Flags of Europe


This is a list of international, national and subnational flags used in Europe.

Supranational and international flags

An incomplete list of flags representing intra-European international and supranational organisations, which omits intercontinental organisations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the United Nations:
FlagDateUseDescription
1957/1958–Flag of the BeneluxCombines features from the flags of the member countries: Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg
2015Flag of the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine
1990s–Flag of the Central European Free Trade Agreement
1991–Flag of the Commonwealth of Independent StatesThe flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States is blue with the emblem of the organisation in the centre.
1955–Flag of the Council of EuropeA circle of 12 upward-oriented 5-pointed golden stars centred on a blue field: represents the continent beyond the organisations as the Flag of Europe
1986–Flag of the European UnionA circle of 12 upward-oriented 5-pointed golden stars centred on a blue field: represents the continent beyond the organisations as the Flag of Europe
1984–Flag of the Nordic CouncilWhite stylised swan in a white circle upon a blue background.
1986–Flag of the Sami people
2006–Flag of the European Gendarmerie Force
2006–Flag of the European Maritime Force

Flags of European sovereign states

Flags of other European sovereign entities

Disputed or partially recognised states

Flags of European dependencies

Flags of European sub-divisions

Austria

FlagDateUseDescription
1921 –Flag of BurgenlandA horizontal bicolor of yellow and red.
1946 –Flag of CarinthiaA horizontal tricolor of yellow, red and white.
1954 –Flag of Lower AustriaA horizontal bicolor of blue and yellow.
1921 –Flag of SalzburgA bicolor of red over white.
1960 –Flag of StyriaA bicolor of white over green.
1945 –Flag of TyrolThe flag of Tyrol is a white over red bicolor.
1949 –Flag of Upper AustriaThe flag of Upper Austria is a white over red bicolor.
1938 –Flag of VorarlbergA bicolor of red over white.
1844 –Flag of ViennaA bicolor of red over white.

Belgium

FlagDateUseDescription
1973 –Flag of FlandersFlanders is a Dutch-speaking region in the northern half of Belgium.
1991 –Flag of WalloniaWallonia is a mostly French-speaking region comprising the southern half of Belgium.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

FlagDateUseDescription
1995–Flag of Republika SrpskaA horizontal tricolour of red, blue and white, very similar to the flag of Serbia without the Coat of Arms.

Finland

Not all regions have selected an official flag.
FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of Central FinlandA banner of arms based on the region's coat of arms. Ratio: 1:1
Flag of Central OstrobothniaA banner of arms based on the region's coat of arms
1998–Flag of KainuuA banner of arms based on the region's coat of arms designed by a Finnish heraldist Olof Eriksson in 1978. The flag itself was adopted in 25.6.1998.
1997-Flag of North KareliaA red flag featuring two armored arms from the regional coat of arms with a fortressy white field on the hoist side of the flag. Adopted by the regional council on 8.6.1997.
Flag of Northern SavoniaA black swallow-tailed flag featuring a loaded bow from the regional coat of arms placed between two yellow stripes.
Flag of Päijänne TavastiaA banner of arms based on the region's coat of arms.
2018-Flag of Tavastia ProperFlag featuring elements from the region's coat of arms. Designed by heraldist Tuomas Hyrsky and adopted by the regional council on the 100th anniversary of the Finnish flag on 28.5.2018. A further ceremony was held in the Häme Castle on 4.2.2019.
1990-Flag of SatakuntaA swallow-tailed banner of arms based on the region's coat of arms from 1557. Designed by artist Reino Niiniranta and officially adopted on 21.11.1990. The regional flag's official flag day is on 11 October, on the name day of Otso.
Flag of UusimaaA banner of arms based on the region's coat of arms.

France

Not all regions have selected an official flag.
FlagDateUseDescription
2016-Flag of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
2016-Flag of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
1923 –Flag of BrittanyThe flag, called Gwen ha du was created in 1923 by Morvan Marchal. He used as his inspiration the old Breton flag, called Kroaz Du, and the flags of the United States and Greece as these two countries were seen at that time as the respective symbols of liberty and democracy. The nine horizontal stripes represent the traditional dioceses of Brittany into which the duchy was divided historically. The five black stripes represent the French or Gallo speaking dioceses of Dol, Nantes, Rennes, Saint-Malo and Saint-Brieuc—while the four white stripes represent the Breton speaking dioceses of Trégor, Léon, Cornouaille and Vannes. The ermine canton recalls the ducal arms of Brittany.
Flag of Centre-Val de Loire
1755 –Flag of CorsicaThe Flag of Corsica was adopted by General of the Nation Pasquale di Paoli in 1755 and was based on a traditional flag used previously. It portrays a Moor's Head in black wearing a white bandana above his eyes on a white background. Previously, the bandana covered his eyes.
Flag of Île-de-France
Flag of Normandy
2016-Flag of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
12th century –Flag of OccitanieFlag of the administrative region of Occitanie.
Flags of historical Occitania and Catalonia can be displayed according to the place on local buildings, and both of them on regional buildings.
Flag of Pays-de-la-LoireThe flag is a combination of heraldic elements from the historical provinces that occupied the territory of the region: Brittany, Anjou, Maine and Vendée.
12th century –Flag of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'AzurCombining elements of the former historical entities existing over the current territory of the region: County of Provence, the Dauphiné and County of Nice.

Georgia

FlagDateUseDescription
2004 –Flag of Adjara

Germany

Many states have separate civil and state versions of their flags; the state flags include the state arms, while the civil versions don't. See Flags of German states.
FlagDateUseDescription
1954 –Flag of Baden-WürttembergA black over gold bi-color.

1953 –Flag of BavariaThere are two official flags of Bavaria. One is an array of 21 or more lozenges of blue and white, the other is a white over blue bicolor.
1954 –1990
1990 –
Flag of BerlinWhite with red bars at the top and bottom, with a bear off-centre towards the hoist.
1991 –Flag of BrandenburgA horizontal bi-color of red over white, with the arms of the state, in the center.
1952 –Flag of BremenEight or more alternating red and white stripes, checked at the hoist.
1751 –Flag of HamburgA white castle with three towers and a closed gate.
1948 –Flag of HesseThe state flag of Hesse consists of a bicolor of a red top and a bottom white stripe.
1951 –Flag of Lower SaxonyThe flag of Lower Saxony consists of the flag of the Federal Republic of Germany in Schwarz-Rot-Gold, with the coat of arms of Lower Saxony, shifted slightly toward the hoist.
1990 –Flag of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
1953 –Flag of North Rhine-WestphaliaA horizontal tricolour of green, white, and red.
1945 –Flag of Rhineland-PalatinateThe flag of Rhineland-Palatinate is a tricolor of three horizontal bands of black, red and gold. These colors are Germany's national colors and are sometimes referred to as schwarz-rot-gold. In the canton, or the upper left corner, are the arms of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
1957 –Flag of SaarlandThe flag of Saarland is based on the flag of Germany and is a black, red, and gold horizontal tricolor. In the center of the flag is the coat of arms of Saarland.
1991 –Flag of SaxonyA bicolour of white over green.
1991 –Flag of Saxony-AnhaltThe state flag of Saxony-Anhalt is a yellow and black bi-color. In the center of the flag is the coat of arms of Saxony-Anhalt
1948 –Flag of Schleswig-HolsteinThe state flag of Schleswig-Holstein is a horizontal tricolour of blue, white, and red.
1991 –Flag of ThuringiaThe state flag of Thuringia consists of a bicolor of a white top and a bottom red stripecentre.

Greece

FlagDateUseDescription
1980s –Flag of Macedonia The flag of Macedonia, adopted in 1980s, is a blue banner featuring the Vergina Sun, the emblem of the Ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedon.
1821 –Flag of SpetsesThe flag of Spetses, adopted in early 1821 during the Greek Revolution, features an azure field surrounded by a thick red border, defaced with a Cross on an overturned Crescent, a spear, an anchor, a snake around the anchor, a dove and the words «ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ Ή ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ», meaning "FREEDOM OR DEATH", Greece's National Motto.
1821 –Flag of HydraThe flag of Hydra, adopted in early 1821 during the Greek Revolution, its design and symbolism are almost identical to those of the Flag of Spetses, though the colours are slightly different. The Symbols are also almost identical, though instead of a spear there is a flagpole with a flag and some of the symbols are grey instead of red.
1828 –Flag of KastellorizoThe flag of Kastellorizo, adopted in early 1828 during the Greek Revolution, it features a white field surrounded by a blue border. It is defaced with a Cross, an Anchor and a Heart. On the left and right of these symbols are the words «ΜΕΓΙΣΤΗ» and «ΚΑΣΤΕΛΛΟΡΙΖΟ», the two names of the island.
1864 –Flag of CorfuThe flag of the island of Corfu, adopted in 1864 after the annexation of the United States of the Ionian Islands by the Kingdom of Greece as a gift to George I of Greece by the United Kingdom, features a blue field surrounded by a golden border and a thicker dark red one. It is defaced with an Ancient Greek Galley which is surrounded by a circle and the words «ΔΗΜΟΣ ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑΙΩΝ» meaning "MUNICIPALITY/PEOPLE OF THE CORFIOTS".
1864 –Flag of ZakynthosThe flag of the island of Zakynthos, adopted in 1864 after the annexation of the United States of the Ionian Islands by the Kingdom of Greece as a gift to George I of Greece by the United Kingdom, features a Green field with a golden depiction of Zakynthos, the figure from Ancient Greek Mythology after whom the island was named. Near the top left side of Zakynthos the name of the island in Greek is written while under the depiction is the island's motto, «ΘΕΛΕΙ ΑΡΕΤΗ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΛΜΗ Η ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ» by the Zakynthian poet Andreas Kalvos.
1821 –Flag of PsaraThe flag of the island of Psara, adopted in 1821 during the Greek Revolution, is almost identical in style and design to the flags of Hydra, Spetses and other islands with some differences. The field is white and the surrounding border is red while all the symbols it is defaced with are all red. The symbols are also almost identical though instead of a dove there is an eagle, probably a reference to the Eagle of Zeus, a symbol of power and authority. The flag features the words «ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ Ή ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ» and «ΨΑΡΑ».
1821 –Flag of Mani PeninsulaThe flag of the island of the Mani Peninsula, adopted in 1821 during the Greek Revolution, features a white field with a blue Greek cross and the phrases «ΝΙΚΗ Ή ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ» and «ΤΑΝ Ή ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ».

Ireland

FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of ConnachtThe flag of Connacht is a heraldic banner of the arms of Connacht, a dimidiated eagle and armed hand.
Flag of LeinsterThe flag of the Irish province of Leinster is a banner with the provincial coat of arms: a gold Irish harp with silver strings on a green field. These arms are similar to the arms of Ireland, which have the same device on a field of blue rather than green
Flag of MunsterThe flag of Munster consists of three gold crowns on a blue field. The crowns were the arms of Ireland before being superseded by the golden harp in the 16th century. The meaning of the crowns on the flag is not certain, but one possibility is that they may represent three of the medieval Hiberno-Norman lordships in Munster; the O’Briens, the Butlers and the Fitzgeralds.
Flag of UlsterUlster is one of the four traditional provinces of Ireland. Only three of the nine counties of Ulster are part of the Republic of Ireland, the other six making up Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom. However, the flag is still used to represent Ulster as a whole. The Red Hand of Ulster is a symbol that is either derived from the O'Neill dynasty, then the most prominent Irish clan in Ulster, or the Dextra Dei of early Christian iconography. The gold background featuring a red cross comes from the coat of arms of the Burkes, a Hiberno-Norman noble family.

Italy

FlagDateUseDescription
1999 –Flag of Abruzzo
1947 –Flag of the Aosta ValleyThe flag of the Aosta Valley consists of two vertical stripes, sometimes with the arms of the Aosta Valley in the centre.
2001 –Flag of Apulia
1973 –Flag of Basilicata
1992 –Flag of Calabria
1971 –Flag of CampaniaThe Campania Region has taken as its emblem the one given the Maritime Republic of Amalfi in its infancy. Said emblem consists of a red stripe on a white field
Regional Law n. 1 of July 21, 1971
1992 –Flag of Emilia Romagna
2001 –Flag of Friuli-Venezia Giulia
1992 –Flag of Lazio
1992 –Flag of Lombardy
1997 –Flag of Liguria
1995 –Flag of Marche
1995 –Flag of Molise
1995 –Flag of Piedmont
1999 –Flag of Sardinia
1990 –Flag of SicilyThe current flag was adopted July 28, 1990 under regional law N. 2, Art. 12. The law was later updated in 1998. It was not until January 1, 2000, under regional law N. 1, that the flag was adopted as the official symbol of Sicily, including legislation mandating public display of the flag at all Sicilian public buildings. The flag, officially used by the ancient Kingdom of Sicily, has existed in various forms since 1282.
The flag is rectangular in form and is characterised by the presence of the Trinacria in the centre. It features a softened image of the winged-head of Medusa and three ears of wheat representing the island's fertility. The three bent legs represent the island's three capes or points, while in mythology it is said to represent good luck and prosperity. The background of the flag is divided by a diagonal from left to right, and is coloured gold and red-orange. The colours represent the cities of Palermo and Corleone, respectively, the first two to found a confederation against the Angevin rule.
1983 –Flag of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
1995 –Flag of Tuscany
2003 –Flag of Umbria
1999 –Flag of Veneto

Malta

FlagDateUseDescription
1964 –Flag of GozoSymbolises the islands nickname 'The Island of the Three Hills', and also the fact that it is surrounded by sea.

Netherlands

FlagDateUseDescription
1947 –Flag of Drenthe
1986 –Flag of FlevolandThe flag of Flevoland recalls how the new province was reclaimed from the IJsselmeer. The central yellow stripe, wavy then straight, symbolises the transformation of the sea into land. Its colour symbolises rapeseed, planted to stabilise the land. The blue represents water, the green the land.
The white fleur-de-lys is a pun. It commemorates Cornelis Lely, designer of the original polders, essential to the province.
1897 –Flag of FrieslandThe flag of Friesland consists of four blue and three white diagonal stripes; in the white stripes are a total of seven red pompeblêden, leaves of yellow water-lily.
Flag of Gelderland
Flag of Groningen
Flag of Limburg
1959 –Flag of North Brabant
Flag of North Holland
Flag of Overijssel
Flag of South Holland
Flag of Utrecht
1949 –Flag of ZeelandIn the centre of the flag, the coat of arms of Zeeland is depicted. The wavy blue lines represent the waves and the constant struggle against the sea.

Poland

FlagDateUseDescription
2000 –Flag of Greater Poland Voivodeship
28.12.2012 –Flag of Holy Cross Voivodeship
2000 –Flag of Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
1999 –Flag of Lesser Poland Voivodeship
27.10.2000 –Flag of Lower Silesia Voivodeship
14.04.2004 –Flag of Lublin Voivodeship
2000 –Flag of Lubusz Voivodeship
25.06.2002 –Flag of Łódź Voivodeship
29.05.2006 –Flag of Mazovia Voivodeship
21.12.2004 –Flag of Opole Voivodeship
30.08.2002 –Flag of Podlachia Voivodeship
25.03.2002 –Flag of Pomerania Voivodeship
2001 –Flag of Silesia Voivodeship
2000 –Flag of Subcarpathian Voivodeship
06.08.2002 –Flag of Warmia-Masuria Voivodeship
2000 –Flag of West Pomerania Voivodeship

Portugal

FlagDateUseDescription
1979 –Flag of the AzoresThe flag of Azores has the colours of the flag of Portugal until 1910. It also has 9 stars representing the islands of the archipelago, the Portuguese shield and a Goshawk that gives the name to the archipelago. It is an adaption of the first autonomy flag used during the autonomic movement in 1893, itself adapted of the then monarchist flag.
1978 –Flag of MadeiraThe design consists of a blue-gold-blue vertical triband with a red-bordered white Cross of Christ in the centre.

Russia

FlagDateUseDescription
1992 –Flag of Adygea
1992 –Flag of Bashkortostan
2004 –Flag of Chechnya
1992 –Flag of ChuvashiaThe flag of Chuvashia consists of a stylized tree of life, a symbol of rebirth, with the three suns, a traditional emblem popular in Chuvash art.
1999 –Flag of Crimea
1994 –Flag of Dagestan
1994 –Flag of Ingushetia
1994 –Flag of Kabardino-Balkaria
1997 –Flag of Kaliningrad Oblast
1993 –Flag of KalmykiaOn the flag of Kalmykia, the yellow stands for the sun, the people and the religious faith of the nation. The blue represents the sky, eternity, and steadiness. The lotus is a symbol of purity, spiritual rebirth and happiness. Its five upper petals represent the continents and the lower four stand for the quarters of the globe. Together, they symbolize the will of the Kalmyks to live in friendship and to cooperate with all the nations of the world.
2004–Flag of Kaluga Oblast
1996 –Flag of Karachay-Cherkessia
1993 –Flag of KareliaThe national flag of the Republic of Karelia is a rectangle with equal horizontal stripes: the upper stripe is red, the middle one is blue and the lower is green.
1997 –Flag of the Komi RepublicThe flag is a horizontal tricolour composed of three bars of, from top to bottom, medium blue, green, and white. Together, they represent Komi's natural wealth. The blue represents the splendour and spaciousness of the northern sky. The green represents nature, its bounty, and the taiga. The white represents the color of snow, the purity of nature in the north, simplicity, and austerity, as well as Komi being a country in the north. According to a different interpretation, the white represents the equality and unity of the people and cultures living in Komi.
2011 –Flag of the Mari El Republic
1995 –Flag of Mordovia
1995 –Flag of Moscow
1995 –Flag of Moscow Oblast
1991 –Flag of North Ossetia–Alania
1991 –Flag of Saint Petersburg
1991 –Flag of Tatarstan
1993 –Flag of the Udmurt RepublicThe cross/star symbol represents the solar sign, a protective symbol that according to folklore protects man from misfortunes.

Serbia

FlagDateUseDescription
2004 –Flag of VojvodinaHoritonzal tricolour of red, blue and white with larger blue portion and three yellow stars.

Spain

FlagDateUseDescription
1918 –Flag of AndalusiaThe flag of Andalusia consists of a horizontal tricolour with the Andalusian arms in the centre.
1982 –Flag of Aragon
1982 –Flag of AsturiasThe flag of Asturias is light blue with the Victory Cross slightly left of the centre.
1983 –Flag of the Balearic Islands
1978 –Flag of the Basque Country
1984 –Flag of Cantabria
1982 –Flag of the Canary IslandsThe flag of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands is a vertical tricolour of three equal bands of white, blue, and yellow. The state flag includes the Coat of arms of the Canary Islands in the central band; the civil flag omits this. The designs were made official by the Statute of Autonomy of the Canarian Autonomous Community on 16 August 1982.
1982 –Flag of Castile-La Mancha

1983 –
Flag of Castile and LeónIt is formed by the combination of the historical flags of two of the oldest kingdom is the Iberian peninsula in the Middle Ages, the Kingdom of León and the Kingdom of Castile. The joint historical flag dates back to mid 13th century when Ferdinand III, "the Saint", unified the two kingdoms in 1230, inaugurating the Kingdom of Castile and León, later named Crown of Castile.
May 25, 1933 –Flag of CataloniaThe flag of Catalonia consists four red bars on top of a yellow background. One popular legend mentions this flag originating with the streaking of 4 blood-stained fingers across a plain shield. The flag derives from the royal coat of arms of the historical royal family of the Crown of Aragon, House of Barcelona.
1983 –Flag of Extremadura
19th century –Flag of GaliciaThe flag of Galicia appeared for the first time in the 19th century, probably based on the colours of the ancient medieval flags of the Kingdom of Galicia. Originally, the flag was a blue St Andrew's Cross over a white field—St Andrew is one of the most popular saints in Galicia. The coat of arms of Galicia was the former flag of the Kingdom of Galicia. Colors blue, white and gold were always related with Galicia. The chalice and the golden crosses on blue background have been its symbol since medieval times. For some time it was thought that it was based on the flag of the maritime province of Corunna, but today it is known that the design is earlier.
1982 –Flag of La Rioja
1983 –Flag of the Community of MadridThe seven stars represent the stars of the constellation Ursa Minor. They're five-pointed because they represent the five Spanish provinces which surround the Community of Madrid.
1982 –Flag of the Region of Murcia
1982 –Flag of Navarre
1982–Flag of the Valencian Community

Sweden

FlagDateUseDescription
1902 –Flag of Scania

Switzerland

FlagDateUseDescription
1289 –Flag of Bern
15th century –Flag of GenevaThe flag of Geneva is the historical flag of the city of Geneva, showing the Imperial Eagle and a Key of St. Peter, in use since the 15th century.
1386 –Flag of Lucerne
1803 –Flag of St. GallenA white upright fasces with the axe blade facing the hoist on green field.
1240 –Flag of SchwyzA white banner with a cross on the top-left
13th century –Flag of UriA bull's head seen face on, with a red tongue and a red nose ring, on a yellow field.
1803 –Flag of Vaud
1220 –Flag of Zürich

Ukraine

FlagDateUseDescription
1998 –Flag of Cherkasy Oblast
2000 –Flag of Chernihiv Oblast
2001 –Flag of Chernivtsi Oblast
1999 –Flag of CrimeaControlled by Russia but recognized as part of Ukraine by most of the international community.
1999 –Flag of Donetsk Oblast
2002 –Flag of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
2001 –Flag of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
1999 –Flag of Kharkiv Oblast
2001 –Flag of Kherson Oblast
2002 –Flag of Khmelnytskyi Oblast
1998 –Flag of Kirovohrad Oblast
1995 –Flag of Kiev
1999 –Flag of Kiev Oblast
1998 –Flag of Luhansk Oblast
2001 –Flag of Lviv Oblast
2001 –Flag of Mykolaiv Oblast
2002 –Flag of Odessa Oblast
2000 –Flag of Poltava Oblast
2005 –Flag of Rivne Oblast
2000 –Flag of SevastopolControlled by Russia but recognized as part of Ukraine by most of the international community.
2000 –Flag of Sumy Oblast
2003 –Flag of Ternopil Oblast
1997 –Flag of Vinnytsia Oblast
2004 –Flag of Volyn Oblast
2001 –Flag of Zaporizhia Oblast
2009 –Flag of Zakarpattia Oblast
2003 –Flag of Zhytomyr Oblast

United Kingdom

FlagDateUseDescription
16C –Flag of EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. The St George's Cross is the customary national flag.
1953 –Flag of Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is a province that is part of the United Kingdom. The 'Ulster Banner' however is the unofficial flag as the country lacks an official flag.
14C –Flag of ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. The 'Saltire' is the official national flag.
9C –Flag of WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. The Red Dragon is the official national flag. The Welsh dragon has ancient origins, but was first officially flown in the modern era in 1959.

Historical flags