A distinctive symbol of a nation, flags often tell the story of a country’s political and cultural history, with centuries-old legends hiding behind some of the simplest designs. Here, we pick out the world's most eye-catching flags with interesting tales to tell...

The iconic American flag we know today has only existed since 1960, after Hawaii became a US state. The 50 stars symbolize the current 50 states of the USA, while the 13 stripes represent the 13 British colonies that became the first states. The flag’s future is unclear too. Both Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia are looking to become US states and, if that happens, the flag would require a new design to accommodate the additional stars.

Although it wasn't officially adopted until 1990, after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany, the history of this tricolor of black, red and gold dates to 1778. It was first used as the flag of The Principality of Reuss-Greiz, a sovereign state in the territory of modern-day Germany. The colors are said to represent democracy.

Adopted after Indian Independence in 1947, this flag includes a saffron color, which signals the strength and courage of the country. The white band is representative of peace and truth, while the green symbolizes fertility of the land. The symbol at the center, the Ashoka Chakra, represents India's hard work and progress.

One of the most recognizable designs in the world, the Union Jack is actually a combination of several flags, and symbolizes three of the nations within the UK. The red cross of St George denotes the Kingdom of England, the white saltire (diagonal cross) of St Andrew represents Scotland, and the red saltire of St Patrick stands for the island of Ireland.

Botswana’s flag is one of the few African flags not to use the traditional colors of the Pan-African movement (red, green and black) or those of the leading party. Instead it features the colors of the country’s coat of arms. Adopted in 1966 to replace the Union Jack, the light blue is representative of water, while the black and white symbolize racial harmony. The black and white stripes are also a nod to the country’s national animal, the zebra.

Condensing centuries of South Africa’s history, the current flag, adopted in 1994, is a strong representation of South Africa's culture. Although there is no official explanation of the colors, the black, green and yellow were taken from Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress banner, while the red, white and blue were the colors of the Transvaal flag. The Y-shape is said to reference the convergence of the different cultures under one nation.

With a strong nod to the Commonwealth, the Australian flag features both the Union Jack in the canton (the upper-left oblong on the flag) and the large seven-pointed Commonwealth star beneath it. The other half of the flag, featuring five different-sized stars, represents the Southern Cross constellation that’s seen from Australia. However, it has divided opinion and there has been much debate recently about whether it should still include the Union Jack, along with concerns it isn't inclusive of the country's indigenous population. 

As with the Australian flag, the Union Jack in this flag’s canton is also a nod to the Commonwealth. The red stars symbolize the Southern Cross, a striking constellation in the southern hemisphere sky that's been used to represent New Zealand since the early days of European settlement. The constellation also has strong symbolism in Māori mythology. Discover 50 amazing reasons to visit New Zealand here. 

Also known as the Five-starred Red Flag, the Chinese flag was first hoisted by the People’s Liberation Army in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on 1 October 1949, when the establishment of the People’s Republic of China was announced. The red color represents the communist revolution in China, while the five stars represent the unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

Designed by a Somali scholar in 1954 in preparation for the country’s independence, this flag’s blue background was initially a nod to the United Nations. Now, however, it symbolizes the Indian Ocean and the sky. At the center of the flag is a five-pointed Star of Unity. Its five points represent the areas where the Somali people have traditionally lived: Djibouti, Somaliland, southern Somalia, the Ogaden region of Ethiopia and the North Eastern Province of Kenya.

The official flag since 1889, the design of A Auriverde hides a lot of symbolism. The green represents Brazil’s fields and forests, the yellow diamond is a nod to Brazil’s wealth in gold, and the central blue celestial globe represents the night sky over Rio de Janeiro. Each of the white stars within the globe corresponds to a Brazilian Federative Unit and the national motto Ordem e Progresso (Order and progress).

This became the official flag of the Tsardom of Russia in 1696, however, it wasn’t until the dissolution of the Soviet Union that the pre-revolutionary flag was reintroduced in 1991. The interpretations of the colors vary greatly. Some sources say the colors represent the order of priority (white for God, blue for tsar, red for the people), others believe the white symbolizes nobility and frankness, the blue stands for faithfulness and honesty, and the red is a symbol of courage and generosity.

Reminiscent of Greece’s blue seas and the white buildings that line the coastline of its islands, the nine stripes on the Greek flag I Galanolefki are supposed to represent the nine syllables of the phrase "eleftheria i thanatos" ("freedom or death"), the motto of Greece. The cross in the flag’s upper left corner is representative of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the established religion of the Greek people.

Generally considered to be the oldest flag in the world, Dannebrog is estimated to date back to 1219. It has been used by the kings of Denmark since the 14th century, and became the official flag of the military and citizens of Denmark in the mid-19th century. It has strong links to Christianity and is credited with influencing other Nordic countries, such as Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland, to adopt similar styles in their flags, creating the Nordic Cross.

The green and red flag of Bangladesh hides a fascinating secret – the circle is offset so that it appears centered when flying on a mast. Adopted in 1972, the green represents the lushness of the country’s fields, while the red color symbolizes the blood of those who died for independence. The circle is a nod to the sun rising over Bengal. Now can you guess these capital cities from the sky?

Famous for featuring an AK-47, symbolizing the country’s bloody struggle for independence, the flag has been in official use since 1983. On the hoist side, there’s an open book symbolizing the importance of education and a hoe representing the country’s agriculture. The colors nod to Mozambique’s natural riches (green), peace (white), the African continent (black), the country’s minerals (yellow) and the struggle for independence (red).

Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan didn’t get to use their flag until 1992, six months after declaring independence. The flag’s red background is said to represent bravery, while the symbol in the middle has a very complex meaning. Around the inner part of the symbol is the sun, representing peace and wealth, while the 40 different rays indicate the Kyrgyz tribes that united to fight against the Mongols. The inner lines are representative of a tunduk, the top part of the Kyrgyz yurt and family home.

Representing the country's two leading parties, the overall design of this flag symbolizes the new Republic of Panama after its separation from Colombia. The red stands for the Liberal party, while the blue represents the Conservatives. The white in between represents peace, the blue star symbolizes purity and honesty, and the red signals authority and law.

An adaptation of a winning entry from a competition held in 1959, the idea of the Nigerian flag was conceived by a 23-year-old student. The green-white-green flag was first used on 1 October 1960, when Nigeria was granted independence from the UK. The green stripes represent Nigeria’s wealth of lush vegetation and agricultural industry, while the white symbolizes the country’s desire for peace and harmony.

Bhutan's flag is a combination of yellow for the authority of the king and orange for Buddhism. The white dragon Druk (also known as the Thunder Dragon) in the center spreads over the two colors equally, symbolizing the importance of both. The Druk is white to signify the purity of the deeds and thoughts of the people, while the four jewels it's holding, represent the wealth and the security of Bhutan.

The second African country after Ethiopia to adopt the Pan-African colors of red, gold and green, Ghana’s flag symbolizes the country’s struggle for independence, its mineral wealth and rich forests. The black star is a symbol of African emancipation and is where the Ghana national football team got their nickname, the Black Stars.

The only Nordic flag without a Nordic Cross, Greenland’s flag was designed by Inuit teacher and politician Thue Christiansen. The colors are based on the flag of Denmark (Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark) and the design represents the sun setting into the iceberg-filled ocean with glaciers in the background.

Used since 1940, during the uprising against French rule, the Vietnamese flag was officially adopted in 1945. The bright red background speaks of both the national uprising and the blood spilled during the country’s fight for independence. The five-pointed star represents the five main classes in Vietnamese society – the ruling class, the intellectuals, the working class, the business class and the military personnel.

Adopted in 1943, this flag's red-white-red stripes are said to represent the Beqaa Valley between Mount Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains. At the center of the flag is a green cedar, symbolizing the holiness and peace of the Lebanon Cedar that’s referenced in many biblical passages. Lebanon is often called the Land of the Cedars. Take a look at photos of the world's most beautiful small towns.

Malaysia’s Jalur Gemilang (meaning Stripes of Glory) was first raised in 1963. It is composed of 14 alternating red and white stripes, plus a blue canton bearing a crescent and a 14-point star known as the Bintang Persekutuan (Federal Star). The stripes represent the 13 states and federal territories of Malaysia and the 14 points of the star the unity between them. The crescent is a nod to Islam, the country’s official religion, while the yellow is the royal color of the Malay rulers.

Though the design of Indonesia's flag is simple in comparison to some others, there’s a tale or two behind it. The red-and-white bicolor is said to have been created by Indonesian freedom fighters, who, during their struggle against the Dutch, tore the blue strip off the Dutch tricolor. Another version of the story insists that the flag’s colors are representative of the 14th-century Majapahit Empire that was based on the island of Java.

One of the two socialist countries in the world that doesn't use any communist symbols in their flag, Cuba officially adopted this design in 1902. It was created in 1849 by army general Narciso López, who was forced into exile after supporting moves to end Spanish rule. He relocated to New York, where poet Miguel Teurbe Tolón helped him design a flag based on López's vision of an independent Cuba. The three blue stripes represent the three administrative departments in Cuba at the time, the white stripes symbolize purity of ideals and the red triangle stands for courage, with the star representing the newly created country. 

Symbolic of the high peaks of Everest, Nepal’s unusually shaped flag is one-of-a-kind. The two motifs within the flag, the sun and moon, are symbols of calm and resolve. The crimson red is the color of the country’s national flower, the rhododendron, while the blue border signifies peace. Discover secrets of the world's awe-inspiring mountains here.

Although the flag was officially adopted only in 1918, a legend traces it back to the 12th century. It's said that the flag was invented by Duke Leopold V of Austria, who, after a fierce battle during the Siege of Acre, was left completely drenched in blood. When he removed his belt, the cloth beneath was unstained, leaving a strip of white.

 

First used by Swiss general Franz von Bachmann during the Napoleonic Wars, this flag was officially adopted in 1889, making it one of the oldest unchanged flag designs in the world. It’s also one of the two square flags of the world, the other being that of Vatican City. The white cross has been used by the Old Swiss Confederacy since late 13th century and the modern version represents both the Old Confederacy and Christianity.

Derived from the colors of the flag of Paris, France’s flag is a symbol of both the revolution and the monarchy. The white represents the king (and is also the color of the House of Bourbon, who ruled the country until the revolution). The red and blue symbolizes the cockades worn during the French Revolution. Although the current design was approved in 1794, it didn’t become France’s national flag until the July Revolution in 1830. Enjoyed this story? You'll love discovering the surprising history of postcards too.

Now an unmistakable symbol of Canada, the Canadian flag we know today wasn’t approved until 1965, following the Great Flag Debate of 1964. The 11-pointed maple leaf was chosen to represent the 10 provinces, with one point representing the three territories of Canada. The flag is much loved by Canadians who, since 1996, have celebrated the National Flag of Canada Day on 15 February.