Flags are an important national symbol and often use colors that have meaning for that country. Many countries choose to include the colors red, white and blue on their flags. But what percentage of the world’s flags actually contain some combination of red, white and blue?
The colors on a country’s flag represent aspects of their culture, history, or values. Red often represents strength, valor and bloodshed. White commonly symbolizes peace and purity. Blue can stand for vigilance, truth and loyalty. Many countries aim to incorporate colors on their flags that encapsulate the spirit of their nation.
The flags of the United Kingdom, United States, France, Australia, and many more include red, white and blue. The prevalence of these colors leads many to believe that a high percentage of national flags include them. But is that really the case? Let’s take a closer look at the numbers.
Flag Colors Throughout History
The earliest national flags date back hundreds of years. The Dannebrog flag of Denmark is one of the oldest, dating to the 13th century. This flag featured a white cross on a red background. Other early flags often included coats of arms or other symbols meaningful to that nation. Flag colors were also selected based on the availability of certain dyes. Red and blue dyes were more readily accessible and affordable in early years.
As democracies began to form centuries later, there was a shift toward incorporating national colors on flags. In the late 1700s, the French revolution produced the French tricolor flag with vertical bands of blue, white and red. This inspired other countries to also adopt national colors for their flags. The American Stars and Stripes flag was created in 1777 with red and white stripes and a blue canton containing stars.
The prevalence of red, white and blue increased as more constitutional monarchies and democracies developed. But even as additional dyes became available, many countries opted to stick with the symbolic colors. They wanted to emulate the flags of established democracies and align with the meaning behind certain hues.
How Many Countries Use Red, White and Blue
To determine the percentage of national flags with red, white and blue, let’s look at how many independent countries there are currently in the world. According to the U.S. State Department, there are 195 independent nations as of 2022.
Now let’s analyze how many of these 195 countries’ flags contain red, white and blue in any combination or pattern.
| Country | Flag Colors |
|---|---|
| France | Blue, White, Red |
| United Kingdom | Red, White, Blue |
| United States | Red, White, Blue |
| Netherlands | Red, White, Blue |
| Russia | White, Blue, Red |
| Norway | Red, White, Blue |
| Croatia | Red, White, Blue |
| Slovenia | White, Blue, Red |
| Slovakia | White, Blue, Red |
| Cambodia | Blue, Red, White |
| Costa Rica | Blue, White, Red |
| Cuba | Blue, White, Red |
| Dominican Republic | Blue, White, Red |
| French Polynesia | Red, White |
| Haiti | Blue, Red |
| Iceland | Blue, White, Red |
| Laos | Blue, White, Red |
| Liberia | Red, White |
| Luxembourg | Red, White, Blue |
| Montenegro | Red, Blue, White |
| New Zealand | Blue, Red |
| North Korea | Blue, White, Red |
| Panama | Blue, White, Red |
| Puerto Rico | Red, White, Blue |
| Samoa | Blue, Red, White |
| Serbia | Red, Blue, White |
| Taiwan | Red, Blue, White |
| Thailand | Red, White, Blue |
Based on the above analysis, 29 out of 195 countries’ national flags contain some combination of red, white and blue. That is about 15% of all national flags.
Flags with Other Color Combinations
While around 15% of flags feature red, white and blue, various other colors are incorporated in national flags across the globe. Here are some of the most common color combinations aside from red, white and blue:
- Green, yellow, red – Used in the flags of many African nations including Ghana, Cameroon, Mali
- Black, yellow, green – Seen on the flags of some African countries like Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia
- Black, red, yellow – Common in flags of Germany and Belgium
- Red, white, green – Used in Mexican, Italian, and Hungarian flags
- Green, white, red – Featured on the flags of Arab nations like Kuwait, Jordan, Palestine
Unique color combinations reflect the individual identity and culture of each country. Though red, white and blue are a popular choice, the majority of national flags around the world incorporate their own meaningful hues.
Conclusion
Red, white and blue are considered classic flag colors and used by many well-known nations. But when looking at flags of countries worldwide, only about 15% feature some pattern of red, white and blue. The majority of flags utilize colors specific to their national, historical and cultural identity.
So while the colors red, white and blue are an iconic choice, they do not dominate global flag design. Most national flags opt for colors representing their own distinct heritage.
