21 Flags with Red & White Stripes (And Their Meanings)

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Global geography and flag expert Austin Krance discusses red/white/red striped flags from around the world

Co-authored by Austin Krance and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: December 14, 2025 Fact Checked

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Have you ever stopped to think about how many countries have a red and white flag featuring a red stripe of some kind? The answer might surprise you—keep reading for our summary of every red white red stripe national flag, with help from global geography and flag expert Austin Krance. We’ve also included other red and white flags that don’t have a red stripe, so you get a complete picture.

Which country flags are red and white with a red stripe?

According to global geography and flag expert Austin Krance, countries with red/white/red striped flags include Austria, Canada, Peru, Latvia, England, Poland, Monaco, Indonesia, Georgia, Singapore, and more.

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Section 1 of 2:

Red and White Flags With a Red Stripe

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   Austria Austria’s national flag is a red and white tricolor flag, with a horizontal 3-stripe design. Bands of red appear on the top and bottom layers, and a white center band appears in the middle. It’s one of the oldest flags in the world, which originated in 1191 under Duke Leopold V. The red is believed to stand for bravery, while the white signifies peace and honesty.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Austin Krance is a global geography and flag expert based in Los Angeles, CA. With 3 years of experience, Austin specializes in creating viral short form content, with a focus on trivia, geography, and user interaction.
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   Switzerland The Swiss flag appears as a red square with a white cross in the center. The stripes or bands of the cross have equal lengths on all 4 sides. Also called the “old Swiss flag,” it originated in 1386. The flag of Switzerland is a symbol of honor, fidelity, freedom, and neutrality (Switzerland is a neutral country).

   • The white cross symbol originally appeared on the uniform of Swiss soldiers, and later on their weapons and banners.
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   Canada The Canadian flag is famous for its red leaf symbol set against a white background with 2 red stripes on either side; the maple leaf design has 11 points. The flag dates back to 1965, and is thought to represent national pride and unity while depicting Canada’s official colors (red and white).

   • The flag was designed by George Stanley, who based the design on the Red Ensign flown by British merchant ships.
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   Denmark The flag for Denmark is red with a white Scandinavian cross that extends to the edges. The white of the cross symbolizes purity and peace, while the red background stands for courage and perseverance. The Scandinavian cross is a regional Christian cross and a Nordic symbol that appears on other flags and is believed to signify shared Nordic values.

   • In the legend surrounding the Danish flag (also called the Dannebrog), the flag was said to fall from the sky in 1219 in Estonia during the Battle of Lindanise as a symbol of good fortune for the Danish king Valdemar II.
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   Georgia The flag for the country of Georgia is white, with a large red cross in the center that extends to the edges. The cross divides the Georgian flag into 4 sections, each with its own small red cross (called the Bolnisi cross). The central cross symbolizes Jesus Christ and the nation of Georgia itself, while the 4 smaller crosses stand for the 4 Evangelists (Mark, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).

   • The large cross in the center of the flag is also known as St. George’s Cross.
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   Indonesia The Indonesian flag is a red and white bicolor flag called the “Sang Saka Merah-Putih” or "The Lofty Red and White.” It has 2 equal horizontal bands, with red on the top and white on the bottom. The red stands for bravery and courage, while the white signifies purity, honesty, and justice.

   • The flag is twice as tall as it is wide, partially to separate it from the very similar-looking flag of Monaco.
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   Poland The Polish national flag is a bicolor with equal bands of white on top and red on the bottom. The Polish eagle coat-of-arms is sometimes located in the center of the white band (the eagle is white and the shield is red). The white is said to signify peace, while the red symbolizes the sacrifice made for Polish independence from the Soviet Union.

   • The version with the eagle coat-of-arms is usually reserved for foreign embassies and consulates, or for maritime use.
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   Singapore Like many other flags with red and white stripes, the Singapore flag is divided into 2 equal horizontal sections—in this case, red on the top half and white on the bottom. The stripe of red symbolizes universal brotherhood and equality, while the white stripe stands for purity and virtue. A white crescent moon and 5 stars design are located in the top left corner of the flag as an emblem of the young nation of Singapore, and its 5 ideals: democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality.

   • The flag dates back to 1959 and was officially adopted when Singapore declared its independence in 1965.
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   Malta The Maltese flag is a red and white bicolor featuring 2 equal vertical halves, with white on the left and red on the right. The white represents peace, while the red signifies sacrifices made by the Maltese people. In the upper left corner of the white half is the George Cross with a red border. The silver cross has a circular medallion in the center depicting Saint George slaying a dragon; it’s surrounded by the words "For Gallantry.”

   • The George Cross was an award recognizing the bravery of the Maltese people during World War II, given to Malta by King George VI.
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    Monaco The flag for Monaco is a red and white bicolor flag with 2 equal horizontal bands of red on the top and white on the bottom. The red represents courage and sacrifice, while the white stands for purity, peace, and spiritual devotion. The colors are based on the coat of arms of the Grimaldi family, who have ruled Monaco since the 13th century.

    • The legend states that when 2 Grimaldi brothers came to Monaco in 1297, they had a red flag and a white flag. Their flags were believed to merge into one.
    • It looks almost identical to the Indonesian flag, except that the Monaco flag has a 4:5 ratio (meaning the height has 4 units for every 5 units of length).
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    Latvia Unlike most of the flags on our list, the Latvian flag features a deep crimson red (called a “carmine red”). It has a narrow white horizontal stripe in the center of the flag. The red symbolizes sacrifices made for freedom, while the white stands for hope and purity. The white color is also associated with a tribal chief who was wrapped in a white sheet. His blood was said to stain the edges of the sheet, only to leave a white stripe in the middle.

    • The flag dates back to the 13th century, was officially adopted after Latvia declared independence in 1918, and was readopted after the Soviet occupation ended in 1990.
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    Peru The Peruvian flag is a vertical tricolor, with red bands on either side of a white middle band. The red signifies sacrifice on behalf of freedom, while the white represents peace and purity. The Peruvian coat-of-arms is featured in the center of the white band; within the shield is a vicuna (a symbol of fauna), a cinchona tree (a symbol of flora), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out coins to signify Peru’s mineral wealth.

    • The current flag of Peru is actually the 2nd variation. The first flag of Peru featured 4 diagonally quartered sections with a white background at the top and bottom and red fields on the sides. In the center was a sun rising behind mountains, surrounded by a laurel crown.
    • The Peruvian flag was adopted in 1825 and modified in 1950.
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    Lebanon Lebanon’s flag has 3 horizontal stripes, including a red stripe at the top and bottom, and a wider white stripe in the middle. In the center of the white stripe is Lebanon's national symbol, a green cedar tree. In the flag, red symbolizes the blood shed for independence, while white symbolizes peace and snow-covered mountains. The green cedar tree signifies strength and resilience.

    • The flag dates back to the 1943 independence of Lebanon from the French government.
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    Tonga The red flag of Tonga has a white rectangle in the upper left corner. In it is a red cross to symbolize the blood of Christ. The white area of the flag symbolizes purity. The official flag of Tonga was adopted in 1875 and, according to the Tongan constitution, it cannot be changed.

    • The red cross in the flag of Tonga looks very similar to the white cross on a red background that is featured in the Swiss flag.
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    Northern Cyprus The flag of Northern Cyprus is white, and contains 2 horizontal red stripes—one towards the top and one towards the bottom. Just left of center is a red crescent and a five-pointed star, similar to the design on the Turkish flag, to reflect cultural ties with Türkiye. The red represents sacrifice, while the white stands for peace.

    • The flag for the Republic of Cyprus is white with a copper-colored map of the island above two green olive branches.
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    Greenland The flag of Greenland is a horizontal bicolor with 2 equal parts: a red stripe on top and a white stripe on the bottom. In the center-left side is a large circle that is also divided horizontally—the top half is red, and the bottom half is white. The circle in the middle symbolizes the sun setting on the horizon, along with the light and warmth that returns after midsummer.

    • Greenland’s flag is called “Erfalasorput,” meaning “our flag.” The red portion is known as “Aappalaartoq,” which also appears in the flag of Denmark.
    • The flag’s design was created by Thue Christiansen as a symbol of the island's landscape and to recognize hundreds of years as part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
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    French Polynesia The flag of French Polynesia (flying since 1984) is a horizontal tricolor containing red bands at the top and bottom, along with a wider white central band. In the white area is an emblem of a Polynesian canoe sailing on blue waves under a gold sun. Called a “pirogue,” the canoe stands for the island’s popular livelihoods of transportation, fishing, and the sea; the sun represents hope.

    • The 5 figures in the emblem’s canoe represent the 5 island groups: Society, Marquesas, Tuamotu Archipelago, Gambier, and Austral Islands.
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    Gibraltar The flag of Gibraltar is divided horizontally into two bands of color, with the top white band being double the width of the bottom red band. The upper white section features a banner of Gibraltar’s coat of arms, a red, 3-tower castle. A gold key hangs from the middle tower of the castle and extends into the red section below. The castle represents Gibraltar as a fortress, while the gold key symbolizes its strategic location in the Mediterranean.

    • The white stands for peace, while the red represents bravery.
    • Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula.
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    Qatar The Qatar flag has 2 vertical sections: a larger maroon section on the right with a smaller white section on the left, separated by a white serrated band of 9 points. Maroon signifies bloodshed in wars, while white symbolizes peace. The 9 points in the flag reflect Qatar’s standing as the 9th member of the "reconciled Emirates" after the 1916 Anglo-Qatari treaty.
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    Bahrain Bahrain’s flag is also a vertical red and white flag that contains a larger red section on the right and a smaller white section on the left. The 2 sections are separated by a white serrated 5-pointed band to symbolize the Five Pillars of Islam: faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage. The red represents the blood of martyrs, while the white signifies peace.
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    England The flag of England depicts a centered red cross on a white background. It’s a cross symbol of St. George (the patron saint of England) that dates back to the 12th century. The red signifies courage and sacrifice, while the white stands for peace, purity, and the English people.

    • The England flag symbolizes the country of England, while the Union Jack stands for the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
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Section 2 of 2:

Other Red and White Flags

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1. 1
   Japan The Japanese flag displays a red sun disc on a white background. The red disk is a symbol of the sun, reflecting Japan's being known as "The Land of the Rising Sun.” The white background represents honesty, integrity, and purity. It’s been in use since the 19th century, but was officially adopted in 1999.

   • The flag is officially referred to as “Nisshōki” and more commonly called “Hinomaru.”
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   Türkiye (formerly Turkey) The Turkish flag has a red background and a white crescent moon and star just left of center. The flag’s imagery dates back to the Ottoman Empire, but was made official in 1936. The red represents the blood of martyrs, while the crescent and star stand for progress, purity, and sovereignty.

   • It’s often called Ayyıldız ("moon star"), Al Sancak ("red banner") or Al Bayrak ("red flag")
   • The crescent is a sign of good luck in Arab culture.
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   Hong Kong The flag of Hong Kong is red with a white Bauhinia blakeana flower (a symbol of Hong Kong) in the center. The flower has 5 petals, each with a 5-pointed red star on it to represent the 5 stars on the Chinese flag, along with red stamens. Red mirrors the flag of China and is also associated with happiness, celebration, and good fortune.

   • The central flower symbol stands for "one country, two systems,” since Hong Kong is an autonomous region of China.
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   Tunisia The red Tunisian flag has a white disk in the center, itself containing a red crescent and 5-pointed star. The red symbolizes the blood of martyrs, while the white signifies peace and the sun. As a traditional symbol of Islam, the 5 pointed star represents the Five Pillars of Islam.

   • Take our Guess the Flag quiz to see how easily you know your national flags!
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