capital, one that connects her people to their Aztec culture.
00:34Meanwhile, the green, white, and red color pattern represents the Mexican army and symbolizes
00:39the country's fight for independence from Spain.
00:41This is also, I think, an important way for Mexicans in Mexico and in the United States
00:46to understand themselves as part of a powerful and important country.
00:52This combination of culture, struggle, and history ties into Mexican identity, which
00:56is profoundly represented via this instantly recognizable flag.
01:00Not too shabby for one that was adopted fairly recently in 1968.
01:27Number 19.
01:28Kazakhstan
01:29The history of this flag is another with contemporary origins.
01:32This flag of Kazakhstan was adopted back in 1992, a year after the collapse of the Soviet
01:37Union.
01:38As a result, this flag represents Kazakhstan's sovereignty from Russian rule.
01:41This can be seen within its design, which retains the Soviet golden coloring while also
01:46including a representative blue for open sky and opportunity.
01:49The blue within the flag also ties into the Turkic spiritual identity of Kazakhstan's
01:53people, while the brightly lit sun and eagle design focuses upon new cultural freedoms
01:58and future prosperity.
02:00Number 18.
02:01Portugal
02:02It was the October 5, 1910 revolution in Portugal that helped shift political control within
02:06that country from a monarchy to a newly established First Portuguese Republic.
02:10This new flag is retained today, a gorgeous green and red with gold, blue, and white highlights.
02:15The shield of Portugal rests to the left of the rectangular stripe design, but vertically
02:19centered, and this was definitely intentional.
02:22Portugal's new republic sought to differentiate herself from the oppressive monarchy that
02:26came before and did so with this field pattern and decidedly important color scheme.
02:31Number 17.
02:32Malaysia
02:33The flags of some countries employ simple colors and designs, while others choose to
02:36incorporate symbols with deep cultural significance.
02:40Malaysia's flag does the latter, including a yellow crescent moon alongside a 14-pointed
02:44federal star.
02:45Meanwhile, the red and white stripe designs don't feel dissimilar to the United States,
02:49with each representing Malaysia's 13 federal states.
02:52That aforementioned crescent moon ties into the religious culture of Islam, while the
02:56bintang persecutuan, or federal star, represents state and federal unity.
03:01The yellow colors present within the star and moon also tie into the Royal Rule of Malaysia,
03:05a governing council that stands as the only one of its kind in the world.
03:09Number 16.
03:10Croatia
03:11It was during Croatia's fight for independence from Hungarian rule that designs for this
03:15official flag were first drafted.
03:17The red, white, and blue stripes were initially adopted as an homage to Russia, a noted enemy
03:21of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
03:23The German invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941 allowed for Croatia to be established as an
03:28independent state, leading to the addition of a symbol to the flag's hoist.
03:32This symbol was initially of the fascist Ustase organization, but it went through a number
03:37of replacements, including the communist red star, before achieving the final form it enjoys
03:41today.
03:42The shield emblem represents all of Croatia's historic republics, specifically the color
03:46patterns of their respective coat of arms.
03:49Number 15.
03:50Sri Lanka
03:51There are a lot of cool elements going on within the design of Sri Lanka's national
03:54flag.
03:55It's sometimes referred to as the Lion Flag, and for obvious reasons.
04:05The presence of a sword-wielding lion opposite of the flag's hoist is connected with Sri
04:09Lankan's founder, Prince Vijaya.
04:12Stories tell of his arrival from India's Sinhapura, or Lion City, sometime around the
04:165th century BCE.
04:17Meanwhile, the orange and teal colors of the flag symbolize different aspects of Sri Lanka's
04:21diverse population, specifically Tamil and more, while the yellow border is inclusive
04:26to other ethnic groups residing in the country.
04:29Number 14.
04:30Jamaica
04:31The people of Jamaica wasted no time when it came to adopting their official national
04:34flag on the same day the country achieved her independence from the United Kingdom.
04:38The colors of the Jamaican flag are notable for not including any common root shades of
04:43red, white, or blue.
04:44Instead, the striking green and black design is divided into four quarters via a dividing
04:48yellow cross.
04:49Citizens of Jamaica were actually invited to help design the national flag, with over
04:53360 different submissions being sent in to the country's government.
04:57The cross design would ultimately be developed internally, however, taking inspiration from
05:01the similar blue and white flag of Scotland.
05:04Number 13.
05:05The Philippines
05:06There will seemingly always be a strong connection to the victorious feelings after a revolution
05:11and the patriotism of choosing a new national flag.
05:14The Philippines gained their independence from Spain after the Philippine Revolution
05:17of 1896, and the design of this flag celebrates that victory.
05:21The eight rays of light emitting from the hoist side represent the Philippines' provinces
05:25that rose up against the Spanish during the conflict.
05:28Meanwhile, the stars along the white hoist side triangle designated the Philippines as
05:32an island nation, while the actual triple-sided space designates equality amongst the Philippine
05:37people.
05:38Number 12.
05:39Papua New Guinea
05:40The uniqueness of the flag of Papua New Guinea truly captures the eye almost immediately.
05:44We're talking about how it separates the red and black color palette diagonally, instead
05:48of vertically or horizontally.
05:49I know that every man, woman, and child of our new nation shares this moment of pride
05:55and happiness.
05:56The flag also includes the southern cross constellation, which tells the world that
06:00Papua New Guinea resides in the world's southern hemisphere.
06:03This image also ties into Papua New Guinea's cultural history, since it officially gained
06:07independence from Australia in 1975.
06:09The national bird of Papua New Guinea, the
06:20reguiana bird of paradise, also sits proudly in silhouette opposite of the flag's hoist.
06:26Number 11.
06:27South Korea
06:28The flags of North and South Korea couldn't be more different.
06:30Granted, the colors of red, white, and blue remain, but the South Korean flag is a lot
06:34busier when it comes to design.
06:36It's also referred to as the Tagokji, and contains four symbols known as pagwa, which
06:40represent opposite forces that achieve balance through mutual reinforcement.
06:44Additionally, a red and white yin-yang symbol is notable for its central presence within
06:48the South Korean flag, denoting harmony between the negative and positive influences of the
06:53universe.
06:54The Tagokji is also a comparatively recent flag, having only been adopted in South Korea
06:58since 1948.
07:00Number 10.
07:01Albania
07:02The next flag on our list is simple yet bold, with the black emblem of a double-headed eagle
07:05making it one of the coolest-looking flags in the world.
07:08If the impressive look isn't enough, the eagle has actually been a symbol of Albania since
07:12the Middle Ages, where it originated as a coat of arms.
07:15It became largely synonymous with Albania after a successful revolt over the Ottoman
07:19Empire, which saw the country gain its independence.
07:22Though, over the years, a number of variations of the flag have appeared under different
07:26governments and regimes, the core elements and colors have largely remained constant.
07:31Number 9.
07:32South Africa
07:33The era of unity began in South Africa with the historic end of apartheid in 1994, which
07:38ended legal segregation and discrimination, and saw the white and black populations move
07:42closer together.
07:44On April 27, 1994, Nelson Mandela cast his vote in the first free and democratic elections
07:49in South Africa, marking the official end to racial oppression and apartheid rule.
07:54To commemorate the new government and the beginning of equality, the new flag honored
07:58both the country's African and European roots.
08:01The Y-shape across the center features the African National Congress colors of black,
08:05yellow, and green, with a red band at the top and blue on the bottom, each flanked by
08:09white strips.
08:10The flag also showcases more of South Africa's history by calling back to the flags of both
08:15the Netherlands and Britain, who share the colors.
08:17And never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression
08:26of one by another.
08:28Number 8.
08:29Spain
08:30Despite this flag's design, the crest, the colors, and even the asymmetry has a fitting
08:33air of majesty to it.
08:35Spain's current flag harkens back to those flown by the Spanish Navy under Charles III,
08:39which featured the Spanish coat of arms.
08:41Noting the abundance of flags featuring white, Charles opted for something different, primarily
08:46in order to avoid unfortunate incidents while meeting foreign enemies at sea.
08:50And the red and yellow have appeared on the Spanish flag since.
08:53The flag reached its final incarnation in 1981, when it brought back the crest, which
08:57had disappeared under dictator Franco's regime, and now flanked it with two columns, representing
09:02the pillars of Hercules.
09:04Number 7.
09:05Canada
09:06The maple leaf was a symbol of Canada even before Confederation in 1867.
09:09However, it wasn't until 1965 that the country had a flag to call its own.
09:24Although different flags had been used for military purposes, the lack of a true national
09:28flag was a source of contention for French and English-speaking Canadians alike.
09:33Red and white were named as official colors by King George V in 1921, but it took 40 years
09:38for those colors to be seen on an official national flag.
09:41Forgoing any British or French symbolism, the simple yet iconic flag displays two red
09:45bands, which represent the oceans on either side of the country, with the uniquely Canadian
09:50image of an 11-pointed maple leaf standing proudly between them.
09:54Thanks to George Stanley, the maple leaf was born.
09:57Number 6.
09:58Nepal
09:59No list of flags would be complete without this unique entry.
10:02Nepal's flag is the only flag in the world without four corners or four edges, forgoing
10:06the usual square or rectangular template in favor of a shape formed by two intersecting
10:11triangles.
10:12The triangles represent Nepal's most famous landmark, the Himalayan Mountains, and each
10:16is adorned by a different symbol.
10:18The sun represents intense determination, while the moon signifies peace and tranquility.
10:22The striking crimson, the national color of Nepal, works perfectly as a backdrop for
10:26the white symbols of the sun and the moon.
10:28All of this is surrounded by a dark blue border which symbolizes peace on this instantly recognizable
10:34flag.
10:35Number 5.
10:36The United States of America
10:37The Star-Spangled Banner can trace its roots all the way back to the American Revolution,
10:41when 13 colonies under British rule came together to fight for their independence.
10:46Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, The Star-Spangled Banner, nicknames for our American flag.
10:53The newly united colonies were represented by 13 bars of red and white with a British
10:57flag in the upper left corner.
10:59The British flag was quickly replaced by a circle of 13 white stars on a blue border,
11:03and over the years those stars have come to represent the number of current states in
11:06the Union, while the 13 stripes remained constant.
11:09Surprisingly, a number of countries around the world admire Old Glory so much they've
11:13modified it for their own use.
11:14There you have it America, display that flag proudly, but do it right.
11:19Number 4.
11:20Bhutan
11:21The uncommon color combination along with a stylized dragon draped across the center
11:25makes this flag one of the most interesting in the world.
11:27Nestled between Himalayan mountains, Bhutan's airport is one of the world's most dangerous
11:33to land in.
11:34It's just one of the obstacles to get into the so-called happiest nation on earth.
11:39This small nation has a long rich history tied to Tibetan Buddhism, which is reflected
11:43on their flag.
11:44The orange used represents Buddhist spiritual tradition, while the yellow portion symbolizing
11:48civil tradition, with Druk, the thunder dragon, covering each color equally.
11:53As if a thunder dragon isn't cool enough, he clutches jewels representing prosperity
11:57and protection of his people, while his snarling face is said to be a sign of the dragon's
12:01defense of Bhutan.
12:02From the extended family to the neighborhood, people work together here.
12:07Number 3.
12:08Brazil
12:09This iconic emblem should be familiar to any fans of international football and Brazil's
12:13phenomenal team.
12:14Each of its 27 five-pointed white stars represents a state.
12:17However, the stars also correspond with the actual Brazilian sky.
12:21The blue globe illustrates the sky.
12:23Its 27 stars are for each Brazilian state and the capital, Brasilia.
12:27More specifically, it's a depiction of nine constellations as they appeared on the morning
12:31of November 15, 1889, the day the Brazilian Republic was established.
12:36The blue circle containing the starry array worked perfectly against the golden diamond
12:40and green background.
12:41Brazilian elements carried over from the Brazilian Empire.
12:44Brazil's motto, Ordem e Progresso, arches across the sphere in the perfect finishing
12:48touch to bring the banner together.
12:50Its inscription follows the line of the equator.
12:53Underneath, the Southern Cross five-star constellation is a reminder of Brazil's location.
12:59Number 2.
13:00Barbados
13:01Upon first glance, the flag of Barbados features a visually pleasing combination of blue and
13:05yellow, with the top of a black trident standing out in its center.
13:08However, it isn't only aesthetics that earned the flag its high ranking.
13:12Chosen when a national contest was held to pick a national flag, it was adopted in 1966,
13:17when Barbados earned its independence from the British Empire.
13:20The broken trident recalls the flag used when Barbados was a British colony, whereupon Britannia
13:25wielded it.
13:26The now-broken trident symbolizes that the country has broken away from its colonial
13:30past and is free from foreign rule.
13:32The island nation has officially cut ties with the British monarchy, in so doing, becoming
13:37the world's newest republic.
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13:56Number 1.
13:57The United Kingdom
13:58The top flag on our list has a rich history.
14:00A stylish look is recognizable across the world and is even prominent in fashion.
14:05The flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is an amalgamation of
14:09three separate flags, each with its own storied history.
14:11Combined, these flags form the symbolic Union Flag.
14:15Since the Middle Ages, the Cross of St. George has represented England, while St. Andrew's
14:19Cross has been Scotland's national symbol.
14:21The original Union Jack was created as a combination of these emblems in 1606, when James V of
14:27Scotland inherited the English crown.
14:29Eventually, in 1801, the Cross of St. Patrick was added for Ireland, completing the flag
14:33proudly saluted by every Brit from James Bond to The Who.
14:36The flag has been known as the Union Jack from perhaps as early as the 1700s.
14:41The origin of this nickname remains unknown.
14:44One popular theory links it to the small naval flags, known as jacks, flown on British warships.
14:49Is there a unique-looking flag you feel deserves some extra attention?
14:52Let us know in the comments.
14:53The national flag reflects Brazil's diversity.
14:56Its green background symbolizes nature.
14:59While it does still cover 5.5 million square kilometers, nearly two-thirds of the country.
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