The world's most unusual flags – and the hidden stories behind them

Strange standards

There's quite a lot of pressure on national flags. These fluttering pieces of fabric are expected to represent nations of millions or even billions with just a few stars, spots and stripes, and with 200 or so national flags flying around the world a lot of the simpler designs were snapped up early on. Some countries have gone the extra mile to stand out, incorporating fire-eyed dragons, purple parrots and even silhouetted assault rifles in their standards.

Read on to marvel at the world's most unusual national flags...

Kiribati

Sun and sea are recurring motifs on many of the world's flags, but you'll struggle to find them interwoven as elegantly as this. Dawn breaks over the ocean on the post-independence flag of Kiribati, a South Pacific archipelago that broke away from the British in 1979. The three white lines in the otherwise-blue sea represent the three main island groups: Gilbert, Line and Phoenix. And no, that's not a seagull – it's a frigate bird, which locally symbolises strength, harmony and command over the sea, and is said to guide lost fishermen safely back to shore.

Belize

Some vexillologists (flag experts) argue that, as important national symbols, flags should be simple enough that five-year-olds could draw them. Plenty of flags fail this test, but few fail it quite so completely as the national flag of Belize. An adaptation of the coat of arms used during colonial times, this flag was first raised in 1981 when the Central American nation declared independence from Britain. Two men, a creole and a mestizo, stand beneath a mahogany tree guarding a shield bearing historic emblems above the Latin motto 'sub umbra floreo': 'I flourish in the shade'. It's also one of very few national flags to feature people –  others include Malta, Montserrat and the BVIs.

Papua New Guinea

Making up half the southeast Asian island of New Guinea, PNG, as it is usually known, became fully independent from Australia in 1975. Its proposed flag, a blue-green-and-yellow number with clear Australian echoes put together by the colonial administration, did not initially inspire enthusiasm from locals, and it was a teenager who rode in to save the day. Fifteen-year-old Susan Karike drew up a draft flag diagonally divided into red and black – colours that feature heavily in local art and clothing – with the Southern Cross constellation on the left and an endemic bird-of-paradise on the right. It was passed by parliament in 1971 and fully adopted on independence.

Dominica

Does your national flag contain a purple parrot? If not, why not? Dominica's colourful flag dazzles with a deep-green background, a triple-coloured cross and a star-filled circle with a sisserou parrot at its heart – a vibrant bird only found on the Caribbean island. Designed by beloved local writer Alwin Bully and hoisted to mark independence in 1978, the flag's 10 stars represent the 10 parishes of the island, while the yellow, black and white stripes denote Carib, African and Caucasian people respectively. Fun fact: the presence of the parrot means that the Dominican flag contains more purple than any other national flag on Earth.

Sri Lanka

There aren't many flags with more ancient origins than Sri Lanka's. Some legends hold that the so-called 'Lion Flag' has represented the island's Sinhalese majority since founding father Prince Vijaya first arrived on the island – as far back as the 5th century BC. Two-and-a-half millennia later (in 1948) Sri Lanka declared independence from Great Britain, but the flag was deemed too Sinhalese-specific, so green and orange columns were added for the Muslims and Tamils respectively. Fast forward another two decades to the early 1970s and four leaves were added to the lion's crimson square – representing Buddhism's four virtues.

Nepal

The uncrowned king of unusual flags, the Nepalese standard takes the scissors to the rectangular template used by every other national flag on Earth. The five-sided design mirrors the cascading peaks of the Himalayan mountain range – around 75% of the country is covered by mountains, while the crescent moon and sun are associated with different dynasties and represent longevity. Crimson-red is Nepal's national colour – and that of its national plant, the rhododendron – while the blue border signifies peace. The present flag was codified under a new constitution in 1962, but its basic layout is centuries-old.

Bhutan

Whether it's eagles, lions or a crested crane (we're looking at you, Uganda), animals appear on flags all over the world, but Bhutan is the only sovereign nation to utilise a flame-tailed dragon clasping jewels in its claws. The local name for Bhutan, Druk Yul, translates as 'Land of the Thunder Dragon', as in Bhutanese mythology the sound of thunder echoing through the country's valleys was the voice of dragons. A tiny and remote Himalayan kingdom sandwiched between China and India, Bhutan spent centuries closed off from the outside world and the exact history of its flag is hard to ascertain.

Seychelles

Beautiful in its simplicity, colour splashes across this flag like rays of morning light across the sky. A tropical archipelago in the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles gained independence from Britain in 1976 and soon adopted the socialist green-and-red flag used by the ruling party. The country democratised in the mid-1990s and a less partisan flag was required, leading to the more expressive standard seen today. The colours symbolise the main components of island life: blue for the sea, yellow for the sun, red for the people, green for nature and white for justice and harmony.

Mozambique

Mozambique boasts the unusual distinction of having the only flag in the world to feature a Kalashnikov assault rifle. The country went through several designs during its long independence struggle with Portugal, and the resulting emblem was based on the banner of independence movement-turned-ruling party Frelimo. The open book, hoe and rifle stand respectively for education, the peasantry and defence of the nation. The flag has proved controversial in Mozambique, and the gun has its defenders and its critics. In 2005 a competition was held to design a new national flag, but all 169 entrants were rejected by parliament.

Cambodia

If your country boasted an architectural wonder to rival Angkor Wat, you'd probably put it on your flag too. Four other countries feature buildings on their flags (Afghanistan, Portugal, Spain and San Marino) but none nearly so prominently as Cambodia, which splays a detailed drawing of the 12th-century temple complex across the centre of its standard. One of the world's most coveted tourist destinations and a huge source of national pride, the sprawling temple has featured on different variations of the flag since the mid-19th century.

Argentina

Seen atop a flagpole, there's nothing very unusual about the Argentinian flag – two light-blue bars flanking a bright-yellow splodge. But look closer and the splodge becomes a perfectly circular sun, with 32 tentacular tendrils and a slightly disconcerting little face. The flag was first flown during the Argentine War of Independence (1810-1818), and the central emblem is known as the Sun of May – the sun that supposedly broke through the clouds to shine symbolically on the first independence demonstrations. The flag used to be significantly stranger – under the 19th-century Argentine Federation the sun was crimson-red and surrounded by four bright-red cone-shaped hats.

South Korea

The flag of South Korea is seen so often around the world that it's easy to forget how unusual its wavy central circle and disjointed black marks really are. Officially adopted by the newly-formed nation after the Second World War (though it's probably been around in some form since the 19th century), the flag is known as the Taegeukgi and is an absolute feast of symbolism. Its centrepiece derives from the famous 'yin and yang' of ancient Chinese philosophy, signifying interconnectedness, light and dark, old and new, good and evil. The four sets of broken bars represent the four cardinal directions; the four seasons; the sun, moon, earth and heaven; and more.

North Macedonia

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, 15 new states were born – and that meant 15 new governments, 15 new capital cities, 15 new national anthems and 15 new national flags. North Macedonia initially adopted the so-called 'starburst flag' once used by favourite son Alexander the Great, but dropped it after pressure from the Greeks, who also claim Alexander's legacy. From 1995 the nation instead used this glorious 'golden sun', referenced in the national anthem and the national coat of arms. Pressure from Greece also resulted in a name change from Macedonia to North Macedonia in 2019, ending a decades-long dispute.

Kazakhstan

National symbols are meant to evoke pride, patriotism and a certain solemn dignity, and it's hard to think of a more fitting piece of iconography than an eagle soaring beneath the sun. Kazakhstan is a vast central Asian nation full of sweeping plains and steppes, and the bright-blue background of this flag – another one born from the ashes of the Soviet Union – stands in for the great skies under which the nomadic steppe peoples once lived. The golden steppe eagle has been a symbol of power, insight and freedom for generations, while the elaborate column on the left showcases national ornamental patterns.

Kyrgyzstan

The flag of Kyrgyzstan holds one unusual distinction: it's the most recently-changed national flag on Earth. Since independence in 1992, the flag has featured a yellow sun surrounded by 40 distinct rays – said to correspond to the 40 followers of traditional Kyrgyz hero Manas the Noble. But in 2023, officials noticed that the symbol looked suspiciously like a sunflower – which in Kyrgyz culture signifies fickleness and servility. The new flag, seen here, features straightened rays and an extra pair of lines through its centre, hopefully ending any hint of floral resemblance.

Turkmenistan

Of all the flags to fail the 'could-a-five-year-old-draw-this' test, Turkmenistan's is perhaps the most intimidating. The deep green background is simple enough, likewise the crescent and stars, but the five beautifully elaborate motifs running down the left-hand side would cause all but the most talented toddlers to throw down their crayons in despair. For centuries, these patterns have been woven into the lavish carpets the Turkmen people are known for, and respectively represent the Salor, Tekke, Saryk, Yomut and Chaudor tribes.

Vatican City

How do you design a flag for a microstate whose stated aim is to house God's highest authority on Earth? The answer: with a yellow and white background and a coat of arms featuring a sumptuous tiara and a pair of crossed keys. Vatican City is the world's smallest independent nation, tucked around a single piazza in Rome, and houses the supreme head of the Catholic church, the Pope. The papacy once controlled lands across Italy and has had a flag for centuries; the current iteration was adopted in 1929 and is based on a design from 1808. The coat of arms originated in the 13th century, incorporating St Peter's keys to the kingdom of heaven.

Mauritius

There shouldn't be anything revolutionary about four horizontal bands of colour, but the island nation of Mauritius ranks among a surprisingly small subsection of flags to add a fourth line to the classic tricolour design. Three-stripe flags are well-represented in every corner of every continent, but the Comoros and the Central African Republic are the only other two sovereign states to opt for four evenly-spaced bands of colour. Red represents the struggle for independence, yellow the light of freedom, blue the Indian Ocean and green the island's lush flora.

Cyprus

At least 80% of the Cypriot flag is blank white space, but the Mediterranean island nation fills the remaining 20% with an intriguing design – an outline of the island as viewed from above. Cyprus spent centuries ruled by the Ottoman Turks and then the British, before achieving independence in 1960. The laurels on the flag symbolise peace but the new nation was quickly plagued by conflict, as a Greek coup and a Turkish invasion saw the island partitioned in 1974. Its northern half, including its eastern spike, has been Turkish-aligned ever since, with its own flag and government recognised only by Turkey.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina has the world's most unusual normal flag. It has a standard set of ingredients: five-pointed stars, a two-part colour scheme and a diagonal line through its centre. But the floating yellow triangle, the vanishing stars at the top and bottom and the disembodied blue pillar on the right lend it a charming uniqueness. It's as if someone tried to make a normal flag with Photoshop, got the dimensions wrong, stood back and thought, "actually, I like it this way".

Grenada

A slew of Caribbean islands gained independence through the 1960s and 1970s, and they typically adopted striking flag designs that shunned the vertical and horizontal tricolours already used by so many other countries. Grenada's flag, hoisted for the first time in 1974, is a masterclass in symbolism. The seven stars stand for the island's seven original districts, the yellow and green quadrants represent wisdom and nature, the red border means unity and harmony, and the leaf-like object on the left is a piece of nutmeg, one of the island's main products.

Denmark

Visually, Denmark's red-and-white cross is nothing to write home about – no offense, Danes – but the Dannebrog, as it is known, has the weight of history in its corner. It's the world's oldest continuously-used national flag, and the story goes that it fell from heaven during the Battle of Lyndanisse in 1219 – a sign of divine support for the Danish King Valdemar II against the Estonian pagans. The Guinness Book of World Records states that the current design has been in use since at least 1625 (though it's been around in some form for far longer), controversially beating out the Scottish Saltire on a technicality.

Mongolia

Red-blue-red vertical stripes would be par for the course on any of the world's continents, so it's the intriguing icon on this flag's left flank that sets it apart. The 'soyombo' is Mongolia's national symbol, combining a series of motifs drawn from Mongolian culture and religion: a flame, a sun, a moon and a yin-and-yang bordered by triangles and bars. Mongolia was communist between 1921 and 1990 – the second communist nation on Earth after Russia – and a five-pointed communist star was perched atop the soyombo for much of that time.

Paraguay

There's nothing obviously out of the ordinary about this flag, flown by the South American nation of Paraguay since 1842. The bands of red, white and blue are a go-to template, the wreath and star are widely-used pieces of iconography, and you can probably guess the translation of 'Republica del Paraguay'. But eagle-eyed observers might notice that the reverse side (pictured right) bears the country's treasury seal at its centre – a lion rimmed with the words 'paz y justicia' (peace and justice). It's the only national flag in the world to boast different designs on its front (pictured left) and back.

Libya

We're cheating a bit here, because this isn't Libya's flag anymore, but prior to the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the North African nation was the only country on Earth to represent itself with a single solid colour. The flag was chosen personally by the former dictator in 1977 and remains strongly associated with his supporters. Today Libya flies green, black and red horizontal stripes with the Islamic star and crescent in the centre, a restored former flag typical of the region both in colour and design.