Today, there are 195 countries in the world with every country boasting its own unique flag that reflects its heritage, values, and spirit. But have you ever stopped to consider the symbols, designs, colors, and meaning behind these national emblems?
This Greatest Flags in the World article will delve into the fascinating stories behind ten of the world’s greatest flags, uncovering their true meanings, significance, and symbolism.
1. Greatest Flags in the World: Austria
Let’s begin with one of the coolest flags in the world that appears quite normal at first glance, but the deeper meaning behind it makes it an incredibly badass, unique, and one of the greatest flags in the world! Let’s find out why…..
Once upon a time, there was a man called Duke Leopold V who was the leader of Austria in the 12th Century. Driven by a desire to reclaim the Holy Land from Islamic rule he and his friends set off on a crusade.
Before he knew it, he found himself in a battle called the Siege of Acre.
Before he knew what hit him, King Leopold V found himself in the thick of the grueling and bloody Siege of Acre, and things got quite messy. The Siege of Acre was a battle that the Crusaders would ultimately lose and become a defining moment in the Crusades.
Leopold led by example and engaged fiercely in battle displaying remarkable fighting skills. He was so good that by the battle’s end, his comrades believed he had suffered severe wounds due to him being covered head to toe in blood.
Leopold being the badass that he was, just laughed and said; none of this is mine…. He then calmly set aside his weapons and removed his belt, adopting a T-pose to allow his friends to inspect him for any possible wounds.
Instead of seeing a wounded leader, they saw a legend who was drenched head to toe in the enemy’s blood, except for where his belt had shielded him, and so the Austrian flag, and one of the greatest flags in the world was created.
Some people say this tale is historically not accurate. Whether true or not, a legend was produced and Leopold went down in history as a proper badass!
2 – Greatest Flags in the World: Mozambique
The flag of Mozambique might not be a very recognizable flag to many people, but that doesn’t matter. The fact that it’s one of the coolest flags in the world is what truly matters.
At first glance, the Mozambique flag has all the traditional colors like most African flags. But when you have a closer look you will see that the flag contains an AK-47 assault rifle with a bayonet attached to the barrel.
The inclusion of an AK-47 symbolizes the country’s fight for independence and freedom. The Portuguese colonized Mozambique in the late 19th century, and the country remained under Portuguese rule for over a century.
As decolonization swept through Africa in the mid-20th century, Mozambique’s nationalist movement began to emerge. In 1964, the fight for independence began, as rebels launched a war against Portuguese colonial rule. After almost a decade of conflict, Mozambique finally achieved independence on June 25, 1975. Sadly, this was then followed by the Mozambican Civil War from 1977 until 1992.
Two other normal symbols on the flag of Mozambique, are a book and a hoe. The book is a symbol of education and knowledge, while the hoe represents agriculture and the country’s pursuit of self-sufficiency.
Similar to many other African flags, the colors hold significant meanings: black symbolizes Africa, yellow signifies natural resources such as gold and uranium, white represents peace, and red represents the blood that was spilled for the cause of freedom. The teal color which is not in many African flags represents the riches of the land.
Mozambique is the only country in the world that features a modern military weapon on its national flag. Making it either one of the greatest flags in the world or one of the most terrifying flags!
Besides Mozambique, several other countries feature symbols of military power or strength on their national flags. These include Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Eswatini, Angola, Oman, Bolivia Haiti, and Guatemala, which all use elements such as swords, cannons, or other weapons in their designs of historic flags.
3 – Greatest Flags in the World: Australia
The iconic flag of Australia is definitely one of the most recognizable flags in the world.
As with many former British colonies, Australia’s flag has the Union Jack in its top left corner, a nod to its historical ties with the United Kingdom. But when it comes to the stars on the Australian flag, have you ever stopped to think about what they represent?
The Australian flag features six stars, which are a combination of two different symbols.
The 5 stars on the right represent the Southern Cross constellation, also known as Crux or The Southern Cross. This constellation is only visible when you find yourself in the Southern Hemisphere.
So what about the large single cross on the left? That symbol is the Commonwealth Star. It has seven points representing the six original states of Australia, with the seventh point symbolizing the territories. Pretty cool fact right!
Another historic flag is that of New Zealand, often mistaken for the Australian flag due to their similarities. To tell them apart, look for a few key differences.
One distinct feature is the color of the stars – the New Zealand flag features red stars, with only four stars of the Southern Cross constellation. Additionally, the New Zealand flag does not include the Commonwealth Star.
Because we loved stargazing when we lived in Australia and could see the Southern Cross almost every night, it makes the Australian flag one of the greatest flags in the world for us.
4 – Greatest Flags in the World: Montserrat
A personal favorite of ours, and in our opinion one of the greatest flags in the world is the flag of Montserrat.
Located in the Caribbean, Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory that is also known as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean. With a small population of just over 4000 inhabitants, this tiny island has a very significant connection to Ireland.
In the 17th century, thousands of Irish rebels and prisoners of war were forcibly brought to the West Indies, particularly to the island of Montserrat, by Oliver Cromwell’s forces (A hated figure in Irish history). An estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Irish people were sold into slavery to work on sugar plantations alongside African slaves.
These Irish and African slaves that were brought to Montserrat started to share their respective cultural practices, languages, music, and traditions, ultimately shaping the distinct cultural heritage and creating the modern-day Montseratt culture.
The flag of Montserrat features a Union Jack in the top left corner, similar to that of the Australia flag. Additionally, the island’s coat of arms features a female figure which is Erin, the personification of Ireland, who holds a harp representing Ireland’s influence on Montserrat’s culture.
These days many people from Montseratt still have an Irish accent.
5 – Greatest Flags in the World: Ireland
Now let’s talk about our pride and joy – The Tricolor, Ireland’s national flag.
Although made famous by the 1916 Easter Rising. The Irish flag was actually designed in 1847 by a man called Thomas Meagher. At the time, Ireland was deeply divided between Catholics and Protestants. However, Thomas envisioned a united Ireland where Irish Catholics and Protestants joined forces for independence.
The Irish Tricolor consists of three vertical stripes of equal size with the colors; green, white, and orange, each color on the flag holds symbolism. Green represents the Irish Catholic population, orange symbolizes the Protestant community, and white signifies peace and unity between the two Irish communities.
Thomas Meagher was later accused of being a leader in an Irish uprising against the British, which led to his arrest and conviction. The punishment for his crime of wanting freedom was death, but thankfully, his sentence was commuted and instead, he got a one-way ticket to Van Diemen’s Land, which is now known as Tasmania.
But Thomas was a clever Irish man and escaped from Tasmania ending up in the United States, where he joined the US Army during the Civil War, reaching the rank of Brigadier General!
QUIZ TIME: How many countries have orange as a dominant or prominent color in their national flag? Find out the answers at the bottom.
6 – Greatest Flags in the World: Nepal
Nepal possesses one of the most unique flags in the world as it is the only non-rectangular national flag.
The flag of Nepal is a combination of two triangular flags, symbolizing the sun and moon, which also denote the prevalent religions in the country, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
This unique flag of the world has a blue border that represents peace and unity, while the red backdrop, which is also the national color, represents the brave spirit of the Nepalese population.
Another fun fact is that the flag of Nepal was inspired by the Himalayan mountain range. When turned 90 degrees onto its straight side, it creates a pattern resembling two mountain peaks. As we see it, that makes the flag of Nepal pretty cool and one of the greatest flags in the world.
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7 – Greatest Flags in the World: Jamaica
Coming in at number 7 is one of the most recognizable flags in the world is that of Jamaica. Continue to find out why Jamaica’s flag is on our list of greatest flags in the world.
The flag Jamaican flag features diagonal stripes of black, yellow, and green. Black stands for hardships overcome, yellow represents the sunshine and natural wealth, while green symbolizes the lush vegetation on the Island, no not that vegetation! The gold saltire (X shape) features four green triangles, symbolizing unity in Jamaica. Doesn’t sound that unique right……
Did you know that a staggering 78% of national flags around the world feature the colors red, blue, or white? Jamaica is the only country in the world whose flag does not contain any of the three main colors making it one of the best and most unique flags in the world.
Are you trying to think of another flag that doesn’t have these colors?!
8 – Greatest Flags in the World: South Africa
A very recognizable flag, South Africa is the only country to use 6 different main colors in their flag’s primary design. Hence the nickname the Rainbow Nation.
The flag was adopted after apartheid in 1994 and is an amalgamation of the three main flags used in South Africa’s historical past.
The three flags used are the Dutch flag, the Union Jack, and the flag of the African National Congress (ANC) Party, under the colors of green, black, and yellow, which was once under the leadership of Nelson Mandela.
Our final destination on our Cairo to Cape Town trip was South Africa, and it was one of the highlights of our Africa Trip.
Cape Town is a must-visit destination for everyone who loves to travel. The city offers a wealth of history and culture, along with breathtaking natural beauty. From the iconic Table Mountain to the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood and the renowned wine regions, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant city.
9 – Greatest Flags in the World: Estonia
At first glance, the Estonian flag doesn’t stand out and you will wonder why it is on the greatest flags in the world list. But that’s ok, you do not know yet what the colors represent.
The Estonian flag has three horizontal stripes of blue, black, and white – colors that represent the sky (blue), the forests (black), and the snow-covered grounds in the winter (white). Cool fact eh?!
10 – Greatest Flags in the World: South Korea
South Korea’s flag has a lot going which definitely makes it one the most unique flags in the world! So let’s break it all down and find out what the Korean flag means.
Known as the Taegeukgi, the Korean flag features a white background which represents peace and purity. In the center of the flag, there is a red and blue symbol resembling a Yin/Yang emblem.
The Yin/Yang symbol represents the positive and negative balance of the universe.
Finally, you will see 4 sets of black lines in the four corners of the flag.
These are called trigrams, each symbolizing an important element – heaven, fire, water, and earth. There are different versions of what they also represent such as family – Father, mother, son, and daughter. Other beliefs are fire, earth, wind, and water.
No trip to South Korea is considered complete without a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), where you can gain a unique perspective on the two countries’ complex history and politics, as well as get a glimpse into the secret world of North Korea. Find out the details below in this must-experience
The next two countries have something in common that puts them on the list of the world’s greatest flags. They are the only 2 unique flags in the world that both feature iconic architectural structures as the central focus.
11 – Greatest Flags in the World: Cambodia
The Cambodian flag is a stunning representation of the country’s rich heritage and culture. It boasts the iconic Angkor Wat, one of the most famous temples in the world displayed in its design. A feature that has been in Cambodia’s different flags since 1875
The colors on the Cambodian flag are similar to its neighboring countries such as Thailand, and Laos. Blue, red, and white. The blue stands for the Royal family of Cambodia, the red symbolizes the people of Cambodia, and the white represents Buddhism.
12 – Greatest Flags in the World: Afghanistan
Like the Cambodia flag, the Afghanistan flag is the only other country that features a structure, a mosque which signifies Afghanistan’s connection with Islam.
The current design of the Afghanistan flag was officially adopted in 2004, after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 making it relatively when compared to others on our greatest flags in the world list.
The colors used for the Afgan flag are black, red, and green. The black symbolizes the troubled past of the nation. The green stripe represents the country’s strong connection to Islam, while the red stands for the blood shed by those in the country’s many conflicts.
Apparently, the flag was inspired by the Afghan king Amanullah Khan on a trip to Germany and took the same colors, changing the yellow to green and turning it into horizon stripes instead of vertical. Go on tilt your head to the left and envision the German flag.
How true that is is not known, but what we do know is that the Afghan flag is on our list of Greatest flags in the world.
Greatest Flags In the World – An Honourable Mention
Lastly, we want to tell you about arguably the most recognized flags in the world. Although it is not that of a country, it is one of the greatest flags in the world that deserves a mention.
13 – Greatest Flags in the World: Red Cross
In 1859, a Swiss man called Henry Dunant, found himself in Italy where he witnessed the harrowing aftermath of a terrible bloody battle – The Battle of Solferino.
Over 40,000 soldiers were left dead or injured without any proper medical aid.
Henry was quite affected by what he had witnessed, and when he traveled back to his hometown of Geneva, he wrote a book about his experiences.
Within this book, he also created a solution for how to help those affected by war – All nations must come together to create trained relief groups to treat those wounded on the battlefield and offer humanitarian assistance to those affected by war.
To protect the volunteers who risk their lives from getting attacked, the newly established organization would need a neutral and protective symbol to stand out.
As a tribute to Henry who came from Switzerland, they used the Swiss Flag in an introverted way – A white background with a red cross.
And so one of the greatest flags in the world was created – The Red Cross. This was also the founding of the Geneva Convention.
QUIZ ANSWER: four countries have the color orange on their flag as a main color. They are Ireland, India, Ivory Coast and Niger.
What do you think of our choice of the greatest flags on earth, which flags would you include, or exclude? We would love to hear your opinion in the comments.
Slán go fóil
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