Explore flags from across the Americas! From the Arctic tundra of Canada to the tip of Chile, test your knowledge of 35+ flags from North, Central, and South America plus the Caribbean.
Flag | Country | Flag history (≤150 words) |
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![]() | Antigua and Barbuda | Adopted 27 February 1967, Antigua and Barbuda’s flag has a red field with an inverted triangle containing black, blue, and white bands and a rising golden sun. Black reflects African heritage; blue hope and the sea; white beaches; the sun a new era; the V‑shape victory. Retained at independence in 1981; law governs proportion, conduct, and dignified retirement. Read more |
![]() | Argentina | Argentina’s flag—light blue‑white‑light blue horizontal bands—was first raised by Manuel Belgrano in 1812 and adopted in 1816. The Sun of May, with 32 alternating straight and wavy rays, appears on the official state and war flags at the centre; civil versions may omit it. Colours evoke sky, liberty, and Marian symbolism; the sun recalls the May Revolution. Law defines proportions, shades, emblem drawing, protocol, and Flag Day (20 June). Read more |
![]() | Bahamas | The Bahamas’ flag (10 July 1973) shows aquamarine, gold, aquamarine horizontal bands with a black hoist triangle. Aquamarine symbolises sea and sky; gold the sun and land; black the strength and unity of the people. Selected by national competition at independence, the design is protected by protocol governing respectful display and retirement. Read more |
![]() | Barbados | Barbados’s flag (30 November 1966) is a vertical triband of ultramarine, gold, ultramarine with a black trident head centred. Ultramarine signifies sea and sky; gold the sand; the broken trident marks the break from colonial rule and democratic sovereignty. A public competition produced the design; law codifies protocols and respectful use. Read more |
![]() | Belize | Belize’s flag (21 September 1981) has a royal blue field with thin red stripes at top and bottom and a large white disc bearing the national arms—two woodcutters, a shield of tools and ship, mahogany tree, and the motto “Sub Umbra Floreo.” The red stripes were added for political balance at independence. Law regulates proportions, usage, and dignified retirement. Read more |
![]() | Bolivia | Bolivia’s red‑yellow‑green tricolour was adopted in 1851. The civil flag is the plain tricolour; state and war flags add the coat of arms centred on the yellow band. Red symbolises bravery and sacrifice; yellow mineral wealth; green fertility and hope. A 15:22 proportion is traditional. Statutes regulate colour references, emblem drawings, protocol for precedence and half‑masting, and dignified retirement; the Wiphala also holds official status in state contexts. Read more |
![]() | Brazil | Brazil’s flag (19 November 1889) places a yellow rhombus on green with a blue celestial globe showing 27 stars for the states and Federal District, crossed by the motto “Ordem e Progresso.” The green and yellow echo imperial heraldry; the globe depicts the Rio de Janeiro sky of 15 November 1889. Proportions are 7:10 with construction sheets for the globe, band, and star positions; additions have tracked state changes, most recently in 1992. Read more |
![]() | Canada | Canada’s Maple Leaf flag was inaugurated on 15 February 1965, replacing Red Ensign variants. A stylised red eleven‑point maple leaf is centred on white, flanked by vertical red bars (1:2 proportion with a 1:2:1 vertical scheme). Red and white have been Canada’s official colours since 1921. The leaf symbolises unity and the land; the simple geometry ensures high visibility. Federal protocol governs display, half‑masting, folding, and dignified retirement; the design is unchanged since adoption and is a core national emblem at home and abroad. Read more |
![]() | Chile | Chile’s Estrella Solitaria (1817) pairs white over red horizontal bands with a blue canton bearing a white five‑pointed star. White evokes the Andes; red sacrifice for liberty; blue the sky; the star guidance and honour. Proportions and star geometry are fixed by law; civil, state, and war flags vary by presence of arms. Protocol governs display, half‑masting, and retirement; the basic design has remained stable since independence. Read more |
![]() | Colombia | Colombia’s tricolour—yellow (half‑height), blue, red—derives from the 19th‑century Gran Colombia banner and was adopted nationally in 1861. Yellow signifies sovereignty and abundance; blue the seas and loyalty; red the blood shed for independence. Proportion is 2:3 with a 2:1:1 band division; civil flags lack arms, while state and war flags may bear the coat of arms. Law codifies dimensions, shades, and protocol for display and half‑masting. Read more |
![]() | Costa Rica | Costa Rica’s flag—blue, white, broad red, white, blue—derives from an 1848 design inspired by the French Tricolour; the present standard was codified in 1906. Blue denotes sky, perseverance, and opportunity; white peace and wisdom; red the warmth and blood shed for freedom. The state flag bears the coat of arms on the red stripe; civil flags omit it. Read more |
![]() | Cuba | Cuba’s flag (1902) bears five stripes—three blue, two white—and a red hoist triangle charged with a white five‑pointed star. Conceived by Narciso López in 1849 for the independence cause, blue marks the island’s historic departments, white purity and justice, red courage and sacrifice, and the lone star sovereignty. A 1:2 ratio and protocol regulate construction, display, and dignified retirement. Read more |
![]() | Dominican Republic | The Dominican Republic’s flag (6 November 1844) bears a centred white cross dividing blue (upper hoist, lower fly) and red (upper fly, lower hoist) quarters, with the national coat of arms at the intersection. Blue stands for liberty, red for the blood of patriots, and white for faith, peace, and unity. A 2:3 ratio and law fix the arms—Bible (John 8:32), cross, lances, and motto—and strict protocol for state display. Read more |
![]() | Ecuador | Ecuador’s tricolour—yellow (double height), blue, red—dates to 26 September 1860 and the Gran Colombia tradition. Yellow signifies abundance and the country’s resources; blue the sky and Pacific; red the blood shed for independence. The civil flag is the plain tricolour; the state and war flags bear the national coat of arms centred. Laws codify the 2:3 ratio, colour references, and crest sizing; protocol governs precedence, half‑masting, and dignified retirement. Read more |
![]() | El Salvador | El Salvador’s flag—blue, white, blue with the national coat of arms centred—was readopted on 17 May 1912, honouring the Central American triband. Blue recalls the Pacific and Caribbean; white denotes peace. The arms show a triangle with five volcanoes, Phrygian cap, rainbow, and five flags. Laws fix proportions, hues, and usage; a civil flag omits the arms. Read more |
![]() | Grenada | Grenada’s flag (7 February 1974) shows yellow top/bottom triangles and green hoist/fly triangles divided by a red border with six yellow stars, a central red disc with a star, and a nutmeg pod at the hoist. Colours denote warmth, courage, and agriculture; stars mark the parishes. Protocol regulates usage and half‑masting. Read more |
![]() | Guatemala | Guatemala’s flag—vertical blue, white, blue with the coat of arms centred—was adopted on 17 August 1871 after liberal reforms. Blue signifies the two oceans and the sky; white denotes peace and purity. The arms show the resplendent quetzal (liberty), a scroll dated 15 September 1821, crossed rifles (readiness), swords (honour), and laurel (victory). A 5:8 ratio and decrees standardise colours, the crest drawing, and protocol; civil flags may omit arms. Read more |
![]() | Guyana | Guyana’s “Golden Arrowhead” (26 May 1966) has a green field with a golden triangle edged in white and a red hoist triangle edged in black. Green represents forests and agriculture; gold mineral wealth and forward drive; white rivers; red zeal; black endurance. Protocol codifies use and construction. Read more |
![]() | Haiti | Haiti’s flag is a blue‑over‑red horizontal bicolour bearing the coat of arms on a white panel: a palm with liberty cap, flags, artillery, and the motto “L’Union fait la Force.” Rooted in the 1803 revolutionary banner, the present form was restored on 25 February 1986 after the Duvalier era. Law codifies proportion, arms drawings, usage, and solemn protocol. Read more |
![]() | Honduras | Honduras’s flag—blue, white, blue with five blue stars in an X pattern—was standardised on 7 March 1866, drawing on the Central American triband. Blue denotes the Caribbean, Pacific, and sky; white peace. The five stars recall the former federation’s members and the ideal of regional fraternity. Proportion and star geometry are codified; protocol covers precedence, half‑masting, and dignified retirement. Read more |
![]() | Jamaica | Jamaica’s flag (6 August 1962) bears a gold saltire dividing black (hoist and fly) and green (top and bottom) triangles. Black signifies the strength and creativity of the people; gold the sunlight and natural wealth; green hope and agricultural resources. Selected at independence, the unique palette omits red, white, and blue. Protocol and law regulate proportion, respectful use, and dignified retirement. Read more |
![]() | Mexico | Mexico’s vertical tricolour of green, white, and red centres the national coat of arms—an eagle devouring a serpent on a nopal cactus—within the white band. Rooted in the 1821 independence tricolour, the emblem was standardised in 1916 and the current layout fixed in 1968. Colours are now read as hope (green), unity (white), and the blood of national heroes (red). Strict law (Ley sobre el Escudo, la Bandera y el Himno Nacional) defines design, proportions (4:7 in official use), protocols, and dignified treatment. Read more |
![]() | Nicaragua | Nicaragua’s flag (4 September 1908) is a blue‑white‑blue triband with the coat of arms centred: a triangle with five volcanoes between two oceans beneath a rainbow and Phrygian cap, encircled by “República de Nicaragua – América Central.” The colours recall the federation; statutes set a 3:5 ratio, colour standards, armorial drawings, and usage; civil flags omit arms. Read more |
![]() | Panama | Panama’s flag (20 December 1903) quarters the field: white with a blue star (upper hoist), red (upper fly), blue (lower hoist), and white with a red star (lower fly). White signifies peace; blue and red represent the founding parties and political balance. The design by Manuel E. Amador was legalised in 1904 and later constitutionalised; statutes codify proportion, colours, star geometry, protocol, and dignified retirement. Read more |
![]() | Paraguay | Paraguay’s tricolour (red, white, blue) is unique for having different obverse and reverse seals: the coat of arms (front) and the treasury seal with the lion and liberty cap (back). Standardised in 1842, the colours echo revolutionary ideals—courage (red), peace (white), and liberty (blue). The legal ratio is 11:20; decrees define the emblems’ drawings, usage contexts, precedence, and half‑masting. Read more |
![]() | Peru | Peru’s red‑white‑red vertical tricolour dates to 1825 reforms following San Martín’s 1820 banner. The civil flag omits arms; state and war flags display the coat of arms (vicuña, cinchona, cornucopia). Colours are read as sacrifice (red) and peace (white). Law fixes a 2:3 ratio, colour references, and protocol—display, half‑masting, ceremonies, and dignified retirement. Read more |
![]() | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Adopted 19 September 1983, the flag shows green and red triangles divided by a black diagonal band edged in yellow with two white stars. Green symbolises fertility; red struggle and heritage; black the people; yellow sunshine; the stars hope, liberty, and the twin‑island federation. Protocol governs use and half‑masting. Read more |
![]() | Saint Lucia | Saint Lucia’s flag (1 March 1967; retained 1979) is cerulean blue with a gold isosceles triangle before a black arrowhead edged in white. Blue evokes sea and sky; gold sunshine and prosperity; black and white the harmonious peoples and the Pitons. Minor refinements aside, the design endures; strict protocol applies. Read more |
![]() | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Adopted 21 October 1985, the flag is a vertical blue–gold–green triband (gold double width) with three green diamonds in a V on the centre band. Blue denotes sea/sky, gold sunshine and beaches, green the land; diamonds echo “Gems of the Antilles” and spell Vincent. Protocol prescribes respectful use. Read more |
![]() | Suriname | Suriname’s flag (25 November 1975) has green–white–red–white–green horizontal bands with a central yellow five‑pointed star on red. Green signals hope and fertility; white justice and freedom; red progress and sacrifice; the star national unity and a golden future. Law regulates construction and use. Read more |
![]() | Trinidad and Tobago | Trinidad and Tobago’s flag (31 August 1962) is red with a black diagonal band from upper hoist to lower fly, edged in white. Red denotes the vitality of the people and sun; black strength and dedication; white the water and equality. Adopted at independence, the design is governed by strict protocol on display, half‑masting, and retirement. Read more |
![]() | United States | The United States flag—thirteen red‑and‑white stripes with a blue canton bearing fifty white stars—was first established on 14 June 1777. The stripes commemorate the original colonies; the stars, one per state, grew with the Union to the current fifty on 4 July 1960 after Hawaii’s admission. Colours are read as valor (red), purity (white), and vigilance, perseverance, and justice (blue). The design evolved through 27 official versions as states joined. Etiquette is governed by the U.S. Flag Code (Title 4, U.S.C.) specifying display, half‑masting, folding, and dignified retirement. The standard proportion is 1.9:1 with a codified star field (Union) layout and colour specifications. Read more |
![]() | Uruguay | Uruguay’s flag (11 July 1830) has nine horizontal stripes alternating white and blue and a white canton charged with the golden Sun of May with a human face and sixteen rays. The stripes recall the country’s original departments; the Sun symbolises liberty and the Río de la Plata revolutionary tradition. A 2:3 ratio is fixed by law; etiquette covers precedence, half‑masting, and approved contexts for the national, Artigas, and Treinta y Tres flags. Read more |
![]() | Venezuela | Venezuela’s tricolour of yellow, blue, and red with eight white stars in a central arc descends from Francisco de Miranda’s 1806 banner. The present form dates to 2006, when an eighth star was added for Guayana and the arms were updated. Yellow signifies land and wealth; blue the sea; red courage and blood shed. A 2:3 ratio and statutes govern star geometry, spacing, and protocol; state and war flags bear arms at the hoist while the civil flag omits them. Read more |
USA, Canada, Mexico, Greenland
Large nations with distinctive flag designs reflecting colonial heritage
Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
Blue and white patterns common, representing Pacific and Atlantic oceans
Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador
Liberation colors (yellow, blue, red) from independence movements
Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Trinidad, Barbados
Tropical colors and colonial influences from various European powers
The USA flag has 50 stars representing states and 13 stripes for the original colonies. It's been modified 27 times as new states joined the Union.
Canada's red maple leaf flag was adopted in 1965, replacing the British colonial flag. The maple leaf has been a Canadian symbol for over 200 years.
Brazil's flag features "Ordem e Progresso" (Order and Progress) and depicts the night sky over Rio de Janeiro on November 15, 1889 - the proclamation of the Republic.
Many South American flags share yellow, blue, and red colors from Gran Colombia, representing the gold of the Americas, blue of the Atlantic separating from Spain, and red for courage.
Understanding the Americas' flags helps you navigate the geography and politics of the entire Western Hemisphere.
American flags tell powerful stories of liberation from colonial rule and the birth of modern democratic nations.
The Americas are increasingly connected through trade agreements like NAFTA, making flag knowledge valuable for business.
From Inuit cultures to Amazonian tribes, American flags represent incredible linguistic and cultural diversity.