Chapter M: Major infectious diseases (110)

Guam
$NA

Guatemala
$6.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$5.908 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Guernsey
$NA

Guinea
$3.222 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$3.351 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
$941.5 million (2000 est.)

Guyana
$804.3 million (30 September 2008)
$1.2 billion (2002)

Haiti
$1.817 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$1.475 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Honduras
$3.209 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$3.411 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Hong Kong
$659.9 billion (31 December 2008)
$711.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Hungary
$212.1 billion (31 December 2008)
$167.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Iceland
$3.073 billion (2002)

India
$229.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$206 billion (31 December 2007)

Indonesia
$155.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$141.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Iran
$21.06 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$20.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Iraq
$67.74 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$100.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ireland
$2.356 trillion (31 December 2008)
$2.263 trillion (31 December 2007)

Isle of Man
$NA

Israel
$86.08 billion (31 December 2008)
$89.58 billion (31 December 2007)

Italy
$2.328 trillion (31 December 2008)
$2.5 trillion (31 December 2007)

Jamaica
$10.65 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$9.657 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Japan
$2.231 trillion (31 December 2008)
$1.768 trillion (31 December 2007)

Jersey
$NA

Jordan
$6.794 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$8.133 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Kazakhstan
$107.8 billion (31 December 2008)
$96.91 billion (31 December 2007)

Kenya
$7.855 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$6.713 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Kiribati
$10 million (1999 est.)

Korea, North
$12.5 billion (2001 est.)

Korea, South
$381.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$383.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Kosovo
$NA

Kuwait
$36.89 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$33.62 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
$3.467 billion (31 December 2008)
$3.162 billion (31 December 2007)

Laos
$3.179 billion (2006)

Latvia
$42.26 billion (31 December 2008)
$38.95 billion (31 December 2007)

Lebanon
$33.28 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$31.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Lesotho
$619 million (31 December 2008 est.)
$689 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Liberia
$3.2 billion (2005 est.)

Libya
$6.223 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$4.837 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Liechtenstein
$0 (2001)

Lithuania
$32.47 billion (31 December 2008)
$30.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Luxembourg
$2.02 trillion (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)

Macau
$0 (2006)

Macedonia
$4.667 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$3.967 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Madagascar
$2.023 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$4.6 billion (2002)

Malawi
$1.005 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$894 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Malaysia
$75.33 billion (31 December 2008)
$62.33 billion (31 December 2007)

Maldives
$477 million (2008 est.)
$482 million (2006 est.)

Mali
$2.8 billion (2002)

Malta
$188.8 million (2005)

Marshall Islands
$87 million (2008 est.)
$86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)

Mauritania
$NA

Mauritius
$5.077 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$2.149 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Mayotte
$NA

Mexico
$200.4 billion (31 December 2008)
$193.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of
$60.8 million (FY05 est.)

Moldova
$4.125 billion (31 December 2008)
$3.326 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Monaco
$18 billion (2000 est.)

Mongolia
$1.6 billion (2008)
$1.438 billion (2007)

Montenegro
$650 million (2006)

Montserrat
$8.9 million (1997)

Morocco
$20.12 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$19.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Mozambique
$3.826 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$4.189 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Namibia
$807.3 million (31 December 2008 est.)
$1.003 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Nauru
$33.3 million

Nepal
$3.285 billion (2008)
$3.07 billion (March 2006)

Netherlands
$2.461 trillion (31 December 2008)
$2.59 trillion (31 December 2007)

Netherlands Antilles
$2.68 billion (2004)

New Caledonia
$79 million (1998 est.)

New Zealand
$59.08 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$51.44 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Nicaragua
$4.596 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$3.341 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Niger
$2.1 billion (2003 est.)

Nigeria
$9.996 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$8.007 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Niue
$418,000 (2002 est.)

Norfolk Island
$NA

Northern Mariana Islands
$NA

Norway
$475.9 billion (31 December 2008)
$540.3 billion (31 December 2007)
note: Norway is a net external creditor

Oman
$7.68 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$5.297 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Pakistan
$46.39 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$38.8 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Palau
$0 (FY99/00)

Panama
$11.26 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$10.45 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea
$2.511 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$1.646 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Paraguay
$3.507 billion (31 December 2008)
$3.096 billion (31 December 2007)

Peru
$34.59 billion (31 December 2008)
$32.57 billion (31 December 2007)

Philippines
$66.27 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$61.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Poland
$243.5 billion (31 December 2008)
$233.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Portugal
$484.7 billion (31 December 2008)
$483.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Puerto Rico
$NA

Qatar
$57.37 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$33.09 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Romania
$102.2 billion (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007 est.)

Russia
$483.5 billion (31 December 2008)
$471 billion (31 December 2007)

Rwanda
$1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Saint Helena
$NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis
$314 million (2004)

Saint Lucia
$257 million (2004)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
$NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$223 million (2004)

Samoa
$177 million (2004)

San Marino
$NA

Sao Tome and Principe
$318 million (2002)

Saudi Arabia
$82.13 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$58.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Senegal
$2.627 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$2.19 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Serbia
$26.24 billion (2007 est.)

Seychelles
$1.422 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$1.059 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Sierra Leone
$1.61 billion (2003 est.)

Singapore
$25.52 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$25.59 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Slovakia
$52.53 billion (31 December 2008)
$44.31 billion (31 December 2007)

Slovenia
$54.61 billion (31 December 2008)
$50.58 billion (31 December 2007)

Solomon Islands
$166 million (2004)

Somalia
$3 billion (2001 est.)

South Africa
$71.81 billion (31 December 2008)
$75.28 billion (31 December 2007)

Spain
$2.317 trillion (31 December 2008)
$2.299 trillion (31 December 2007)

Sri Lanka
$16.78 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$12.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Sudan
$33.72 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$29.42 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Suriname
$504.3 million (2005 est.)

Swaziland
$554 million (31 December 2008 est.)
$524 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Sweden
$617.3 billion (31 December 2008)
$598.2 billion (30 June 2006)

Switzerland
$1.305 trillion (31 December 2008)
$1.565 trillion (31 December 2007)

Syria
$7.167 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$6.633 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Taiwan
$93.02 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$97.85 billion (31 December 2007)

Tajikistan
$1.503 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$1.56 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Tanzania
$6.195 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$4.382 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Thailand
$65.09 billion (31 December 2008)
$61.74 billion (31 December 2007)

Togo
$2 billion (2005)

Tonga
$80.7 million (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago
$3.289 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$2.869 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Tunisia
$20.81 billion (31 December 2008)
$20.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Turkey
$278.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$249.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Turkmenistan
$1.4 billion (2004 est.)
note: some estimates put this figure as high as $5 billion

Turks and Caicos Islands
$NA

Tuvalu
$NA

Uganda
$1.835 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$1.498 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ukraine
$101.7 billion (31 December 2008)
$79.96 billion (31 December 2007)

United Arab Emirates
$134.7 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$61.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

United Kingdom
$9.041 trillion (31 December 2008)
$11.26 trillion (31 December 2007)

United States
$13.75 trillion (31 December 2008)
$13.43 trillion (31 December 2007)

Uruguay
$10.73 billion (31 December 2008)
$11.07 billion (31 December 2007)

Uzbekistan
$4.022 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$3.927 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Vanuatu
$81.2 million (2004)

Venezuela
$47.03 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$43.33 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Vietnam
$25.89 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$21.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Virgin Islands
$NA

Wallis and Futuna
$3.67 million (2004)

West Bank
$1.3 billion (2007 est.)

Western Sahara
$NA

World
$60.96 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
$60.26 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
note: this figure is the sum total of all countries' external debt,
both public and private

Yemen
$5.977 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$6.044 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Zambia
$3.095 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$2.596 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Zimbabwe
$5.669 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$5.155 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

======================================================================

@2080

Field Listing :: Fiscal year

Country

Fiscal year

Afghanistan
21 March - 20 March

Albania
calendar year

Algeria
calendar year

American Samoa
1 October - 30 September

Andorra
calendar year

Angola
calendar year

Anguilla
1 April - 31 March

Antigua and Barbuda
1 April - 31 March

Argentina
calendar year

Armenia
calendar year

Aruba
calendar year

Australia
1 July - 30 June

Austria
calendar year

Azerbaijan
calendar year

Bahamas, The
1 July - 30 June

Bahrain
calendar year

Bangladesh
1 July - 30 June

Barbados
1 April - 31 March

Belarus
calendar year

Belgium
calendar year

Belize
1 April - 31 March

Benin
calendar year

Bermuda
1 April - 31 March

Bhutan
1 July - 30 June

Bolivia
calendar year

Bosnia and Herzegovina
calendar year

Botswana
1 April - 31 March

Brazil
calendar year

British Virgin Islands
1 April - 31 March

Brunei
1 April - 31 March

Bulgaria
calendar year

Burkina Faso
calendar year

Burma
1 April - 31 March

Burundi
calendar year

Cambodia
calendar year

Cameroon
1 July - 30 June

Canada
1 April - 31 March

Cape Verde
calendar year

Cayman Islands
1 April - 31 March

Central African Republic
calendar year

Chad
calendar year

Chile
calendar year

China
calendar year

Christmas Island
1 July - 30 June

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
1 July - 30 June

Colombia
calendar year

Comoros
calendar year

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
calendar year

Congo, Republic of the
calendar year

Cook Islands
1 April - 31 March

Costa Rica
calendar year

Cote d'Ivoire
calendar year

Croatia
calendar year

Cuba
calendar year

Cyprus
calendar year

Czech Republic
calendar year

Denmark
calendar year

Djibouti
calendar year

Dominica
1 July - 30 June

Dominican Republic
calendar year

Ecuador
calendar year

Egypt
1 July - 30 June

El Salvador
calendar year

Equatorial Guinea
calendar year

Eritrea
calendar year

Estonia
calendar year

Ethiopia
8 July - 7 July

European Union
NA

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
1 April - 31 March

Faroe Islands
calendar year

Fiji
calendar year

Finland
calendar year

France
calendar year

French Polynesia
calendar year

Gabon
calendar year

Gambia, The
calendar year

Gaza Strip
calendar year

Georgia
calendar year

Germany
calendar year

Ghana
calendar year

Gibraltar
1 July - 30 June

Greece
calendar year

Greenland
calendar year

Grenada
calendar year

Guam
1 October - 30 September

Guatemala
calendar year

Guernsey
calendar year

Guinea
calendar year

Guinea-Bissau
calendar year

Guyana
calendar year

Haiti
1 October - 30 September

Holy See (Vatican City)
calendar year

Honduras
calendar year

Hong Kong
1 April - 31 March

Hungary
calendar year

Iceland
calendar year

India
1 April - 31 March

Indonesia
calendar year

Iran
21 March - 20 March

Iraq
calendar year

Ireland
calendar year

Isle of Man
1 April - 31 March

Israel
calendar year

Italy
calendar year

Jamaica
1 April - 31 March

Japan
1 April - 31 March

Jersey
1 April - 31 March

Jordan
calendar year

Kazakhstan
calendar year

Kenya
1 July - 30 June

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
calendar year

Korea, South
calendar year

Kuwait
1 April - 31 March

Kyrgyzstan
calendar year

Laos
1 October - 30 September

Latvia
calendar year

Lebanon
calendar year

Lesotho
1 April - 31 March

Liberia
calendar year

Libya
calendar year

Liechtenstein
calendar year

Lithuania
calendar year

Luxembourg
calendar year

Macau
calendar year

Macedonia
calendar year

Madagascar
calendar year

Malawi
1 July - 30 June

Malaysia
calendar year

Maldives
calendar year

Mali
calendar year

Malta
calendar year

Marshall Islands
1 October - 30 September

Mauritania
calendar year

Mauritius
1 July - 30 June

Mayotte
calendar year

Mexico
calendar year

Micronesia, Federated States of
1 October - 30 September

Moldova
calendar year

Monaco
calendar year

Mongolia
calendar year

Montenegro
calendar year

Montserrat
1 April - 31 March

Morocco
calendar year

Mozambique
calendar year

Namibia
1 April - 31 March

Nauru
1 July - 30 June

Nepal
16 July - 15 July

Netherlands
calendar year

Netherlands Antilles
calendar year

New Caledonia
calendar year

New Zealand
1 April - 31 March
note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes

Nicaragua
calendar year

Niger
calendar year

Nigeria
calendar year

Niue
1 April - 31 March

Norfolk Island
1 July - 30 June

Northern Mariana Islands
1 October - 30 September

Norway
calendar year

Oman
calendar year

Pakistan
1 July - 30 June

Palau
1 October - 30 September

Panama
calendar year

Papua New Guinea
calendar year

Paraguay
calendar year

Peru
calendar year

Philippines
calendar year

Pitcairn Islands
1 April - 31 March

Poland
calendar year

Portugal
calendar year

Puerto Rico
1 July - 30 June

Qatar
1 April - 31 March

Romania
calendar year

Russia
calendar year

Rwanda
calendar year

Saint Helena
1 April - 31 March

Saint Kitts and Nevis
calendar year

Saint Lucia
1 April - 31 March

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
calendar year

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
calendar year

Samoa
June 1 - May 31

San Marino
calendar year

Sao Tome and Principe
calendar year

Saudi Arabia
calendar year

Senegal
calendar year

Seychelles
calendar year

Sierra Leone
calendar year

Singapore
1 April - 31 March

Slovakia
calendar year

Slovenia
calendar year

Solomon Islands
calendar year

Somalia
NA

South Africa
1 April - 31 March

Spain
calendar year

Sri Lanka
calendar year

Sudan
calendar year

Suriname
calendar year

Swaziland
1 April - 31 March

Sweden
calendar year

Switzerland
calendar year

Syria
calendar year

Taiwan
calendar year

Tajikistan
calendar year

Tanzania
1 July - 30 June

Thailand
1 October - 30 September

Timor-Leste
calendar year

Togo
calendar year

Tokelau
1 April - 31 March

Tonga
1 July - 30 June

Trinidad and Tobago
1 October - 30 September

Tunisia
calendar year

Turkey
calendar year

Turkmenistan
calendar year

Turks and Caicos Islands
calendar year

Tuvalu
calendar year

Uganda
1 July - 30 June

Ukraine
calendar year

United Arab Emirates
calendar year

United Kingdom
6 April - 5 April

United States
1 October - 30 September

Uruguay
calendar year

Uzbekistan
calendar year

Vanuatu
calendar year

Venezuela
calendar year

Vietnam
calendar year

Virgin Islands
1 October - 30 September

Wallis and Futuna
calendar year

West Bank
calendar year

Western Sahara
calendar year

Yemen
calendar year

Zambia
calendar year

Zimbabwe
calendar year

======================================================================

@2081

Field Listing :: Flag description

This entry provides a written flag description produced from actual
flags or the best information available at the time the entry was
written. The flags of independent states are used by their
dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag.
Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
Country

Flag description

Afghanistan
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red,
and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red
band and slightly overlapping the other two bands; the center of the
emblem features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below
the mosque are numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the
Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK);
this central image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of
wheat on the left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic
inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of
the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is
great"), and at bottom center is a scroll bearing the name
Afghanistan

Akrotiri
the flag of the UK is used

Albania
red with a black two-headed eagle in the center; the design
is claimed to be that of 15th-century hero George Castriota
SKANDERBERG, who led a successful uprising against the Turks that
resulted in a short-lived independence for some Albanian regions
(1443-1478)

Algeria
two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a
red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the
two-color boundary; the colors represent Islam (green), purity and
peace (white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are also
Islamic symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of other
Muslim countries because the Algerians believe the long crescent
horns bring happiness

American Samoa
blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is
based on the fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and
white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying
two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a
"Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk
known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols
broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the
relationship between the United States and American Samoa

Andorra
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red, with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the
coat of arms features a quartered shield; the flag combines the blue
and red French colors with the red and yellow of Spain to show
Franco-Spanish protection
note: similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a
national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which
does bear a national emblem

Angola
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a
centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half
a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and
sickle); red represents liberty, black the African continent, the
symbols characterize workers and peasants

Anguilla
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half
of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an
interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy
water below

Antigua and Barbuda
red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based
on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal
bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising
sun in the black band; the sun symbolizes the dawn of a new era,
black represents the African heritage of most of the population,
blue is for hope, and red is for the dynamism of the people; the "V"
stands for victory; the successive yellow, blue, and white coloring
is also meant to evoke the country's tourist attractions of sun,
sea, and sand

Argentina
three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white,
and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun
with a human face known as the Sun of May; the colors represent the
clear skies and snow of the Andes; the sun symbol commemorates the
appearance of the sun through cloudy skies on 25 May 1810 during the
first mass demonstration in favor of independence; the sun features
are those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun

Armenia
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange;
the color red recalls the blood shed for liberty, blue the Armenian
skies as well as hope, and orange the land and the courage of the
workers who farm it

Aruba
blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the
lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the
upper hoist-side corner; the star represents Aruba and its red soil
and white beaches, its four points the four major languages
(Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, English) as well as the four points of
a compass, to indicate that its inhabitants come from all over the
world; the blue symbolizes Caribbean waters and skies; the stripes
represent the island's two main "industries": the flow of tourists
to the sun-drenched beaches and the flow of minerals from the earth

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
the flag of Australia is used

Australia
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side
quadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing
the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star
depicts one point for each of the six original states and one
representing all of Australia's internal and external territories;
on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross
constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four
larger, seven-pointed stars

Austria
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red;
the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest -
national banners in the world; according to tradition, following a
fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's
white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon removal of his
wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the red-white-red
color combination was subsequently adopted as his banner

Azerbaijan
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and
green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in
red band

Bahamas, The
three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold,
and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist
side; the band colors represent the golden beaches of the islands
surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black represents the vigor and
force of a united people, while the pointing triangle indicates the
enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop the
rich resources of land and sea

Bahrain
red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states,
with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side;
the five points represent the five pillars of Islam

Bangladesh
green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the
hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the
sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the
lush vegetation of Bangladesh

Barbados
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and
blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the
band colors represent the blue of the sea and sky and the gold of
the beaches; the trident head represents independence and a break
with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete
trident)

Belarus
red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half
the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side
bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red; the red band color
recalls past struggles from oppression, the green band represents
hope and the many forests of the country

Belgium
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow,
and red; the vertical design was based on the flag of France; the
colors are those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion
with red claws and tongue on a black field)

Belize
blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom
edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the
coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a
mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in
the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green
garland

Benin
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom)
with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Bermuda
red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with
a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship
Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the
flag

Bhutan
divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the
upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered
along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing
away from the hoist side

Bolivia
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green
with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band
note: similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black
five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; in 2009, a
presidential decree made it mandatory for a so-called wiphala - a
square, multi-colored flag representing the country's indigenous
peoples - to be used alongside the traditional flag

Bosnia and Herzegovina
a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly
side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top
of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven
full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom
along the hypotenuse of the triangle

Botswana
light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in
the center

Bouvet Island
the flag of Norway is used

Brazil
green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a
blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each
state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the
night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with
the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)

British Indian Ocean Territory
white with six blue wavy horizontal
stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the
striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the
outer half of the flag

British Virgin Islands
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in
the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked
on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll
bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)

Brunei
yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double
width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national
emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a
swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned
crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

Bulgaria
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red
note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white
stripe, has been removed

Burkina Faso
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with
a yellow five-pointed star in the center
note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Burma
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing 14, white, five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel
containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the seven
administrative divisions and seven states

Burundi
divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and
bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly side) with a white disk
superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars
outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above,
two stars below)

Cambodia
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width),
and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat
outlined in black in the center of the red band
note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its
design

Cameroon
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and
yellow, with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Canada
two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width)
with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is
centered in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red
and white

Cape Verde
five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue
- equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by three
bands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and
a bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a
circle of 10, yellow, five-pointed stars, each representing one of
the islands, is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the
length of the flag from the hoist side

Cayman Islands
a blue field, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the
outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a crest with a
pineapple, representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle,
representing Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing a
golden lion, symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three green
stars (representing the three islands) surmounting white and blue
wavy lines representing the sea and a scroll at the bottom bearing
the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

Central African Republic
four equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; a
yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band

Chad
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red
note: similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of
Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms
centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France

Chile
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; a blue
square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of
the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the
center representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes
the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red represents the
blood spilled to achieve independence
note: design was influenced by the US flag

China
red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller
yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the
middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner

Christmas Island
territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper
hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image
of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, the lower triangle is blue
with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia,
superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the
island
note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes

Clipperton Island
the flag of France is used

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
the flag of Australia is used

Colombia
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue,
and red
note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the
Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Comoros
four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and
blue, with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered
within the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing
the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a
line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and
the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -
Mwali, N'gazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial
collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros)
note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols
of Islam

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
sky blue field divided diagonally
from the lower hoist corner to upper fly corner by a red stripe
bordered by two narrow yellow stripes; a yellow, five-pointed star
appears in the upper hoist corner

Congo, Republic of the
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side
by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the
lower triangle is red
note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Cook Islands
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for
every island) centered in the outer half of the flag

Coral Sea Islands
the flag of Australia is used

Costa Rica
five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double
width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical
disk on the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a
light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just
below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the
words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA

Cote d'Ivoire
three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side),
white, and green
note: similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the
colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also
similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white,
and red; design was based on the flag of France

Croatia
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue,
superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)

Cuba
five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom)
alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the
hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center

Cyprus
white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the
name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two
green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches
symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek
and Turkish communities
note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has a white
field with narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance
from the top and bottom edges between which is centered a red
crescent and a red five-pointed star

Czech Republic
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red
with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
note: identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia

Denmark
red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side;
the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one
of the oldest national flags in the world; traditions as to the
origin of the flag design vary, but the best known is a legend that
the banner fell from the sky during an early-13th century battle;
caught up by the Danish king before it ever touched the earth, this
heavenly talisman inspired the royal army to victory
note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the
other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

Dhekelia
the flag of the UK is used

Djibouti
two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light
green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

Dominica
green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the
vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the
horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in
the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot
encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10
stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

Dominican Republic
a centered white cross that extends to the edges
divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist
side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a
small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch
(left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross;
above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA,
LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA
DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon

Ecuador
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue,
and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the
flag; similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not
bear a coat of arms

Egypt
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side
with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the
name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design is
based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria,
which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an
Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has
a plain white band

El Salvador
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and
blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the
coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag
of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the
white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA
DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar
to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X
pattern centered in the white band

Equatorial Guinea
three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
white, and red, with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of
arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and
five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton
tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ,
JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)

Eritrea
red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing
the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the
lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is
centered on the hoist side of the red triangle

Estonia
pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three
equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

Ethiopia
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and
red, with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from
the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the
three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa,
and the three main colors of her flag were so often adopted by other
African countries upon independence that they became known as the
pan-African colors

European Union
blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged
in a circle in the center, representing the union of the peoples of
Europe; the number of stars is fixed

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
blue with the flag of the UK in
the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms
centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a
white ram (sheep raising was once the major economic activity) above
the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a
scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Faroe Islands
white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to
the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted
toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag);
the flag resembles those of neighboring Iceland and Norway, and uses
the same three colors - but in a different sequence

Fiji
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the
flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered
by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm
tree, bananas, and a white dove

Finland
white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag;
the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the blue represents the
thousands of lakes scattered across the country, while the white is
for the snow that covers the land in winter

France
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and
red; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the
origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution; the
design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags,
including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire,
Luxembourg, and Netherlands; the official flag for all French
dependent areas

French Polynesia
two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white
band; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white
wave pattern on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern on
the upper half; a stylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the
wave pattern
note: the flag of France is used for official occasions

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
the flag of France is used

Gabon
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

Gambia, The
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with
white edges, and green

Georgia
white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross
connecting all four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners
is a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears
to date back to the 14th century

Germany
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold;
these colors have played an important role in German history and can
be traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor - a
black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field

Ghana
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green,
with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag
of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Gibraltar
two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red
with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band;
hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

Greece
nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white;
there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a
white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established
religion of the country

Greenland
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a
large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of
the disk is red, the bottom half is white; the design represents the
sun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as those
of the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of
Denmark

Grenada
a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top
and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a
red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed
stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in
the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the
center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the
hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer
of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven
administrative divisions

Guam
territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all
four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse
containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree
with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the
national flag

Guatemala
three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side),
white, and light blue, with the coat of arms centered in the white
band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the
national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE
SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain)
all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed
swords and framed by a wreath

Guernsey
white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of
England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed
cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross

Guinea
three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and
green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Guinea-Bissau
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green
with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black
five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular
pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Guyana
green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist
side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow,
black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border
between the yellow and the green

Haiti
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a
centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a
palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing
the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength); the colors
are taken from the French Tricolor and represent the union of blacks
and mulattoes

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
the flag of Australia is used

Holy See (Vatican City)
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side)
and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed
keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara,
centered in the white band

Honduras
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and
blue, with five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern
centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the
former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of
El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white
band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a
triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and
AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

Hong Kong
red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in
the center

Hungary
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

Iceland
blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the
edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the
hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors
represent three of the elements that make up the island: red is for
the island's volcanic fires, white recalls the snow and ice fields
of the island, and blue is for the surrounding ocean

India
three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange)
(top), white, and green, with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel)
centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has
a small orange disk centered in the white band

Indonesia
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar
to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of
Poland, which is white (top) and red

Iran
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red;
the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in
the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in
the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is
repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11
times along the top edge of the red band

Iraq
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green
Arabic script is centered in the white band; similar to the flag of
Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain
white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin
centered in the white band; design is based upon the Arab Liberation
colors; Council of Representatives approved this flag as a
compromise temporary replacement for Ba'athist Saddam-era flag

Ireland
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and
has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green;
also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors
of green (hoist side), white, and red

Isle of Man
red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in
the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the
knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of
the flag, a two-sided emblem is used

Israel
white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as
the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal
horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

Italy
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green
(hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the
Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side),
white, and green; inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by
Napoleon in 1797

Jamaica
diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles -
green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side); green
represents hope, vegetation, and agriculture, black reflects
hardships overcome and to be faced, and yellow recalls golden
sunshine and the island's natural resources

Jan Mayen
the flag of Norway is used

Japan
white with a large red disk (representing the sun without
rays) in the center

Jersey
white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of
the flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red
shield with the three lions of England in yellow

Jordan
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the
Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and
green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle
on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and
bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven
verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven
points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national
spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design is
based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

Kazakhstan
sky blue background representing the endless sky and a
gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle in the
center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in gold

Kenya
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green;
the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering
crossed spears is superimposed at the center

Kiribati
the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying
over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three
horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean

Korea, North
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple
width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side
of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star

Korea, South
white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the
center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching
(Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field

Kosovo
centered on a dark blue field is the geographical shape of
Kosovo in a gold color surmounted by six white, five-pointed stars -
each representing one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo - arrayed
in a slight arc

Kuwait
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red
with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates
to 1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I

Kyrgyzstan
red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays
representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run
counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the
sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized
representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt

Laos
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and
red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

Latvia
three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width),
and maroon

Lebanon
three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white
(middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree
centered in the white band

Lesotho
three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in
the proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and
prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black
Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was
unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence

Liberia
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue
square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the
US flag

Libya
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the
state religion)

Liechtenstein
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with
a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may
derive from the blue and red livery design used in the
principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was
introduced in 1937 to distinguish the flag from that of Haiti

Lithuania
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and
red

Luxembourg
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a
darker blue and is shorter; the coloring is derived from the Grand
Duke's coat of arms (a red lion on a white and blue striped field)

Macau
light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and
water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one
large in the center of the arc and two smaller on either side; the
lotus is the floral emblem of Macau, the three petals represent the
peninsula and two islands that make up Macau; the five stars echo
those on the flag of China

Macedonia
a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the
edges of the red field

Madagascar
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a
vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

Malawi
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green
with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band