^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Flag Dates: by country

Adoption Dates

See also:

Afghanistan

Current pattern (Black-Red-Green vertical bars) adopted between September 1928 and January 1929
1929 - Black-Red-Green motif restored after period of disuse
circa 1973 - flag modified to eliminate Arabic numerals; replaced and in disuse as of 9 May 1974
Black-Red-Green motif restored December 1992 - in disuse during Taliban era
Black-Red-Green motif restored 4 January 2004

Åland Islands

Flag first hoisted - 3 April 1954
proportions standardized - 1992

Albania

Flag Adopted 1912 modeled on the flag of Iskander Bey
Flag changed with a redesigned double headed eagle - 1920
Kingdom of Albania approved a modified flag to include Skanderbeg's Helmet - 3 August 1929
New flag proposal submitted to King Zog - 5 August 1929
Kingdom of Albania flags formally adopted - 8 August 1929
Color of flag background changed - 1934
Flag changed by occupying Italian government - 13 April 1939
Italian occupying flag formalized in constitution - 3 June 1939
Royal decree (Italian) approving flag - 28 September 1939
Postwar flag adopted - 1944
Socialist star added to flag - 1946
1920 flag readopted - 7 April 1992

Algeria

Flag adopted 3 July 1962 - originally a pre-revolutionary flag

American Samoa

Flag changed 27 April 1960

Andorra

Adopted 1866

Angola

Adopted 11 November 1975
27 August 2003 - New flag adopted, not yet ratified

Anguilla

Adopted 30 May 1990; First hoisted 30 May 1990

Antigua and Barbuda

Adopted 27 February 1997

Armenia

Adopted 1918; disuse during Soviet era
Reconfirmed by Supreme Council 23 August 1990
Adopted by Supreme Council 24 August 1990

Aruba

Flag adopted 16 March 1976
Flag first hoisted - 18 March 1976
Official specifications published - 14 March 1977

Australia

First hoisted, 3 September 1901
20 February 1903 - Flag approval announced by King Edward VII
Addition of seventh point to Commonwealth star announced 19 December 1908
flag confirmed in legislation - 14 April 1954

Austria

Legislated 27 April 1984, flag dates to 1230

Azerbaijan

Adopted 1918; disuse during Soviet era
Readopted, 5 February 1991

Bahamas

Flag adopted 10 July 1973

Bahrain

Serrated flag adopted 1933
Flag serrations modified 14 February 2002

Bangladesh

Adopted 13 January 1972

Barbados

Adopted 30 November 1996

Belarus

Flag adopted 7 June 1995

Belgium

Adopted 23 January 1831
Order of colors specified by Minister of Navy - 4 February 1831
Flag reconfirmed - 28 January 1936

Belize

Flag adopted 2 February 1950 from the design of People's Unity Party

Benin

Flag adopted 16 November 1959, in disuse 1975-1990
Flag readopted 1 August 1990

Bermuda

Flag adopted 4 October 1910

Bhutan

Flag adopted 1969

Bolivia

Flag adopted 31 October 1851
Flag reconfirmed 14 July 1888

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Adopted 4 February 1998

Botswana

Flag adopted 30 September 1996

Brazil

Adopted 19 November 1889
Star added to flag June 1960
Star added to flag 28 May 1968
Four stars added to flag 11 May 1992

British Indian Ocean Territory

Flag adopted 8 November 1990

British Virgin Islands

Flag adopted - 1956
Scroll added to flag - 15 November 1960
Size of badge modified - 1999

Brunei

Flag adopted 29 September 1959

Bulgaria

Flag adopted 16 April 1897
arms of People's Republic added to flag - 6 December 1947
1897 flag readopted 17 December 1990

Burkino Faso

Flag adopted 4 August 1984

Burundi

Adopted 28 June 1967
Proportions changed 27 September 1982

Cambodia

Flag adopted 29 October 1948 (in disuse 1970-1993)
Flag readopted 21 September 1993

Cameroon

Flag adopted 20 May 1975

Canada

Flag adopted 22 October 1964
Flag proclaimed by Queen Elizabeth II, 15 February 1965

Cape Verde

Flag adopted 22 September 1992

Cayman Islands

Flag adopted 14 May 1958
Badge modified on flag 1999

Central African Republic

Flag adopted 1 December 1958

Chad

Flag adopted 6 November 1959

Chile

Flag adopted 1 October 1949

China

Flag adopted 1 October 1949

Christmas Island

Flag unofficially adopted 14 April 1986
Official adoption of flag 26 January 2006

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Flag adopted 2003 (unofficial)

Columbia

Flag adopted 26 November 1861

Comoros

Flag prescribed in new constitution - 23 December 2001
New flag hoisted - 31 December 2001

Congo

Flag adopted 18 August 1958, in disuse 1969-1991
Flag readopted 10 October 1991

Congo, Democratic Republic of

Flag adopted 17 May 1997
Constitutional referendum (18-19 Dec. 2005) passed - planned return to flag of 1963-66 (implementation date unknown)
New symbols and arms legislated 16 February 2006
New flag of D.R. Congo first hoisted - 4 March 2006

Cook Islands

Flag adopted 4 August 1979

Costa Rica

Flag adopted 1848
Change to number of stars - 12 October 1964

Côte d'Ivoire

Flag adopted 4 December 1959

Croatia

Flag adopted 21 December 1990

Cuba

Flag adopted 20 May 1902, from a revolutionary flag dating from 1850

Cyprus

Flag adopted 16 August 1960

Czech Republic

Flag adopted 1993, using the former flag of Czechoslovakia, originated on 30 March 1920

Denmark

Flag adopted 1625
Specifications on dimensions specified - 1748
Proportions set - 1 May 1893

Djibouti

Flag adopted 27 June 1977

Dominica

Flag adopted 3 November 1978
Modifications to disk - 3 November 1981
Fimbriations eliminated around stars 3 November 1990

Dominican Republic

Flag adopted 6 November 1844

East Timor

Self-proclaimed independence flag 1975
Flag confirmed and colors redefined in constitution 22 March 2002
First hoisting 20 May 2002

Ecuador

Flag adopted 26 September 1860

Egypt

Flag adopted 4 October 1984

El Salvador

Flag adopted 1822
Minor modifications to flag - 1841
Flag replaced 28 April 1865
1821 flag reinstated - 17 May 1912
Flag reaffirmed in legislation - 14 September 1972

Equatorial Guinea

Flag adopted 21 August 1979

Eritrea

Flag adopted 5 December 1995

Estonia

Flag adopted 24 February 1918, in disuse during Soviet era
Flag reinstated 7 August 1990

Ethiopia

Flag adopted 6 February 1996

Faroe Islands

Flag recognized by Denmark - 1948
Change of shade of blue - 5 June 1959
Blue color standardized - 29 December 1998

Federated States of Micronesia

Flag adopted 30 November 1978 as the flag of the Pacific Island Trust Territory

Finland

Flag adopted 29 May 1918
Colors slightly modified - 12 February 1920
Colors standardized - 26 May 1978

France

Flag adopted 15 February 1794
Colors standardized 1804
Colors standardized 1812

French Polynesia

Flag adopted 23 November 1984
Flag use regulated 12 April 1996 (autonomous region flag)

Gabon

Flag adopted 09 August 1960

Gambia

Flag adopted and hoisted 18 February 1965

Georgia

Flag adopted 14 January 2004

Germany

Flag adopted 9 May 1949

Ghana

Flag adopted 6 March 1957, in disuse 1964-66
Flag readopted 28 February 1966

Greece

Flag adopted 1832
Colors standardized 22 December 1978

Greenland

Flag adopted 21 June 1985

Grenada

Flag adopted 7 February 1974

Guam

Flag adopted 4 July 1917
Flag accepted by Guam congress 9 February 1948
Red border added around flag 1960

Guatemala

Flag adopted 12 August 1871
Flag colors and size standardized 12 September 1968
Colors standardized 26 September 1997

Guinea

Flag adopted 10 November 1958

Guinea Bissau

Flag adopted 24 September 1973

Guyana

Flag adopted 26 May 1966

Haiti

Flag current pattern adopted 1843
flag reconfirmed - 1849
arms on flag changed - 1859
circa 1860 - blue-red bicolor in use
flag dimensions specified 18 September 1949
new constitution changes flag - 25 June 1964, in disuse until 1987
Flag restored 17 February 1986
Cap of Liberty restored to flag in constitution dated 10 March 1987
Constitution officially ratified 29 March 1987

Honduras

Flag adopted 9 January 1866

Hong Kong

Flag adopted (pre-transfer) - 16 February 1990
Approval of flag by Hong Kong SAR preparatory committee 10 August 1996
Flag officially hoisted 1 July 1997

Hungary

Flag adopted during the 1848-49 uprising
First law about flag in Constitution - 1848
Flag in disuse during Austrian period 1849-1867
Flag restored 1867
Flag replaced by Hungarian Soviet Republic flag
Flag restored circa 31 July 1919
Ráskosi arms on flag - 1949-1956
Constitution modified regarding flag - 1949
Basic flag restored 1957
Flag legislated regarding use - 1995
Ratio set for flag and pole sizes 2000
Decree specifies flag sizes for governmental use - 14 July 2000

Iceland

Flag approved by royal decree 19 June 1915 for Marine purposes
Flag approved for national use 30 November 1918
Change in the specification for the blue color 17 June 1944

India

Flag adopted 22 July 1947
New law regarding respect for the national flag - 12 December 2005

Indonesia

Flag hoisted 17 August 1945

Iran

Flag adopted 29 July 1980

Iraq

Flag adopted 31 July 1963
Takbir added to flag 13 January 1963
Flag modified 28 June 2004

Ireland

Use confirmed 29 December 1937

Israel

Flag adopted 28 October 1948

Italy

Flag adopted 19 June 1946 (originally the flag of the Cisalpine Republic
Official date of flag use - 1 January 1948
Colors standardized 18 September 2002

Jamaica

Flag adopted 6 August 1962

Japan

Flag adopted 13 August 1999 (in use since 17th century)

Jordan

Flag adopted 16 April 1928

Kazakhstan

Flag adopted 4 June 1992

Kenya

Flag adopted 12 December 1963

Kiribati

Flag adopted 12 July 1979

Korea, Democratic Peoples Republic of

Flag adopted 8 September 1948

Korea, Republic of

Defacto use of the flag, 1950 (from older flag)
Flag adopted 25 January 1950
Change to ying-yang symbols on flag, 21 February 1984

Kuwait

Flag adopted 7 September 1961
Flag first hoisted, 24 November 1961

Kyrgyzstan

Flag Adopted 3 March 1992

Laos

Flag adopted 2 December 1975

Latvia

Adopted 18 November 1918 (flag dates from 1279, in disuse during Soviet era)
Flag readopted 27 February 1990

Lebanon

Flag adopted 7 December 1943

Lesotho

Flag adopted 20 January 1987
New flag adopted 27 September 2006 (National Flag Act)
New flag hoisted - 3 October 2006

Liberia

Flag created 26 July 1847
First hoisted 24 August 1847

Libya

Flag adopted 19 November 1977

Liechtenstein

Flag adopted 24 June 1937 (crown added to older version)
Crown modified 3 June 1957
Crown modified 30 June 1982

Lithuania

Flag adopted 1918 (in disuse during Soviet era)
Readopted, 20 March 1989
Proportions changed 1 September 2004

Luxembourg

Flag adopted 23 June 1972 (first hoisted circa 1845-1848)
Adoption official on 16 August 1972

Macao

Flag adopted 31 March 1993
Officially hoisted at transfer 19 November 1999

Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of

Flag approved 5 October 1995

Madagascar

Flag adopted 21 October 1958

Malawi

Flag adopted 6 July 1964

Malaysia

Flag adopted 16 September 1963

Maldives

Flag adopted 25 July 1965

Mali

Flag approved 1 March 1961

Malta

Flag adopted 21 September 1964

Marshall Islands

Flag adopted 12 June 1979
Flag approved by High Commissioner 22 June 1979

Mauritania

Flag adopted 1 April 1959

Mauritius

Flag adopted 9 January 1968

Mexico

Flag adopted 7 October 1821
Flag modified by Republican government 14 April 1823
Arms on flag modified 18 June 1864
Arms on flag modified 20 December 1880 by proclamation
Flag decreed in December 1880 becomes effective 1 January 1881
New emblem placed on flag 1 January 1889
New representation of arms on flag 15 September 1917
New emblem placed on flag 5 February 1934
Flag revised 17 September 1968
Flag reconfirmed 8 February 1984
recodification of flag law in revised decrees on national symbols - 8 December 2005

Moldova

Flag adopted 27 April 1990

Monaco

Flag adopted 4 April 1881

Mongolia

Flag adopted 1940 (socialist version)
Socialist star removed 12 February 1992

Montenegro

Flag adopted 12 July 2004
Flag first hoisted 15 July 2004

Montserrat

Flag adopted 10 April 1909
Badge modified on flag 25 January 1999

Morocco

French protectorate of Morocco flag officialized - 17 November 1915
Flag adopted by decree - 1956
Flag described in constitution - 10 March 1974
Flag described in constitution - 4 September 1992

Mozambique

Flag adopted 1 May 1983

Myanmar

Flag adopted 3 January 1974

Namibia

Flag adopted 21 March 1990

Nauru

Flag adopted 21 January 1968

Nepal

First Nepali flag adopted 1928
Emblems on flag streamlined 16 December 1962

Netherland Antilles

Adopted 1 January 1986

Netherlands

First use of the flag - 1581
1630-1660 - orange stripe becomes red
Colors regulated by royal decree and official adoption of flag - 19 February 1937
Colors defined - 1958

New Zealand

23 October 1869 - Flag proclaimed as colonial ensign
Flag legislated as National flag - 12 June 1902

Nicaragua

Flag adopted 4 September 1908
Specifications on size and shade of blue issued 23 August 1971

Niger

Flag adopted 23 November 1959
Flag specified in constitution, 22 May 1995
Flag recodified in constitution, 9 August 1999

Nigeria

Flag selected (pre-independence) 1959
Flag officially adopted 1 October 1960

Niue

Flag adopted 15 October 1975

Norfolk Island

Flag selected 6 June 1979 (unofficial)
1980 - Official approval by Australian Governor-General and Queen Elizabeth II
Flag adopted 1 January 1980
Flag official 17 January 1980

Northern Mariana Islands

Adopted as a district flag 31 March 1972
Adopted as territorial flag 4 July 1976
Design modified 1985
Modified 1991

Norway

Flag adopted - July 21, 1821 (unofficial)
Flag legislated on 10 December 1898
Flag legislation published 15 December 2 1898
legislation becomes effective 15 December 1899

Oman

Flag adopted 17 December 1970
Change in width of stripes and proportions 18 October 1995

Pakistan

Flag adopted 14 August 1947

Palau

Flag adopted 1 January 1981

Panama

Flag first hoisted 20 December 1903
Provisionally approved 1904
Flag officially approved 1925
Flag ratified 28 March 1941

Papua New Guinea

Flag adopted 1 July 1971 (pre-independence)

Paraguay

First Paraguayan tribar adopted 15 August 1812
Flag with arms in center codified 25 November 1842
ratio changed 1988
Apparent change to flag circa 1991

Peru

Flag adopted 1825
Civil flag confirmed 31 March 1950

Philippines

Flag adopted 19 May 1898 (use prohibited until 1919)
Flag sanction lifted by US - 30 October 1919
Specifications issued 25 March 1936

Pitcairn

Flag approved by Queen Elizabeth II on 2 April 1984 (based on 1980 design)
First hoisted May 1984

Poland

flag constituted by Polish parliament 1831 following November uprising (modeled on the flag of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw)
1863 - 1831 flag with arms used during Polish revolt
1831 flag used as the flag of the Second Republic - 1 August 1919
1980 - Minor modification to flag (People's Republic of Poland)
New law on the Polish flag - 9 February 1990
Effective date of legislation - 22 February 1990

Portugal

Flag adopted 30 June 1911

Puerto Rico

Flag adopted 22 December 1895 (use forbidden until 1952)
Flag adopted for use by Commonwealth 1952
Colors standardized - 1995

Qatar

Flag adopted 9 July 1971

Romania

Flag first authorized by Ottoman sultan 1834
Horizontal version of the flag adopted 1859
Vertical version of the flag adopted 1866
Arms of People's Republic of Romania added to flag 1948
New arms of People's Republic of Romania added to flag 1952
New arms of People's Republic of Romania added to flag 21 August 1965
Arms removed from flag 27 December 1989
Flag established in Romanian constitution 21 November 1991
Effective date of Romanian Constitution 8 December 1991

Russia

1693 - First use as a naval ensign
Adopted as Merchant ensign 20 January 1705 (disuse during Soviet era)
Adopted as Civil ensign 7 May 1883 (disuse during Soviet era)
Officially adopted as state flag 21 August 1991
Reuse following dissolution of Soviet Union - 26 December 1991

Rwanda

Flag adopted 25 October 2001

Saint Helena

Flag adopted 4 October 1984

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Flag adopted 19 September 1983

Saint Lucia

Flag adopted 22 February 1979 (in use since 1 March 1967)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Flag adopted 21 October 1985

Samoa

Flag adopted 24 February 1949

San Marino

Flag adopted 6 April 1862

São Tomé and Principe

Flag adopted 5 November 1975

Saudi Arabia

Flag adopted 15 March 1973

Senegal

Flag adopted 20 June 1960

Serbia

Flag adopted 17 August 2004

Seychelles

Flag legislated 8 January 1996
Effective date of legislation 17 June 1996

Sierra Leone

Flag adopted 27 April 1961

Singapore

Flag adopted 3 December 1959

Slovakia

Flag adopted 1 September 1992
First hoisted 3 September 1992
Specifications issued 18 February 1993

Slovenia

Flag adopted 27 June 1991

Solomon Islands

Flag adopted 18 November 1977

Somalia

Flag adopted 12 October 1954

South Africa

Flag design selected 15 March 1994
Specification issued 18 March 1994
Flag proclamation issued in government gazette

South Africa

Flag first hoisted 27 April 1994
Flag adopted in Constitution

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Coat of arms introduced 14 February 1992

Spain

Flag adopted 19 December 1981

Sri Lanka

Flag adopted 7 September 1978, incorporating thee flag of Kandy, dating back to 1815, and national flag of 1948
Flag legislated in constitution 8 February 2000

Sudan