Date of Current Flag Adoption by Sovereign State 2024
A country's flag represents its people, land, and government. Sometimes, countries change or adopt new flags due to regime change, geographical change, loss of autonomy, political unions, and successions.
Denmark's current flag is the same one they adopted in 1219, though they did formalize the proportions in 1893.
The Netherlands first used its flag design in 1409-1410 but didn't officially adopt the flag as a sovereign nation until 1660. In 1937, the Netherlands formalized the flag's colors.
The United Kingdom first used and adopted its national flag after the merger of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.
While Japan has used the same flag since 701, it wasn't formally adopted as a sovereign state until 1870. In 1999, Japan did specify exact colors, perfectly centered the disc, and fixed proportions.
Australia first used and adopted its national flag on September 1, 1901. Australia did officially gazette the dimensions in 1934.
The Frankfurt Parliamentary first used Germany's national flag in 1848. Germany adopted the same flag in 1918 and specified the exact colors in 1999.
The Guangzhou government used the Republic of China's flag first in 1921. China officially adopted its national flag in 1928.
Under Napoleon I in 1796, Italy began using its national flag. The country didn't officially adopt the national flag until 1943.
On September 27, 1949, The People's Republic of China began using its national flag. China adopted it as the overall flag on October 1, 1949. China's flag was updated in January 2021 to standardize the colors.
The First Mexican Empire flag that was used in 1821 became the adopted national flag in 1968.
The United States of Emirates first used and adopted its national flag as a sovereign state in 1971.
Spain first used its national flag in 1785 but did not adopt it as its official flag until 1981.
Country | Date of Adoption | Most Recent Change |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 1997 (Oct 27) | 15 August 2021 (restoration of 1997 flag) |
| Albania | 1912 | 22 July 2002 (colors standardized) |
| Algeria | 1962 | 1962 |
| Andorra | 1971 | 1971 (coat of arms modified) |
| Angola | 1975 | 1975 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 1967 (Feb 27) | 1967 |
| Argentina | 1818 | 2012 (proportions standardized) |
| Armenia | 1990 | 1990 (ratio changed) |
| Australia | 1901 (Sep 03) | 1934 (dimensions officially gazetted) |
| Austria | 1918 | 1918 |
| Azerbaijan | 1990 | 2013 (when the exact colour shades were last changed from their previous colours set in 2004) |
| Bahamas | 1973 | 1973 |
| Bahrain | 2002 (Feb 14) | 2002 (white points reduced to 5) |
| Bangladesh | 1972 | 1972 (removal of country's map) |
| Barbados | 1966 | 1966 |
| Belarus | 1995 (Jun 07) | 2012 (previous 1995 design with a thicker ornament pattern) |
| Belgium | 1831 | 1831 |
| Belize | 1981 | 21 September 2019 (standardized) |
| Benin | 1959 | 1959 |
| Bhutan | 1969 | 1969 (colour of the lower half changed from red to orange) |
| Bolivia | 1851 | 2004 (coat of arms modified) |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1998 (Feb 04) | 10 August 2001 |
| Botswana | 1966 | 1966 |
| Brazil | 1992 (May 11) | 1992 (addition of four stars after Amapá, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins became states) |
| Brunei | 1959 | 1959 (crest added) |
| Bulgaria | 1991 | 1991 (removal of the state emblem) |
| Burkina Faso | 1984 | 1984 |
| Burundi | 1967 | 1982 (ratio changed from 2:3 to 3:5) |
| Cambodia | 1993 (June) | 1993 (re-adoption) |
| Cameroon | 1975 (May 20) | 1975 (a yellow star added in the middle) |
| Canada | 1965 (Feb 15) | 1965 |
| Cape Verde | 1992 (Sep 22) | 1992 |
| Central African Republic | 1958 | 1958 |
| Chad | 1959 | 1959 |
| Chile | 1817 | 1854 (the national coat of arms disappeared and the star was kept completely upright) |
| China | 1949 (Oct 01) | 1 January 2021 (standardization of the colours) |
| Colombia | 1861 | 1949 (official pattern issued, all flags with arms modified) |
| Comoros | 2001 (Dec 23) | 2002 |
| Costa Rica | 1848 | 1998 (changes to coat of arms) |
| Croatia | 1990 | 1990 (redesign of the coat of arms) |
| Cuba | 1902 | 1902 |
| Cyprus | 1960 | 24 April 2006 (modification) |
| Czech Republic | 1993 (Jan 01) | 1920 |
| Denmark | 1963 | 1893 (proportions formalized) |
| Djibouti | 1977 | 1977 |
| Dominica | 1990 | 1990 (yellow side of green stars removed, but old design seldom use today) |
| Dominican Republic | 1908 | 1908 |
| DR Congo | 2006 (Feb 20) | 2006 (return to 1966 design, colours changed to a lighter shade of blue) |
| Ecuador | 1860 | 2009 (modernized) |
| Egypt | 1984 | 1984 |
| El Salvador | 1912 (May 17) | 17 May 1912 (colours specified, and replaced with its own coat of arms) |
| Equatorial Guinea | 1979 | 1979 (re-adoption of coat of arms due to the collapse of Francisco Nguema regime) |
| Eritrea | 1993 (May 24) | 1995 (ratio changed) |
| Estonia | 1918 | 2002 (colours standardized) |
| Eswatini | 1968 | 1968 |
| Ethiopia | 1996 (Feb 06) | 2009 (larger central disc) |
| Fiji | 1970 | 1970 (emblem on flag changed) |
| Finland | 1918 | 1920 (colours changed) |
| France | 1830 | 1976 (colours standardized); current design reintroduced in 1830; |
| Gabon | 1960 | 1960 |
| Gambia | 1965 | 1965 |
| Georgia | 2004 (Jan 14) | 2018 (minor change to geometry of the Bolnisi crosses) |
| Germany | 1918 | 1999 (when the exact colours were specified) |
| Ghana | 1966 | 1966 (white stripe changed back to original yellow) |
| Greece | 1978 | 1978 (land flag abolished) |
| Grenada | 1974 | 1974 |
| Guatemala | 1871 | 1968 |
| Guinea | 1958 | 1958 |
| Guinea Bissau | 1973 | 1973 |
| Guyana | 1966 | 1966 |
| Haiti | 1859 | 1986 (re-adoption due to the collapse of Duvalier regime) |
| Honduras | 1866 | 2022 (change of colours) |
| Hungary | 1957 | 1956 (removing the Rákosi-coat of arms) |
| Iceland | 1944 | 1944 (when the exact colours were changed) |
| India | 1947 (Jul 24) | 1947 (Gandhian spinning wheel changed to Ashoka Chakra; colours formalized) |
| Indonesia | 1945 | 1881 |
| Iran | 1980 | 1980 (national emblem added to center of flag and religious script added due to the Islamic Revolution) |
| Iraq | 2008 (Jan 22) | 22 January 2008 (removal of stars, slight change to script) |
| Ireland | 1919 | 1848 |
| Israel | 1948 | 1897 |
| Italy | 1943 | 2006 (when exact colours were specified). In 1948 the monarch's banner was removed, and the Italian Republic was proclaimed. |
| Ivory Coast | 1959 | 1959 |
| Jamaica | 1962 | 1962 |
| Japan | 1870 | 1999 (exact colours specified, sun disc is perfectly centered, and proportions fixed) |
| Jordan | 1928 | 1928 (star introduced) |
| Kazakhstan | 1992 (Jun 04) | 1992 |
| Kenya | 1963 | 1963 |
| Kiribati | 1979 | 1979 |
| Kuwait | 1961 | 1961 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 1992 (Mar 03) | 1992 |
| Laos | 1975 | 1975 (communist takeover) |
| Latvia | 1921 | 1923 (proportions formalized) |
| Lebanon | 1943 | 1943 |
| Lesotho | 2006 (Oct 04) | 4 October 2006 |
| Liberia | 1847 | 1847 |
| Libya | 2011 (Feb 17) | 2011 (readoption of the 1951 flag) |
| Liechtenstein | 1937 | 1937 (addition of crown) |
| Lithuania | 1922 | 2004 (ratio changed) |
| Luxembourg | 1972 | 1845 |
| Madagascar | 1958 | 1958 |
| Malawi | 2012 (May 28) | 2012 (readoption of the 1964 flag) |
| Malaysia | 1950 | 1963 (14-point star and 14 stripes after Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined the federation, remains unchanged in 1965 after Singapore was expelled and the addition of Putrajaya and Labuan in the flag) |
| Maldives | 1965 | 1965 (removal of striped hoist after Independence) |
| Mali | 1961 | 1961 (removal of central stick figure) |
| Malta | 1964 | 1964 (background of George Cross changed to white) |
| Marshall Islands | 1979 | 1979 |
| Mauritania | 2017 (Aug 15) | 15 August 2017 (addition of red bands) |
| Mauritius | 1968 | 1968 |
| Mexico | 1968 | 1968 (coat of arms modified) |
| Micronesia | 1979 | 1979 (two stars removed due to reorganization of the Territory) |
| Moldova | 1990 | 2010 (emblem copied to reverse side) |
| Monaco | 1881 | 1881 |
| Mongolia | 1992 (Jan 12) | 2011 (colours standardized) |
| Montenegro | 2004 (jul 13) | 2004 (first publication) |
| Morocco | 1915 | 1915 (the Seal of Solomon is replaced by a green pentagram) |
| Mozambique | 1983 | 1983 (change of emblem on the left side of flag) |
| Myanmar | 2010 (Oct 10) | 10 October 2010 |
| Namibia | 1990 | 1990 |
| Nauru | 1968 | 1968 |
| Nepal | 1743 | 1962 (modernized; the faces disappeared from the sun and moon) |
| Netherlands | 1660 | 1937 (colours formalized) |
| New Zealand | 1902 | 1902 (dimensions defined) |
| Nicaragua | 1908 | 1971 (coat of arms modified) |
| Niger | 1959 | 1958 |
| Nigeria | 1960 | 1959 |
| North Korea | 1948 (July) | 1992 (standardization, star and disc sizes changed) |
| North Macedonia | 1995 (Oct 05) | 1995 |
| Norway | 1899 | 1899 (removal of Union mark of Norway and Sweden) |
| Oman | 1995 (Apr 25) | 1995 (middle band to equal size) |
| Pakistan | 1947 (Aug 11) | 1947 |
| Palau | 1981 | 1981 |
| Palestine | 1988 | 1988 |
| Panama | 1925 | 1925 (upper left quadrant made white) |
| Papua New Guinea | 1975 | 1971 |
| Paraguay | 1842 | 2013 (coat of arms modified) |
| Peru | 1825 | 1950 |
| Philippines | 1989 (Feb 12) | 1998 (present definitive shades of blue and red) |
| Poland | 1919 | 1921 (colours formalized) |
| Portugal | 1911 | 1910 |
| Qatar | 1971 | 1971 (proportion modified) |
| Republic of the Congo | 1991 (Jun 10) | 1959 |
| Romania | 1989 | 1989 (removed emblem) |
| Russia | 1991 | 1993 (ratio and colours changed) |
| Rwanda | 2001 (Oct 25) | 2001 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 1983 | 1983 |
| Saint Lucia | 1979 | 2002 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1985 | 1985 |
| Samoa | 1949 | 1948 |
| San Marino | 1862 | 2011 (proportions standardized) |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 1975 | 1975 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1973 | 1973 (design of sword modified) |
| Senegal | 1960 | 1960 |
| Serbia | 2004 | 2010 (redesign of the coat of arms, exact colours defined) |
| Seychelles | 1996 (Jan 08) | 1996 |
| Sierra Leone | 1961 | 1960 |
| Singapore | 1959 | 1959 |
| Slovakia | 1992 (Sep 03) | 1992 |
| Slovenia | 1991 (Jun 25) | 1991 (red star was replaced with coat of arms) |
| Solomon Islands | 1977 | 1977 |
| Somalia | 1960 | 1954 |
| South Africa | 1994 (Apr 27) | 1994 |
| South Korea | 1883 | 2011 (when the exact colour shades were last changed from their previous colours set in 1997). In 1948 the South Korean national assembly readopted this as the national flag with a modification of the taegeuk. The trigrams were moved into their current place in 1949. The exact dimensions were specified in 1984. |
| South Sudan | 2011 (Jul 09) | 2023 (colors standardized by the media) |
| Spain | 1981 | 1981 (coat of arms replaced) |
| Sri Lanka | 1972 | 1972 (four leaves of the Bo tree were added to the corners of the flag) |
| Sudan | 1970 | 1970 |
| Suriname | 1975 | 1975 |
| Sweden | 1906 | 1906 (removal of Union mark of Norway and Sweden) |
| Switzerland | 1889 | 1841 |
| Syria | 1980 | 1980 |
| Tajikistan | 1992 (Nov 24) | 1992 |
| Tanzania | 1964 | 1964 (merged with Tanganyika and Zanzibar) |
| Thailand | 1917 | 30 September 2017 (colours standardized) |
| Timor Leste | 2002 (May 20) | 1975 |
| Togo | 1960 | 1960 |
| Tonga | 1875 | 1875 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 1962 | 1962 |
| Tunisia | 1831 | 1999 (proportions formalized) |
| Turkey | 1844 | 1936 (proportions standardized) |
| Turkmenistan | 1992 (Feb 19) | 2001 (ratio and ornament design adjusted) |
| Tuvalu | 1997 (Apr 11) | 1997 (restoration of 1978 flag) |
| Uganda | 1962 | 1962 |
| Ukraine | 1992 (Jan 28) | 1918 |
| United Arab Emirates | 1971 | 1971 |
| United Kingdom | 1801 | 1801 (merged with Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) |
| United States | 1960 (Jul 04) | 1960 (addition of a star after Hawaii became a state) |
| Uruguay | 1828 | 1830 |
| Uzbekistan | 1991 (Nov 18) | 1991 |
| Vanuatu | 1980 | 1980 |
| Vatican City | 1929 | 1929 (Papal tiara and keys added) |
| Venezuela | 2006 (Mar 12) | 12 March 2006 (addition of a star) |
| Vietnam | 1945 | 1955 (star edges made sharper) |
| Yemen | 1990 | 1990 |
| Zambia | 1964 | 1996 (green field changed to a lighter shade) |
| Zimbabwe | 1980 (Apr 18) | 1980 |