Flags of the World

Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a mountainous landlocked country in Central/South Asia, with the capital Kabul. Much of it is dominated by the Hindu Kush mountains.

💡 Did you know? Afghanistan's flag was changed more often in the 20th and 21st centuries than that of almost any other country.

Albania

Albania lies in the Balkans on the Adriatic, with the capital Tirana. The country is largely mountainous and was long isolated.

💡 Did you know? The Albanian double-headed eagle on a red field goes back to the 15th-century national hero Skanderbeg.

Algeria

Algeria is the largest country in Africa by area, bordering the Mediterranean in the north, with its south in the Sahara. The capital is Algiers.

💡 Did you know? More than four fifths of Algeria is desert: the Sahara.

Angola

Angola lies in south-west Africa on the Atlantic, with the capital Luanda. The country is rich in oil and diamonds.

💡 Did you know? The machete and cogwheel on the flag stand for farm workers and industrial workers.

Argentina

Argentina stretches across the south of South America down to Tierra del Fuego, with the capital Buenos Aires. It is famous for the Pampas, tango and beef.

💡 Did you know? The 'Sun of May' in the centre of the flag recalls independence from Spain.

Australia

Australia is both a country and a continent, surrounded by the sea, with the capital Canberra. Its interior is dry outback.

💡 Did you know? The flag shows the southern constellation of the Southern Cross and the British Union Jack.

Austria

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, with the capital Vienna. Large parts are covered by the Alps.

💡 Did you know? The red-white-red flag is said to go back to a duke's blood-soaked tunic.

Bahamas

The Bahamas are an island nation of hundreds of islands in the Atlantic south-east of Florida, with the capital Nassau. They live mainly from tourism.

💡 Did you know? The black triangle of the flag stands for the vigour of the people, gold and blue for beaches and sea.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh lies in South Asia on the Bay of Bengal, with the capital Dhaka. The densely populated country is criss-crossed by great river deltas.

💡 Did you know? The red disc on a green field stands for the sun over the fertile land.

Belarus

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with the capital Minsk. Large parts are covered by forests and marshes.

💡 Did you know? The flag features a traditional red woven ornament along the left edge.

Belgium

Belgium lies in Western Europe on the North Sea, with the capital Brussels: also the seat of the EU and NATO. The country is famous for chocolate, fries and beer.

💡 Did you know? The black-yellow-red flag is unusually striped vertically rather than horizontally.

Belize

Belize lies on the Caribbean coast of Central America, with the capital Belmopan. A huge barrier reef lies off its coast.

💡 Did you know? Belize is one of the few national flags in the world to depict people: two woodcutters in the coat of arms.

Benin

Benin is a narrow country in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, with the capital Porto-Novo. The historic Kingdom of Dahomey lay here.

💡 Did you know? Green, yellow and red are the pan-African colours.

Bhutan

Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom between India and China, with the capital Thimphu. It measures its success by 'Gross National Happiness'.

💡 Did you know? The flag shows a thunder dragon (Druk): Bhutan calls itself the 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'.

Bolivia

Bolivia is a landlocked country in the Andes of South America, with the seats of government La Paz and Sucre. It holds the world's largest salt flat.

💡 Did you know? The seat of government La Paz, at around 3600 metres, is one of the highest-lying capitals in the world.

Bosnia and Herz.

Bosnia and Herzegovina lies in the Balkans, with the capital Sarajevo. The country is mountainous and culturally diverse.

💡 Did you know? The stars and yellow triangle of the flag stand for Europe and the country's three peoples.

Botswana

Botswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa, with the capital Gaborone. Large parts are covered by the Kalahari Desert.

💡 Did you know? The black and white of the flag stands for harmony between population groups, blue for precious water.

Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America, with the capital Brasília. It holds most of the Amazon rainforest.

💡 Did you know? The stars on the flag show the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the night the republic was proclaimed in 1889.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria lies in the Balkans on the Black Sea, with the capital Sofia. It is known for rose oil and yoghurt.

💡 Did you know? Bulgaria produces much of the world's rose oil for the perfume industry.

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa, with the capital Ouagadougou. Its name means 'Land of the upright people'.

💡 Did you know? The yellow star on the flag stands for the revolution from which the country's present name emerged.

Burundi

Burundi is a small, densely populated landlocked country in East Africa, with the capital Gitega. It lies on Lake Tanganyika.

💡 Did you know? The three stars on the flag stand for the motto 'Unity, Work, Progress'.

Cambodia

Cambodia lies in South-East Asia on the Gulf of Thailand, with the capital Phnom Penh. It is famous for the temple complex of Angkor Wat.

💡 Did you know? Cambodia is the only country to show a building (the temple of Angkor Wat) on its flag.

Cameroon

Cameroon lies in Central Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, with the capital Yaoundé. Because of its variety it is called 'Africa in miniature'.

💡 Did you know? Cameroon combines desert, savannah, rainforest and mountains in a small area.

Canada

Canada is the second-largest country on Earth, in northern America, with the capital Ottawa. It is known for vast forests and lakes.

💡 Did you know? The maple leaf on the flag is Canada's national symbol.

Central African Rep.

The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in the heart of Africa, with the capital Bangui. It is rich in minerals such as diamonds.

💡 Did you know? The four horizontal stripes and the vertical red one deliberately combine the colours of Africa and France.

Chad

Chad is a large landlocked country in Central Africa, with the capital N'Djamena. Its north lies in the Sahara.

💡 Did you know? The once vast Lake Chad has shrunk dramatically over the decades.

Chile

Chile is an extremely long country on the west coast of South America, with the capital Santiago. It reaches from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia.

💡 Did you know? Chile is over 4300 kilometres long but on average only about 180 kilometres wide.

China

China is one of the most populous countries in Asia and a major economic power, with the capital Beijing. It reaches from coasts to the Tibetan plateau.

💡 Did you know? The large star on the flag stands for the Communist Party, the four small ones for the people.

Colombia

Colombia lies in north-west South America with coasts on both the Pacific and the Caribbean, with the capital Bogotá. It is a major coffee producer.

💡 Did you know? Colombian highland coffee is regarded as some of the best in the world.

Congo

The Republic of the Congo lies in Central Africa on the Atlantic, with the capital Brazzaville. Large parts are covered by rainforest.

💡 Did you know? Its capital Brazzaville sits directly across the river from Kinshasa, capital of the neighbouring DR Congo.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica lies in Central America between the Pacific and the Caribbean, with the capital San José. It is famous for its nature conservation and biodiversity.

💡 Did you know? Costa Rica has had no army since 1948 and invests the money in education and the environment instead.

Côte d'Ivoire

Ivory Coast lies in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, with the seat of government at Yamoussoukro. It is the world's largest cocoa producer.

💡 Did you know? About a third of the world's cocoa for chocolate comes from Ivory Coast.

Croatia

Croatia lies on the Adriatic in south-east Europe, with the capital Zagreb. Its coast with a thousand islands is a popular destination.

💡 Did you know? The red-and-white checks in the coat of arms are Croatia's centuries-old chessboard symbol.

Cuba

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, with the capital Havana. It is known for cigars, vintage cars and music.

💡 Did you know? Havana's streets are famous for their colourful American vintage cars from the 1950s.

Cyprus

Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean, with the capital Nicosia. The island has been divided for decades.

💡 Did you know? The flag shows the outline of the island itself in copper colour: after the copper that gave Cyprus its name.

Czechia

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe, with the capital Prague. It is known for castles, beer and its well-preserved old towns.

💡 Did you know? Czechs drink more beer per person than any other nation in the world.

Dem. Rep. Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a vast country in Central Africa, with the capital Kinshasa. Large parts are covered by the Congo rainforest.

💡 Did you know? The Congo rainforest is the second-largest rainforest on Earth after the Amazon.

Denmark

Denmark lies in northern Europe between the North Sea and the Baltic, with the capital Copenhagen. It consists of a peninsula and many islands.

💡 Did you know? The 'Dannebrog' is regarded as the oldest continuously used national flag in the world.

Djibouti

Djibouti is a small country on the Horn of Africa by the Red Sea, with the capital also called Djibouti. It lies on a strategically important strait.

💡 Did you know? Because of its position on one of the busiest shipping routes, the country hosts several foreign military bases.

Dominican Rep.

The Dominican Republic shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti, with the capital Santo Domingo. It is a popular holiday destination.

💡 Did you know? It is the only national flag in the world to show an open Bible in its coat of arms.

Ecuador

Ecuador lies on the west coast of South America right on the equator, with the capital Quito. The famous Galápagos Islands belong to it.

💡 Did you know? The country is named after the equator (Spanish 'ecuador'), which runs right through it.

Egypt

Egypt lies in north-east Africa on the Nile and the Mediterranean, with the capital Cairo. It is home to the pyramids and one of the oldest civilisations.

💡 Did you know? Almost all Egyptians live on narrow strips along the Nile; the rest is desert.

El Salvador

El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, on the Pacific, with the capital San Salvador. It is shaped by volcanoes.

💡 Did you know? In 2021 El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender.

Eritrea

Eritrea lies on the Horn of Africa by the Red Sea, with the capital Asmara. It became independent from Ethiopia in 1993.

💡 Did you know? The capital Asmara is known for its Italian Art Deco architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Estonia

Estonia is the northernmost of the three Baltic states, on the Baltic Sea, with the capital Tallinn. It is seen as a digital pioneer.

💡 Did you know? In Estonia almost all dealings with the authorities can be done online: even voting.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a mountainous highland in the Horn of Africa, with the capital Addis Ababa. It is one of the oldest independent countries in the world.

💡 Did you know? Ethiopia's green-yellow-red inspired many African flags, as one of the few African countries never lastingly colonised.

Finland

Finland lies in northern Europe on the Baltic Sea, with the capital Helsinki. It is famous for its thousands of lakes and forests.

💡 Did you know? Finland has over 180,000 lakes: hence the nickname 'Land of a Thousand Lakes'.

France

France is the largest country in the EU by area, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, with the capital Paris. It is famed for its culture, cuisine and wine.

💡 Did you know? The blue-white-red tricolour arose in the French Revolution and became a model worldwide.

Gabon

Gabon lies in Central Africa on the Atlantic, right on the equator, with the capital Libreville. Almost the whole country is covered by rainforest.

💡 Did you know? About 90 percent of Gabon is forested: much of it protected.

Gambia

The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, wrapped around the Gambia River, with the capital Banjul. It is almost entirely surrounded by Senegal.

💡 Did you know? The country is barely wider than the valley of the Gambia River that runs through it.

Germany

Germany lies in Central Europe, with the capital Berlin. It is the most populous country in the EU and a leading industrial nation.

💡 Did you know? The colours black-red-gold go back to the uniforms in the fight against Napoleon and the revolution of 1848.

Ghana

Ghana lies in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, with the capital Accra. It was the first country south of the Sahara to throw off colonial rule.

💡 Did you know? The black star on the flag stands for African freedom and inspired many other countries.

Greece

Greece lies in south-east Europe on the Mediterranean and includes thousands of islands, with the capital Athens. It is regarded as the cradle of democracy.

💡 Did you know? The nine stripes of the flag are said to stand for the syllables of the rallying cry 'Freedom or Death'.

Guatemala

Guatemala lies in Central America between the Pacific and the Caribbean, with the capital Guatemala City. It is rich in Maya ruins and volcanoes.

💡 Did you know? The quetzal on the flag is both the national bird and the name of the country's currency.

Guinea

Guinea lies in West Africa on the Atlantic, with the capital Conakry. Several major West African rivers rise here.

💡 Did you know? Guinea holds a large share of the world's reserves of bauxite, the raw material for aluminium.

Guyana

Guyana lies on the north coast of South America on the Atlantic, with the capital Georgetown. Large parts are covered by dense rainforest.

💡 Did you know? Guyana is the only South American country where English is the official language.

Haiti

Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, with the capital Port-au-Prince. It was the first independent republic in the Caribbean.

💡 Did you know? In 1804 Haiti became the first state to emerge from a successful slave revolt.

Honduras

Honduras lies in Central America between the Caribbean and the Pacific, with the capital Tegucigalpa. The country is mountainous and tropical.

💡 Did you know? The five stars on the flag stand for the former federation of Central American states.

Hungary

Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe, with the capital Budapest. The Danube flows through the country.

💡 Did you know? Over a hundred thermal springs bubble up beneath Budapest; the city is famous for its baths.

Iceland

Iceland is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic just south of the Arctic Circle, with the capital Reykjavík. It is shaped by geysers, glaciers and volcanoes.

💡 Did you know? Iceland gets almost all of its energy from hydropower and geothermal heat.

India

India is one of the most populous countries in the world, in South Asia, with the capital New Delhi. It reaches from the Himalayas to tropical coasts.

💡 Did you know? The blue wheel in the centre of the flag, the 'Ashoka Chakra', symbolises progress and eternal motion.

Indonesia

Indonesia is the largest island nation in the world, in South-East Asia, with the capital Jakarta. It consists of thousands of islands.

💡 Did you know? Indonesia spreads over more than 17,000 islands.

Iran

Iran lies in the Middle East between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf, with the capital Tehran. It was the heartland of ancient Persia.

💡 Did you know? Until 1935 Iran was known in the West as 'Persia'.

Iraq

Iraq lies in the Middle East between the Euphrates and the Tigris, with the capital Baghdad. Ancient Mesopotamia lay here.

💡 Did you know? Between the Euphrates and the Tigris, Sumer (one of humanity's first civilisations) arose over 5000 years ago.

Ireland

Ireland occupies most of the island of the same name in the Atlantic west of Britain, with the capital Dublin. It is known for its lush green.

💡 Did you know? Because of its green landscape Ireland is nicknamed the 'Emerald Isle'.

Israel

Israel lies on the eastern Mediterranean in the Middle East, with the seat of government in Jerusalem. It is a centre of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

💡 Did you know? The flag shows the Star of David between two blue stripes, modelled on the Jewish prayer shawl.

Italy

Italy juts into the Mediterranean as a boot-shaped peninsula, with the capital Rome. It is famous for art, cuisine and history.

💡 Did you know? Italy contains two independent microstates within it: the Vatican and San Marino.

Jamaica

Jamaica is a Caribbean island south of Cuba, with the capital Kingston. It is the home of reggae and Bob Marley.

💡 Did you know? Jamaica's flag is the only national flag in the world with no red, white or blue.

Japan

Japan is an island nation in the Pacific off the east coast of Asia, with the capital Tokyo. It blends ancient traditions with high tech.

💡 Did you know? The flag shows the rising sun: Japan calls itself the 'Land of the Rising Sun'.

Jordan

Jordan lies in the Middle East east of the River Jordan, with the capital Amman. It is home to the famous rock city of Petra.

💡 Did you know? The rock-cut city of Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country on Earth, in Central Asia, with the capital Astana. Large parts are open steppe.

💡 Did you know? Kazakhstan is the largest country in the world with no access to the sea.

Kenya

Kenya lies in East Africa on the Indian Ocean, with the capital Nairobi. It is famous for its safari national parks.

💡 Did you know? On the flag a traditional Maasai shield with spears stands for the defence of freedom.

Kosovo

Kosovo is a small country in the Balkans, with the capital Pristina. It declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

💡 Did you know? The flag shows the country's outline above six stars, for its six main ethnic groups.

Kuwait

Kuwait is a small, oil-rich emirate on the Persian Gulf, with the capital also called Kuwait. It is one of the wealthiest countries in the region.

💡 Did you know? Kuwait sits on a significant share of the world's known oil reserves.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia, with the capital Bishkek. Almost the whole country lies in high mountains.

💡 Did you know? The sun on the flag shows the roof frame of a yurt, the traditional nomad's tent.

Laos

Laos is a mountainous landlocked country in South-East Asia on the Mekong, with the capital Vientiane. It is the region's only landlocked country.

💡 Did you know? The white disc of the flag stands for the full moon over the Mekong River.

Latvia

Latvia is the middle of the three Baltic states, on the Baltic Sea, with the capital Riga. Riga's old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

💡 Did you know? The dark red of the flag is one of the oldest documented flag colours in Europe.

Lebanon

Lebanon lies on the eastern Mediterranean in the Middle East, with the capital Beirut. It is known for its thousands of years of history.

💡 Did you know? The cedar on the flag is an ancient symbol of the country and is mentioned in the Bible.

Liberia

Liberia lies in West Africa on the Atlantic, with the capital Monrovia. It was founded in the 19th century by freed slaves from the USA.

💡 Did you know? Liberia's flag deliberately resembles the US flag: in memory of its founders from America.

Libya

Libya lies in North Africa on the Mediterranean, with the capital Tripoli. By far the greater part of the country is desert.

💡 Did you know? Over 90 percent of Libya is desert: almost everyone lives on the coast.

Lithuania

Lithuania is the southernmost of the three Baltic states, on the Baltic Sea, with the capital Vilnius. It was once the centre of a great medieval realm.

💡 Did you know? In the Middle Ages the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was one of the largest countries in Europe.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a small, wealthy landlocked country between Germany, France and Belgium, with the capital also called Luxembourg. It is a major financial centre and EU seat.

💡 Did you know? Luxembourg is the only remaining grand duchy in the world.

Macedonia

North Macedonia is a landlocked country in the Balkans, with the capital Skopje. It is mountainous and lies on ancient trade routes.

💡 Did you know? The flag shows a stylised, radiant sun.

Madagascar

Madagascar is a large island in the Indian Ocean off East Africa, with the capital Antananarivo. It is famous for its unique wildlife.

💡 Did you know? About nine in ten of Madagascar's animal and plant species exist nowhere else on Earth, such as the lemurs.

Malawi

Malawi is a landlocked country in East Africa, with the capital Lilongwe. It is dominated by the vast Lake Malawi.

💡 Did you know? Lake Malawi is home to more fish species than any other lake on Earth.

Malaysia

Malaysia lies in South-East Asia and consists of two parts separated by the sea, with the capital Kuala Lumpur. It is tropical and rich in species.

💡 Did you know? The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur were the tallest buildings in the world when completed.

Mali

Mali is a large landlocked country in West Africa, with the capital Bamako. Its north lies in the Sahara.

💡 Did you know? The ancient desert city of Timbuktu in Mali was once a famous centre of trade and learning.

Malta

Malta is a tiny island nation in the Mediterranean south of Sicily, with the capital Valletta. It is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the EU.

💡 Did you know? The flag bears the George Cross, awarded to Malta for its bravery in the Second World War.

Mauritania

Mauritania lies in West Africa on the Atlantic, with the capital Nouakchott. By far the greater part of the country is desert.

💡 Did you know? The crescent and star on the flag stand for Islam, the gold for the sand of the Sahara.

Mexico

Mexico lies in North America between the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico, with the capital Mexico City. It was home to the Aztecs and Maya.

💡 Did you know? The coat of arms shows an eagle on a cactus with a snake: from an old Aztec legend about the founding of the capital.

Moldova

Moldova is a small landlocked country between Romania and Ukraine, with the capital Chișinău. It is known for its winemaking.

💡 Did you know? Moldova is home to some of the largest underground wine cellars in the world.

Mongolia

Mongolia is a vast landlocked country between Russia and China, with the capital Ulaanbaatar. It is shaped by steppes and the Gobi Desert.

💡 Did you know? Mongolia is the most sparsely populated independent country in the world.

Montenegro

Montenegro is a small, mountainous country on the Adriatic in the Balkans, with the capital Podgorica. Its name means 'Black Mountain'.

💡 Did you know? The deeply cut Bay of Kotor is often taken for Europe's southernmost fjord.

Morocco

Morocco lies in north-west Africa on the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, with the capital Rabat. It reaches from coasts over the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara.

💡 Did you know? The green star on the red flag is the 'Seal of Solomon'.

Mozambique

Mozambique lies on the south-east coast of Africa on the Indian Ocean, with the capital Maputo. It has long, beautiful beaches.

💡 Did you know? Mozambique's flag is one of the very few to show a modern firearm: an assault rifle.

Myanmar

Myanmar (formerly Burma) lies in South-East Asia on the Bay of Bengal, with the largest city Yangon. It is famous for thousands of golden pagodas.

💡 Did you know? The plain of Bagan is dotted with thousands of temples and pagodas.

Namibia

Namibia lies in south-west Africa on the Atlantic, with the capital Windhoek. It is home to one of the oldest deserts in the world.

💡 Did you know? The Namib Desert has some of the tallest sand dunes on Earth.

Nepal

Nepal is a landlocked country in the Himalayas between India and China, with the capital Kathmandu. The highest mountain on Earth lies here.

💡 Did you know? Nepal is the only country in the world without a rectangular flag; its flag is made of two pennants.

Netherlands

The Netherlands lies in Western Europe on the North Sea, with the capital Amsterdam. Large parts of the country lie below sea level.

💡 Did you know? A considerable part of the Netherlands was reclaimed from the sea by dykes and polders.

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island nation in the South Pacific south-east of Australia, with the capital Wellington. It is known for its dramatic scenery.

💡 Did you know? New Zealand has far more sheep than people.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua lies in Central America between the Pacific and the Caribbean, with the capital Managua. It is the largest country in Central America, rich in lakes and volcanoes.

💡 Did you know? The large Lake Nicaragua is home to sharks that once migrated in from the sea.

Niger

Niger is a large landlocked country in West Africa, with the capital Niamey. Its north lies in the Sahara.

💡 Did you know? The orange disc of the flag stands for the sun over the Sahara.

Nigeria

Nigeria lies in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, with the capital Abuja. It is the most populous country in Africa.

💡 Did you know? Nigeria has more people than any other country in Africa.

North Korea

North Korea lies in the north of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia, with the capital Pyongyang. It is one of the most isolated countries in the world.

💡 Did you know? North Korea is separated from its neighbour South Korea by one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world.

Norway

Norway lies in northern Europe on the Atlantic coast of Scandinavia, with the capital Oslo. Its coast is carved by deep fjords.

💡 Did you know? In Norway's far north the sun does not set for weeks in summer: the midnight sun.

Oman

Oman lies in the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula on the Indian Ocean, with the capital Muscat. It is known for deserts, mountains and frankincense.

💡 Did you know? In antiquity Oman was a centre of the trade in precious frankincense.

Pakistan

Pakistan lies in South Asia on the Arabian Sea, with the capital Islamabad. It reaches from coasts to the Himalayas.

💡 Did you know? The crescent and star stand for Islam, the white stripe for the country's religious minorities.

Panama

Panama forms a narrow land bridge linking Central and South America, with the capital Panama City. The famous Panama Canal runs through it.

💡 Did you know? The Panama Canal links the Atlantic and the Pacific, saving ships the voyage around all of South America.

Paraguay

Paraguay is a landlocked country in the heart of South America, with the capital Asunción. It lies between Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia.

💡 Did you know? Paraguay is one of the few countries in the world whose flag has a different front and back.

Peru

Peru lies on the west coast of South America, with the capital Lima. The heart of the Inca Empire, with Machu Picchu, lay here.

💡 Did you know? The Inca city of Machu Picchu lies hidden high in the Andes and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Philippines

The Philippines are an island nation in the western Pacific in South-East Asia, with the capital Manila. They consist of over 7000 islands.

💡 Did you know? Turning the flag so that the red is on top signals a state of war.

Poland

Poland lies in Central Europe on the Baltic Sea, with the capital Warsaw. It is known for its turbulent history and old towns.

💡 Did you know? The white-and-red flag goes back to the white eagle on a red shield.

Portugal

Portugal lies in the far south-west of Europe on the Atlantic, with the capital Lisbon. The great explorers of the Renaissance set out from here.

💡 Did you know? Portuguese seafarers such as Vasco da Gama opened the sea route to India.

Qatar

Qatar is a small, wealthy emirate on a peninsula in the Persian Gulf, with the capital Doha. Its wealth comes from natural gas and oil.

💡 Did you know? In 2022 Qatar became the first Arab country to host a football World Cup.

Romania

Romania lies in south-east Europe on the Black Sea, with the capital Bucharest. The Carpathians run through the country.

💡 Did you know? The region of Transylvania in the Carpathians is world-famous as the home of the Dracula legend.

Russia

Russia is the largest country on Earth, spanning Europe and Asia, with the capital Moscow. It covers eleven time zones.

💡 Did you know? On the Trans-Siberian Railway you can cross Russia from Moscow to the Pacific in about a week.

Rwanda

Rwanda is a small, hilly landlocked country in East Africa, with the capital Kigali. It is called the 'Land of a Thousand Hills'.

💡 Did you know? Some of the last wild mountain gorillas on Earth live in Rwanda's mountain forests.

S. Sudan

South Sudan is a landlocked country in East Africa, with the capital Juba. It is the youngest widely recognised state in the world.

💡 Did you know? South Sudan became independent in 2011, making it the youngest country on Earth.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula, with the capital Riyadh. It is home to the holy sites of Islam.

💡 Did you know? The flag bears the Islamic declaration of faith and is therefore never flown at half-mast.

Senegal

Senegal lies at the westernmost point of Africa on the Atlantic, with the capital Dakar. It almost entirely surrounds the small country of the Gambia.

💡 Did you know? Dakar lies at the westernmost mainland point of the entire African continent.

Serbia

Serbia is a landlocked country in the Balkans, with the capital Belgrade. The Danube flows through the country.

💡 Did you know? Belgrade is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone lies in West Africa on the Atlantic, with the capital Freetown. It has one of the largest natural harbours in the world.

💡 Did you know? The name means 'Lion Mountains' and goes back to Portuguese seafarers.

Slovakia

Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe, with the capital Bratislava. Large parts are covered by the Carpathians.

💡 Did you know? The capital Bratislava lies right on the border with Austria and Hungary.

Slovenia

Slovenia lies between the Alps and the Adriatic in Central Europe, with the capital Ljubljana. Large parts are green forest.

💡 Did you know? More than half of Slovenia is covered by forest: one of the most forested countries in Europe.

Somalia

Somalia lies on the Horn of Africa on the Indian Ocean, with the capital Mogadishu. It has the longest coastline on mainland Africa.

💡 Did you know? The five-pointed star on the flag stands for the regions where Somalis live.

South Africa

South Africa lies at the southern tip of Africa with coasts on both the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, and has three capitals. It is known for its diversity.

💡 Did you know? South Africa has three capitals (Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein) for its three branches of government.

South Korea

South Korea lies in the south of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia, with the capital Seoul. It is a leading high-tech nation.

💡 Did you know? The red-and-blue circle on the flag stands for the balance of opposites (yin and yang).

Spain

Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula in south-west Europe, with the capital Madrid. It is known for flamenco, sun and coastline.

💡 Did you know? Madrid lies almost exactly at the geographical centre of Spain.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a tropical island in the Indian Ocean south of India, with the seat of government at Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. It is famous for its tea.

💡 Did you know? The lion with the sword on the flag stands for the Sinhalese people.

Sudan

Sudan lies in north-east Africa on the Red Sea, with the capital Khartoum. The Nile flows through the country.

💡 Did you know? Sudan has more ancient pyramids than all of Egypt: the pyramids of Meroë.

Suriname

Suriname lies on the north coast of South America on the Atlantic, with the capital Paramaribo. Large parts are covered by rainforest.

💡 Did you know? Suriname is the smallest country in South America by area.

Sweden

Sweden is the largest of the Scandinavian countries, on the Baltic Sea, with the capital Stockholm. It is rich in forests and lakes.

💡 Did you know? The Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm every year.

Switzerland

Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe in the heart of the Alps, with the seat of government in Bern. It is known for neutrality, banking and chocolate.

💡 Did you know? Switzerland and the Vatican are the only countries with a square national flag.

Syria

Syria lies on the eastern Mediterranean in the Middle East, with the capital Damascus. It has a history going back thousands of years.

💡 Did you know? Damascus is regarded as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Taiwan

Taiwan is an island in the Pacific off the coast of China, with the capital Taipei. It is a world-leading maker of computer chips.

💡 Did you know? A large share of the world's most advanced computer chips is made in Taiwan.

Tajikistan

Tajikistan is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia, with the capital Dushanbe. Almost the whole country lies in high mountains.

💡 Did you know? Over 90 percent of Tajikistan is covered by mountains.

Tanzania

Tanzania lies in East Africa on the Indian Ocean, with the seat of government at Dodoma. Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, stands here.

💡 Did you know? Kilimanjaro, at around 5895 metres, is the highest mountain in Africa and carries snow despite being near the equator.

Thailand

Thailand lies in South-East Asia between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, with the capital Bangkok. It is a popular destination.

💡 Did you know? Thailand is the only country in South-East Asia never colonised by a European power.

Togo

Togo is a narrow country in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, with the capital Lomé. It reaches only a little way inland.

💡 Did you know? Togo is one of the narrowest countries in Africa: in places only about 50 kilometres wide.

Tunisia

Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa, on the Mediterranean, with the capital Tunis. The Sahara lies in its south.

💡 Did you know? Near Tunis once stood Carthage, the mighty rival of ancient Rome.

Turkey

Turkey lies partly in Europe and partly in Asia, on the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, with the capital Ankara. Istanbul links both continents.

💡 Did you know? Istanbul is the only major city in the world that lies on two continents.

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia on the Caspian Sea, with the capital Ashgabat. Most of it is covered by the Karakum Desert.

💡 Did you know? In the desert a gas crater called the 'Gates of Hell' has been burning for decades.

Uganda

Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa, with the capital Kampala. It lies on Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa.

💡 Did you know? The crane on the flag is Uganda's national bird.

Ukraine

Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe on the Black Sea, with the capital Kyiv. Its fertile soils make it the 'breadbasket of Europe'.

💡 Did you know? The flag shows a band of blue sky above a golden field of ripe wheat.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates lie on the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula, with the capital Abu Dhabi. Their wealth comes from oil.

💡 Did you know? Dubai is home to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is an island nation off the north-west coast of Europe, with the capital London. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

💡 Did you know? The 'Union Jack' combines the crosses of the patron saints of England, Scotland and Ireland.

United States of America

The USA stretches across North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with the capital Washington, D.C. It is one of the greatest economic and military powers in the world.

💡 Did you know? The 50 stars on the flag stand for the 50 states, the 13 stripes for the founding states.

Uruguay

Uruguay lies on the Atlantic coast of South America between Argentina and Brazil, with the capital Montevideo. It is one of the smallest but most stable countries on the continent.

💡 Did you know? Uruguay won the very first football World Cup in 1930, which it hosted itself.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, with the capital Tashkent. Splendid cities such as Samarkand lie on the old Silk Road.

💡 Did you know? Samarkand was one of the most glorious cities on the historic Silk Road.

Venezuela

Venezuela lies on the north coast of South America on the Caribbean, with the capital Caracas. The highest waterfall on Earth plunges down here.

💡 Did you know? Angel Falls in Venezuela, at almost a thousand metres, is the highest waterfall in the world.

Vietnam

Vietnam is a long, narrow country on the east coast of South-East Asia on the South China Sea, with the capital Hanoi. It is known for rice terraces and cuisine.

💡 Did you know? Vietnam is one of the largest coffee producers in the world.

Yemen

Yemen lies in the south of the Arabian Peninsula by the Red Sea, with the capital Sanaa. It is famous for its ancient mud-brick high-rise architecture.

💡 Did you know? The old city of Sanaa, with its centuries-old mud towers, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Zambia

Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa, with the capital Lusaka. The mighty Victoria Falls lie on its border.

💡 Did you know? The Victoria Falls are among the largest waterfalls on Earth.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa, with the capital Harare. It is named after the historic stone-ruin city of Great Zimbabwe.

💡 Did you know? The bird on the flag is the 'Zimbabwe Bird', a soapstone figure from the ancient ruins of Great Zimbabwe.