Every flag tells a story
A flag looks like a simple design: two or three colors, a cross, a few stars. But almost every detail is there for a reason. The number of stripes can recall the colonies a country was born from, a cross tells you which religious tradition it comes from, and a color may have been added to bring together two communities that didn't get along. The study of flags even has its own name: vexillology.
Then there's the other half of the game: flags look alike. Many were copied from a model, others resemble each other by chance, and telling them apart comes down to one detail: the order of two stripes, a shade of blue, one extra star. It's the kind of thing you learn by playing and never forget.
Flag questions with answers
Which country has a blue 24-spoke wheel in the center of its flag?
India. The wheel is the Ashoka Chakra, the "wheel of law," taken from the lion capital that Emperor Ashoka erected at Sarnath.
How many stripes does the flag of the United States have?
13. Seven red and six white, one for each of the colonies that declared independence. The stars are one per state and change when a new one joins; the current fifty date from 1960.
Which tree appears on the flag of Lebanon?
Cedar. The green cedar of Lebanon stands between two red stripes; it has been a symbol of the country since ancient times, and its wood is mentioned many times in the Bible.
According to Guinness World Records, which country has the oldest national flag still in use?
Denmark. Legend says the Dannebrog, a white cross on red, fell from the sky in 1219 during a battle in Estonia.
In the Italian flag, what is the order of the colors starting from the flagpole?
Green, white, red. Article 12 of the Italian Constitution describes it as "three vertical bands of equal size," with green on the hoist side.
Which country has a dragon on its flag?
Bhutan. It is the Druk, the "thunder dragon" that gives the country its local name: Druk Yul, the land of the dragon.
Is the flag of Switzerland rectangular?
no, it's square. With Vatican City's, it is one of only two square national flags. Only at sea do Swiss ships fly a rectangular version.
Do the twelve stars on the European flag stand for the member countries?
No. Twelve is a symbol of completeness and unity, and the number has stayed the same with every enlargement of the Union.
Is the flag of Ireland green, white and red?
no, it's green, white and orange. Green stands for the Catholic tradition, orange for the Protestants, and the white in the middle for peace between the two. It's the most common mistake, because of its resemblance to the Italian flag.
More flag questions
Which country shows the outline of its own territory on its flag?
Cyprus: the island drawn in copper, above two olive branches. Kosovo does the same.
Which country has a rifle on its flag?
Mozambique: a rifle with a bayonet crossed with a hoe, above an open book.
What is the flag of the United Kingdom called, and what does it combine?
The Union Jack, or Union Flag: it layers the crosses of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick, for England, Scotland and Ireland. Wales is not represented.
What you'll find in our flag quizzes
- Flags to identify: you see the flag and pick the right country out of four.
- Symbols and emblems: wheels, dragons, trees, weapons and maps, and what they mean.
- Colors and rules: the order of the stripes, the proportions, the flags that aren't rectangular.
Where to go next
Start with Flags of Europe: twenty European flags to tell apart from their neighbors, free to play with no sign-up. If you want to test yourself on everything else, try the General Knowledge Quiz. Scoring, timers and hints are explained in the quiz guide.