Flags are an important symbol of national identity and pride for countries around the world. But just how many national flags exist on Earth today? Getting an accurate count is difficult, but by analyzing data from the United Nations and other sources, we can estimate the number of sovereign state national flags is around 200.
How Many Countries Are There?
The first step in counting national flags is determining how many countries there are. According to the United Nations, there are currently 193 member states. The Holy See (Vatican City) and Palestine are non-member observer states. There are also two “disputed” territories – Kosovo and Taiwan – that claim independence but are only partially recognized by other countries.
So based purely on the UN’s membership, there are at least 197 potential national flags in the world. However, the true number is higher because there are additional self-declared sovereign states not recognized by the UN or most other nations.
Counting Flags of UN Member States
The 193 UN member states undisputedly have national flags. The flags are used at the United Nations headquarters and during international events like the Olympics.
So that gives us a baseline of 193 flags for UN members. Here are some details on flags of UN member countries:
– All 193 members have a national flag, though some countries like Canada have additional unofficial flags for internal use.
– The flags come in many shapes, colors, and designs. Some feature simple solid colors or patterns while others have intricate coats of arms.
– The most common flag colors are red, white, green, blue, and yellow. Many flags use a combination of these colors.
– The flags range greatly in age. The Dannebrog flag of Denmark dates back to 1625 while the flags of South Sudan and Timor-Leste were adopted in 2011 and 2002 respectively when they became independent.
So while they vary greatly, every UN member nation does have one main national flag.
Vatican City and Palestine Flags
In addition to the 193 UN members, the non-member observer states of Vatican City and Palestine also have official flags:
– The Vatican flag was adopted in 1929 and consists of two vertical bands of yellow and white with the papal coat of arms.
– The Palestinian flag dates back to 1964 and features red, white, green and black horizontal stripes with a white emblem.
So when you add these two flags, the total is now 195 national flags from UN member and observer states.
Partially Recognized State Flags
Beyond the UN members and observers, there are several self-declared sovereign states with limited recognition. These de facto independent territories also have their own flags:
– Kosovo – Recognized by most of Europe and the Americas but not by Serbia or Russia. The Kosovo flag was adopted in 2008.
– Taiwan (Republic of China) – Has diplomatic relations with 14 countries but is considered part of China by the UN. Uses the blue sky with white sun flag unofficially adopted in Taiwan in 1949.
– Northern Cyprus – A self-declared state occupying the north of Cyprus. Recognized only by Turkey. Their flag dates to 1983.
– Abkhazia – Declared independence from Georgia in 1999 and recognized by Russia and a few other countries. Adopted its green, white and red striped flag in 1991.
– South Ossetia – Broke away from Georgia after the 2008 war and is recognized by Russia and a handful of others. Flag adopted in 1990 features a golden eagle.
– Transnistria – A de facto state since 1990 on a strip of land between Moldova and Ukraine. Recognized by no UN states but uses a red, green and red horizontal tricolor flag.
– Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – Claims independence from Morocco and uses a flag adopted in 1976 with green, white, red and black stripes along with a red star and crescent.
– Somaliland – Functionally independent from Somalia since 1991 but not internationally recognized. Has used its blue, white and green flag with a black star since 1996.
– Artsakh – Most countries consider this region part of Azerbaijan but it declared independence in 1991. Its current red, blue and orange flag dates to 2007.
So when you include these partially recognized states, there are around 9 more potential flags to add.
Unrecognized Micronation Flags
In addition to the above examples, there are hundreds more “micronations” that claim independence but are recognized by no established country. These range from small communes to eccentric individuals declaring sovereignty over their homes.
While micronations self-design flags, the vexillological community does not consider these true national flags as they are not adopted by functioning states. So it’s harder to justify including micronations, of which there are estimated to be over 400.
That said, a few prominent examples include Sealand (off the British coast), Freetown Christiania (a neighborhood in Copenhagen), Liberland (a land tract between Serbia and Croatia), and the Conch Republic in the Florida Keys.
So while interesting, micronation flags are more informal symbols than actual sovereign state flags.
Other Non-Country Flag Uses
In addition to the 193 UN members, 2 observer missions, 9 partially recognized states and 400 micronations covered already, there are a few other non-sovereign entities that use flag-like banners:
– Antarctica has no permanent population or government but several Antarctic treaty countries have designed flags used at their research bases. However, there is no official flag for the continent itself.
– Unincorporated territories like Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands use their own flags representing their cultural identity and right to self-determination.
– England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete separately from the United Kingdom in some international sporting events and thus have their own flags for that purpose.
– Dependencies like the Isle of Man and Guernsey have flags, but these are considered local standards rather than national flags of sovereign states.
So while relevant, these examples wouldn’t normally be included in the total count of international state flags.
Estimating the Total Number of Flags
Based on the above analysis, here is a summary of the national flags that exist on Earth today:
– 193 UN member state flags
– 2 UN non-member state flags
– Around 9 flags of partially recognized breakaway territories
– 400+ unofficial micronation flags
So by a strict definition, the total number of undisputed sovereign state national flags is approximately 200. This number will fluctuate slightly as geopolitical circumstances change over time.
Expanding the definition to include partially recognized states and self-declared micronations pushes the total number of flags past 600. But many vexillologists would argue these shouldn’t all qualify as true national flags.
Regardless of the exact number, it’s clear there are hundreds of national flags representing countries and aspiring states around the world. From the broad diversity of designs, shapes and colors, it’s easy to see how flags and banners hold such significance as symbols of identity to their peoples and nations.
| Entity Type | Number of Flags |
|---|---|
| UN Member States | 193 |
| UN Non-Member States | 2 |
| Partially Recognized States | Around 9 |
| Micronations | 400+ (unofficial) |
| Total Sovereign State Flags | Around 200 |
Notable National Flags of UN Member States
United States
The flag of the United States features 13 red and white stripes representing the original 13 colonies. In the upper left sits a blue rectangle with 50 white stars symbolizing the 50 states.
India
India’s flag is a horizontal tricolor of deep saffron, white and green with a navy blue wheel in the center called the Ashoka Chakra.
United Kingdom
The flag of the UK, commonly called the Union Jack or Union Flag, combines the red and white cross of England with the white and red saltire of Scotland and red saltire of Ireland.
Brazil
The flag of Brazil features a green background with a yellow rhombus containing a blue globe representing the sky over Rio de Janeiro.
Australia
Australia’s flag uses three elements – the Union Jack, Commonwealth Star, and Southern Cross constellation on a blue background.
South Africa
South Africa re-adopted its original 1928 flag in 1994 after the end of apartheid rule. It has horizontal red, white, blue, green and black bands with a yellow yoke.
Conclusion
While arriving at an exact number is difficult, the best estimate is that around 200 undisputed sovereign state national flags exist on Earth today. This number comes from the 193 UN member flags and handful of other widely recognized state banners. Expanding the definition to include contested territories and micronations pushes the total number past 600, though many of those are not formally adopted or recognized. Either way, flags clearly hold major symbolic importance around the world.