This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website
Adoption Dates of Flags
Last modified: 2002-03-15 by rob raeside
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Below is a list of the adoption dates of the countries of the world, first compiled by Noromi Kariyasu, and transmitted to the Flags of the World mailing list in August 1998.
These dates only represent the last date that the flag was last changed -
they do not necessarily represent the date the flag was first adopted, nor even the date it was officially legalised. For example, the US flag was defined 1782, but changed according to the number of states many times since then. While we have striven to ensure the accuracy of these data, we cannot guarantee them, and welcome any corrections and updates.
COUNTRY/REGION RATIO DATE FLAG WAS LAST ADOPTION DATE OF
MODIFIED COAT OF ARMS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abkhazia 23 July 1992 23 July 1992
Afghanistan 1:2 2 December 1992 (change expected soon) 2 December 1992
Aland Islands 7 April 1954 1569
Albania 5:7 7 April 1992 21 October 1998
Alderney December 1906 1745
Algeria 2:3 3 July 1962 1 November 1976
American Samoa 27 April 1960 17 October 1960
Andorra 2:3 1866 1969
Angola 2:3 11 November 1975 25 August 1992
Anguilla 30 May 1990 30 May 1990
Antigua Barbuda 2:3 27 February 1967 16 February 1967
Argentina 1:2 25 February 1818 12 March 1813
Armenia 1:2 24 August 1990 24 August 1990
Artsakh 2 June 1992 31 December 1991
Aruba 18 March 1976 15 November 1955
Australia 1:2 22 May 1909 19 September 1912
Austria 2:3 27 April 1984 27 April 1984
Azerbaijan 1:2 5 February 1991 27 February 1993
Azores 2 April 1979 31 March 1980
Bahamas 1:2 10 July 1973 7 December 1971
Bahrain 3:5 19 August 1972 1971
Bangladesh 3:5 13 January 1972 28 February 1971
Barbados 2:3 30 November 1966 21 December 1965
Belarus 1:2 7 June 1995 7 June 1995
Belgium 13:15 13 September 1831 17 May 1837
Belize 2:3 21 September 1981 21 September 1981
Benin 2:3 1 August 1990 1 August 1991
Bermuda 1:2 4 October /1910 4 October 1910
Bhutan 2:3 1969 1980
Bolivia 2:3 14 July 1888 14 July 1888
Bonaire 15 December 1981 6 September 1986
Bosnia and Hercegovina 1:2 4 February 1998 20 May 1998
Botswana 2:3 30 September 1966 25 January 1966
Bougainville 1 September 1975 unknown
Brazil 7:10 11 May 1992 11 May 1992
British Antarctic Terr. 1:2 21 April 1998 1 August 1963
Br. Indian Ocean Terr. 1:2 8 November 1990 2 August 1990
British Virgin Islands 1:2 15 November 1960 15 November 1960
Brunei 1:2 29 September 1959 29 September 1959
Bulgaria 2:3 27 November 1990 31 July 1997
Burkina Faso 2:3 4 August 1984 1 August 1997
Burundi 3:5 28 June 1967 1966
Cambodia 2:3 30 June 1993 21 September 1993
Cameroon 2:3 20 May 1975 1984
Canada 1:2 15 February 1965 12 July 1994
Canary Is 10 August 1982 10 August 1982
Cape Verde 4:7 25 September 1992 25 October 1992
Cayman Is 1:2 25 January 1999 14 May 1958
Central African Rep. 2:3 1 December 1958 17 May 1963
Chad 2:3 6 November 1959 11 August 1970
Chatham May 1989 unknown
Chechnya 2 November 1991 2 November 1991
Chile 2:3 18 October 1817 24 June 1834
China 2:3 1 October 1949 20 September 1950
Christmas Is 1:2 April 1986 unknown
Colombia 2:3 26 November 1861 6 August 1955
Comoros 2:3 3 October 1996 1 October 1978
Congo 2:3 10 June 1991 10 June 1991
Congo (Dem. Rep.) 2:3 17 May 1997 June 1997
Cook Is 1:2 4 August 1979 1979
Costa Rica 2:3 21 October 1964 21 October 1964
Côte d'Ivoire 2:3 4 December 1959 26 June 1964
Croatia 1:2 21 December 1990 21 December 1990
Cuba 1:2 20 May 1902 24 April 1906
Curaçao 2 July 1984 24 July 1964
Cyprus 3:5 16 August 1960 16 August 1960
Czech Republic 30 March 1920 7 March 1990
Denmark 28:37 1625 16 November 1972
Djibouti 2:3 27 June 1977 27 June 1977
Dominica 1:2 3 November 1990 21 July 1961
Dominican Republic 2:3 6 November 1844 12 June 1896
Ecuador 1:2 7 November 1900 5 December 1900
Egypt 2:3 4 October 1984 4 October 1984
El Salvador 27 September 1972 27 December 1972
Equatorial Guinea 2:3 21 August 1979 21 August 1979
Eritrea 1:2 5 December 1995 24 May 1993
Estonia 7:11 7 August 1990 16 October 1990
Ethiopia 1:2 6 February 1996 6 February 1996
Falkland Is 1:2 27 September 1948 11 March 1952
Faroe Is 5 June 1959 1819
Fiji 1:2 10 October 1970 4 July 1908
Finland 11:18 29 May 1918 26 May 1978
France 2:3 20 May 1794 no coat of arms
French Guiana 2:3 unknown 22 September 1901
French Polynesia 2:3 23 November 1984 23 November 1984
French Southern &
Antarctic Territories 2:3 4 September 1958 4 September 1978
Gabon 2:3 9 August 1960 15 July 1963
Gambia 2:3 18 February 1965 18 November 1964
Georgia 3:5 14 November 1990 11 December 1990
Germany 3:5 9 May 1949 20 January 1950
Ghana 2:3 28 February 1966 4 March 1957
Gibraltar 8 November 1982 10 July 1502
Greece 2:3 22 December 1978 7 June 1975
Greenland 21 June 1985 1 May 1989
Grenada 3:5 7 February 1974 6 December 1973
Guadeloupe unknown unknown
Guam 9 February 1948 4 July 1917
Guatemala 5:8 26 December 1997 26 December 1997
Guernsey 30 April 1985 1279
Guinea 2:3 10 November 1958 23 December 1993
Guinea Bissau 1:2 24 September 1973 1973
Guyana 1:2 26 May 1966 21 January 1966
Haiti 3:5 25 February 1986 25 February 1986
Herm 1984 1953
Honduras 1:2 18 January 1949 16 February 1866
Hong Kong 1 July 1997 1 July 1997
Hungary 2:3 1 October 1957 3 July 1990
Iceland 18:25 17 June 1944 17 June 1944
India 2:3 22 July /1947 26 January 1950
Indonesia 2:3 17 August 1945 1 February 1950
Iran 4:7 29 July 1980 10 May 1980
Iraq 2:3 13 January 1991 14 January 1991
Ireland 1:2 29 December 1937 9 November 1945
Isle of Man 27 August 1971 12 July 1996
Israel 8:11 12 November 1948 11 November 1949
Italy 2:3 19 June 1946 5 May 1948
Jamaica 1:2 6 August 1962 6 August 1962
Japan 2:3 13 August 1999 21 October 1926 (royal emblem)
Jersey 7 April 1981 1279
Jordan 1:2 16 April 1928 25 May 1946
Kazakhstan 1:2 4 June 1992 4 June 1992
Kenya 2:3 12 December 1963 15 October 1963
Kiribati 1:2 12 July 1979 1 May 1937
Korea (North) 1:2 8 September 1948 8 September 1948
Korea (South) 2:3 25 January 1950 15 August 1949
Kuwait 1:2 1 January 1961 1963
Kyrgyzstan 3 March 1992 14 January 1994
Laos 2:3 2 December 1975 14 August 1991
Latvia 1:2 27 February 1990 27 February 1990
Lebanon 2:3 7 December 1943 7 December 1943
Lesotho 2:3 19 January 1987 4 December 1966
Liberia 10:19 26 July 1847 16 July 1847
Libya 1:2 19 November 1977 19 November 1977
Liechtenstein 3:5 18 September 1982 4 June 1957
Lithuania 1:2 20 March 1989 20 September 1991
Luxembourg 3:5 16 August 1972 16 August 1972
Macao 31 March 1993 31 March 1993
Macedonia 1:2 5 October 1995 31 December 1946
Madagascar 2:3 21 October 1958 24 March 1993
Madeira 12 September 1978 28 September 1978
Malawi 2:3 6 July 1964 30 June 1964
Malaysia 1:2 16 September 1963 16 September 1988
Maldives 2:3 25 July 1965 1965
Mali 2:3 1 March 1961 22 September 1960
Malta 2:3 21 September 1964 28 October 1988
Marquesas 14 December 1980 unknown
Marshall Is 10:19 1 May 1979 1979
Martinique 4 August 1766 4 August 1766
Mauritania 2:3 22 March 1959 3 August 1960
Mauritius 2:3 9 January 1968 25 August 1906
Mexico 4:7 16 September 1968 16 September 1968
Micronesia 10:19 30 November 1978 10 May 1979
Moldova 1:2 12 May 1990 3 November 1990
Monaco 4:5 4 April 1881 15 March 1858
Mongolia 2:3 12 February 1992 15 January 1992
Montserrat 1:2 25 January 1999 10 April 1909
Morocco 2:3 17 November 1915 14 August 1957
Mozambique 2:3 1 May 1983 30 November 1990
Myanmar 5:9 3 January 1974 18 September 1988
Namibia 2:3 21 March 1990 21 March 1990
Nauru 1:2 31 January 1968 31 January 1968
Nepal 4:3 12 December 1962 16 December 1962
Netherland Antilles 1 January 1986 1 January 1986
Netherlands 2:3 19 February 1937 10 July 1907
New Zealand 1:2 12 June 1902 11 July 1957
Nicaragua 3:5 27 August 1971 21 August 1823
Niger 6:7 23 November 1959 1 December 1962
Nigeria 1:2 1 October 1960 1 October 1978
Niue 15 October 1975 unknown
Norfolk Is 17 January 1980 21 October 1980
North Cyprus 13 March 1984 15 November 1984
Northern Marianas 1995 1995
Norway 8:11 17 July 1821 19 December 1992
Oman 1:2 18 November 1995 23 July 1985
Pakistan 2:3 14 August 1947 23 March 1956
Palau 5:8 1 January 1981 1 January 1981
Palestine 15 November 1988 15 November 1988
Panama 2:3 20 December 1903 4 June 1904
Papua New Guinea 3:4 1 July 1971 12 March 1971
Paraguay 3:5 27 November 1842 1842
Peru 2:3 25 February 1825 25 February 1825
Philippines 1:2 16 September 1997 4 July 1946
Pitcairn 1:2 2 April 1984 4 November 1969
Poland 2:3 9 February 1990 9 February 1990
Portugal 2:3 30 June 1911 30 June 1911
Puerto Rico 24 July 1952 8 August 1952
Qatar 11:28 9 July 1971 1978
Reunion 20 December 1996 unknown
Romania 2:3 27 December 1989 24 September 1992
Russia 2:3 26 December 1991(?) 30 November 1993
Rwanda 2:3 25 October 2001 25 October 2001
Sabah 6 December 1985 1985
St Helena 1:2 4 October 1984 4 October 1984
St Kitts Nevis 2:3 19 September 1983 16 February 1967 (motto changed 19 September 1983)
St Lucia 2:3 22 February 1979 1 March 1967
St Maarten 13 June 1985 17 November 1982
St Pierre & Miquelon unknown unknown
St Vincent & Grenadines 2:3 12 October 1985 12 November 1912
San Marino 3:4 6 April 1862 6 April 1862
Sao Tome & Principe 1:2 5 November 1975 1977
Sark 1938 1790
Saudi Arabia 19 November 1980 22 September 1932
Senegal 2:3 20 August 1960 December 1965
Seychelles 1:2 18 June 1996 18 June 1996
SGSI 25 January 1999 14 February 1992
Shetland 1969 17 June 1975
Sierra Leone 2:3 27 April 1961 1 December 1960
Singapore 2:3 3 December 1959 26 November 1959
Slovakia 2:3 1 September 1992 1 March 1990
Slovenia 1:2 27 June 1991 20 July 1994
Solomon Is 1:2 18 November 1977 7 July 1978
Somalia 2:3 12 October 1954 10 October 1956
Somaliland 14 October 1996 1991
South Africa 2:3 27 April 1994 27 April 2000
Spain 2:3 19 December 1981 19 December 1981
Sri Lanka 5:9 7 September 1978 22 May 1972
Sudan 1:2 20 May 1970 1970
Surinam 2:3 25 November 1975 25 November 1975
Swaziland 2:3 30 October 1967 30 April 1968
Sweden 5:8 22 June 1906 15 May 1908
Switzerland 1:1 12 December 1889 1815
Syria 2:3 29 March 1980 1980
Taiwan 2:3 8 October 1928 16 March 1895
Tajikistan 1:2 24 November 1992 28 December 1993
Tanzania 2:3 30 June 1964 30 June 1964
Thailand 2:3 28 September 1917 1910
Togo 2:3 27 April 1960 April 1980
Tokelau 1989 unknown
Tonga 1:2 4 November 1875 1862
Torres Strait Is 29 May 1992 unknown
Trinidad & Tobago 3:5 31 August 1962 9 August 1962
Tunisia 2:3 3 January 1999 2 September 1989
Turkey 2:3 5 June 1936 1927
Turkmenistan 1:2 24 January 2001 19 February 1992
Turks & Caicos Is 1:2 7 November 1968 28 September 1965
Tuvalu 1:2 11 April 1997 3 December 1976
Uganda 9 October 1962 21 September 1962
Ukraine 2:3 3 September 1996 3 September 1996
United Kingdom 1:2 1 January 1801 20 June 1837
United Arab Emirates 1:2 2 December 1971 1973
United States of America 10:19 4 July 1960 7 July 1884
US Virgin Is 17 May 1921 1990
Uruguay 2:3 11 July 1830 26 October 1908
Uzbekstan 18 November 1991 2 July 1992
Vanuatu 3:5 18 February 1980 30 July 1980
Vatican 1:1 8 June 1929 7 June 1929
Venezuela 2:3 19 February 1954 15 April 1953
Vietnam 2:3 30 November 1955 21 July 1956
Wake Is 4 July 1976 unknown
Wallis & Futuna 1985 unknown
Western Sahara 27 February 1976 June 1991
Western Samoa 1:2 24 February 1949 1 January 1962
Yemen 2:3 22 May 1990 22 May 1990
Yugoslavia 1:2 27 April 1992 29 December 1993
Zambia 2:3 1996 19 February 1965
Zimbabwe 1:2 18 April 1980 21 September 1981