The 10 Oldest National Flags In The World And The 10 Newest

Fascinating Flags

A country's flag is its most recognizable national symbol, and some of the most iconic national flags are also the oldest. Old flags speak to a strong sense of unity & history, while new flags look forward to the future, representing regime changes & independence. Let's look at some of the oldest and newest flags in use.

a british flag flying in the blue sky William Warby on Unsplash

1. Japan

Japan's iconic red and white flag embodies the country's identity as the Land of the Rising Sun. According to tradition, the flag was a gift from the sun goddess Amaterasu, following the founding of Japan in 701. However, the oldest surviving Japanese flag dates back to the 16th century, so we aren't sure we can call it the oldest in the world.

a white and red flag flying in the sky HAYASHI KANNA on Unsplash

2. Denmark

Another legendary flag, the Dannebrog was said to have fallen from the heavens during battle in 1219. Denmark was the first country to use the Nordic Cross, and quite a trendsetter! The flag was officially recognized in 1625, making it the oldest continuously used national flag.

red and white flag on pole Mark König on Unsplash

3. Austria

Austria's simple red and white flag has been used since 1230, and, like many other flags, its legend was inspired by the battlefield. According to legend, Duke Leopold V was resting after a battle so fierce it left his white surcoat completely red. When Leopold removed his belt, the cloth underneath was still crisp white.

a red and white flag on a flagpole aboodi vesakaran on Unsplash

4. Latvia

Latvia's flag is similar in looks and origin to the flag of Austria. While Latvia's flag was only formally adopted in 1921, there is record of its use as far back as the 13th century. The Latvian flag was suppressed and used as a symbol of independence while the country was occupied by the Soviet Union.

waving red and white striped flag on pole Mareks Steins on Unsplash

5. Albania

The symbolism of the double-headed eagle on Albania's flag goes all back to the 14th century, when Albanian noble families borrowed it from the Byzantine Empire. This flag was first flown in 1443, as a symbol of defiance against Ottoman rule. It was formally adopted in 1912, after more than 500 years of Ottoman rule.

a red flag flying in the wind on a clear day Marco De Hevia on Unsplash

6. Switzerland

One of two square flags (sound off in the comments if you know the other), the Swiss flag has been used since 1470. There are three legends competing for the origin of the flag. The white cross was first used to identify troops from the Old Swiss Confederacy in combat.

red flag on top of snow covered mountain Ronnie Schmutz on Unsplash

7. The Netherlands

The first flag to use three colors (called a tricolor), the Dutch flag was raised by William, Prince of Orange's revolt against Spain in 1575. While the original flag was orange, white, and blue, the orange was replaced with red shortly after, possibly due to dye fading. You can see the influence of the original orange flag in flags across New York state.

A red white and blue flag flying in the sky chris robert on Unsplash

8. Sweden

Like its neighbor, Denmark, Sweden's flag features a Nordic cross in blue and yellow. The Swedish flag was first used in 1562, though it wouldn't be formally adopted for almost 300 years. According to legend, King Eric IX saw a golden cross against a blue sky during battle, which he took as a sign of God willing his victory.

a blue and yellow flag flying in the sky Mark König on Unsplash

9. Nepal

First used in 1743, Nepal's flag has to be one of the coolest out there. Triangular flags have long been common throughout South Asia as they are compact and can be seen over long distances. Nepal's triangular flag pulls double duty, representing the majestic peaks of the Himalayas.

Two flags flying in the wind on a clear day Walter Coppola on Unsplash

10. United Kingdom

Following the merge of Great Britain with Ireland in 1801, the United Kingdom updated its flag to include elements from its constituent countries. The flag features the saltires of saints George, Patrick, and Andrew, for England, Ireland, and Scotland, respectively. Curiously, this flag does not incorporate any imagery from the flag of Wales; perhaps the dragon was too difficult to include

us a flag on pole under blue sky during daytime Reinaldo Sture on Unsplash

Now that we've looked at some of the oldest flags still in use, let's look at the newest!

1. Syria

The newest flag in the world, Syria's flag was actually officialized in 1930. However, it was not flown under the Assad regime. The four colors of this flag correspond to the four major dynasties of Arab history: the Fatimids, the Hashemites, the Umayyads, and the Abbasids.

A woman holding a flag on top of a car Omar Ramadan on Unsplash

2. Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan's flag looks a little bit like the Xbox logo, however it's actually a stylized view of the roof a traditional Kyrgyz yurt. This flag was inspired by the emblem of Manas, the country's national hero. A similar version was introduced following the fall of the USSR, but was updated in 2023.

a red flag flying in the wind on a clear day Collab Media on Unsplash

3. Afghanistan

Not all flag changes are for the best, as seen with Afghanistan's new flag following the Taliban victory. However, the previous black, red, and green flag of the republic is still recognized internationally. Afghanistan has gone through twenty-eight flags in total.

jorono jorono on Pixabay

4. Mauritania

While Mauritania's new flag was adopted in 2017, it was not standardized until 2020. The current flag isn't too different from the old one apart from tweaking colors and proportions. The biggest change was the addition of red stripes at the top and bottom to represent the sacrifices made in securing freedom from France.

a red and blue flag on a flagpole aboodi vesakaran on Unsplash

5. Malawi

Malawi adopted its flag in 1964 following its independence from British rule. However, the flag was altered in 2010 to highlight progress and independence. This move was so unpopular that the flag was reverted back to the original in 2012.

jorono jorono on Pixabay

6. South Sudan

South Sudan's inclusion should come as no surprise as it is the youngest country in the world. This flag was first adopted in 2005, prior to the country gaining independnce from Sudan. The bright blue triangle symbolizes unity and hope.

a flag on a pole aboodi vesakaran on Unsplash

7. Libya

Under the Gaddafi regime, Libya's flag was the only to use a single color: a simple shade of green, representing Islam. However, following the Battle of Tripoli, Libya reverted back to its previous design, which was used during the royal period.

a flag on a pole aboodi vesakaran on Unsplash

8. Myanmar

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, updated their flag along with their consitution in 2010. The colors were chosen to represent unity, happiness, and peace. Unfortunately, Myanmar has been embroiled in civil war for nearly 80 years.

a flag on a pole aboodi vesakaran on Unsplash

9. Kosovo

Like South Sudan, Kosovo was only recently granted independence in 2008, so this flag is their first official one. The stars symbolize Kosovo's six major ethnic groups: Gorani. Romani, Turks, Bosnians, Serbs, and Albanians. Kosovo is also one of two flags featuring the country's outline—chime in if you know the other!

a blue flag on a pole aboodi vesakaran on Unsplash

10. Iraq

The previous version of the Iraqi flag featured three stars, similar to the flag of Syria. However, the design was changed to feature the takbir, the country's motto. Similar to other Middle Eastern flags, Iraq's flag incorporates the pan Arab colors of green, white, black, and red.

File:CGI Iraq Flag.png Aerra Carnicom on Wikimedia