# national flag

> flag of a country or nation

**Wikidata**: [Q186516](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q186516)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_flag)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/national-flag

## Summary
A national flag is a flag of a country or nation that serves as a primary national symbol representing a specific state or nation. It functions as an official state flag representing the government and is distinct from other types of flags by its specific designation as a symbol of national identity. This entity encompasses a vast array of specific flags adopted by sovereign states, historical regimes, and regions throughout history.

## Key Facts
*   **Definition:** A national flag is defined as a flag of a country or nation.
*   **Classification:** It is a subclass of "flag design" and "national symbol."
*   **Parent Categories:** It is part of the "national symbol" class and the "state flag" class.
*   **Primary Function:** It represents a nation.
*   **Global Scope:** The entity includes over 66 specific national flags listed in the source material, ranging from current sovereign states to historical empires and micronations.
*   **Language Support:** The concept is documented in 66+ languages, including English, Chinese (zh, zh_classical, zh_yue), Russian, Arabic, Japanese, and many others.
*   **Commons Category:** The central repository for these images is "Flags by country."
*   **Wikipedia Title:** The primary English title is "National flag."
*   **GND ID:** 4171215-8.
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/05gv9.
*   **KBPedia ID:** NationalFlag.
*   **WordNet Synset:** 06895059-n.
*   **OpenStreetMap Tag:** flag:type=national.
*   **Booru Tag:** national_flag.
*   **Hero ID:** 3874.
*   **Sitelink Count:** 66 (indicating the number of language versions or related entries).
*   **Historical Timeline:** The history of the topic is tracked via a "timeline of national flags."
*   **Aliases:** Known variously as "country flag," "Staatsflagge," "Landesflagge," "邦旗," "國旗," "флаг государства," and "флаг страны."

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of a national flag?**
A national flag serves as an official state flag representing the government and acts as a symbol of any national entity. It visually identifies a specific country or nation in international and domestic contexts.

**How many different national flags are documented in this knowledge base?**
The provided data lists dozens of specific national flags, including those for current nations like the United States, China, and Brazil, as well as historical entities like the Soviet Union and the Kingdom of Italy. The list covers flags from various eras, such as the flag of the Umayyad Caliphate and the flag of the Confederate States.

**Are there different types of flags associated with a single country?**
Yes, some nations have multiple flags listed, such as Afghanistan, which has entries for flags used between 1880 and 2004 under various regimes (Emirate, Kingdom, Republic, Islamic State). Similarly, Russia has flags for the Russian Federation, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (multiple versions), and the Soviet Union.

**What distinguishes a national flag from a regional or historical flag?**
A national flag is specifically designated as the symbol of a sovereign nation or a recognized state entity, whereas regional flags (like those of Catalonia or Hong Kong) represent sub-national jurisdictions. Historical flags, such as the flag of the German Reich or the flag of the Second Spanish Republic, represent past political entities that no longer exist in their original form.

**How is the concept of a national flag categorized in digital libraries?**
It is categorized under "Flags by country" on Wikimedia Commons and has specific identifiers in major databases like GND (4171215-8), Freebase (/m/05gv9), and WordNet (06895059-n). It is also tagged with "national_flag" in image databases and "flag:type=national" in mapping systems.

## Why It Matters
The national flag is a fundamental component of international relations and national identity, serving as the visual shorthand for a country's sovereignty and government. It solves the problem of immediate visual recognition in diplomatic, military, and sporting contexts, allowing for the instant identification of a nation without the need for verbal communication. The evolution of national flags reflects significant historical shifts, from the adoption of flags by the United States in 1777 to the modern flags of newly independent nations in the 20th and 21st centuries. Understanding these flags provides insight into the political history, regime changes, and cultural heritage of nations worldwide, as seen in the distinct flags of the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, and the various republics of the former Yugoslavia.

## Notable For
*   **Historical Continuity:** Represents the longest-standing symbols of statehood, such as the flag of Denmark (inception 1748) and the flag of Ethiopia (inception 1778).
*   **Regime Change Indicators:** Serves as a clear marker of political transitions, evidenced by the multiple flag versions for Afghanistan (1880–2004) and the Soviet Union (1923–1991).
*   **Global Diversity:** Encompasses a wide variety of designs, from the unique non-rectangular flag of Nepal to the complex heraldry of the flag of the Kingdom of Wessex.
*   **Micronation Representation:** Includes flags for non-recognized states and micronations like the Conch Republic, Talossa, and the Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia.
*   **Colonial History:** Documents the flags of former colonial territories and protectorates, such as British Somaliland, the United States of the Ionian Islands, and the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
*   **Cultural Specificity:** Features flags with unique cultural elements, such as the Dragon star flag of the Empire of Vietnam and the Senyera of the former Crown of Aragon.
*   **Conflict and Separatism:** Includes flags of secessionist states and conflict zones, such as South Sudan, Somaliland, and the Republic of Serbian Krajina.
*   **Digital Standardization:** Is the subject of standardized tagging in OpenStreetMap and image repositories, ensuring consistent identification across digital platforms.

## Body

### Definition and Classification
A national flag is fundamentally defined as a flag of a country or nation. In the hierarchy of symbols, it is a subclass of "flag design" and "national symbol." It falls under the broader category of "state flag," which is defined as an official flag representing the government. The entity represents a "nation" and is often referred to by aliases such as "country flag," "Staatsflagge," "Landesflagge," "邦旗," "國旗," "флаг государства," and "флаг страны." The concept is indexed in major knowledge bases with specific identifiers: GND ID 4171215-8, Freebase ID /m/05gv9, KBPedia ID NationalFlag, and WordNet 3.1 Synset ID 06895059-n. It is also tagged with the OpenStreetMap key `flag:type=national` and the Booru tag `national_flag`.

### Historical Evolution and Timeline
The history of national flags spans centuries, with the earliest documented inception dates found in the source material. The flag of Denmark is noted with an inception of 1748, while the flag of Ethiopia is dated to 1778. The flag of the United States of America was adopted on 1777-06-14. The flag of the Kingdom of Wessex is listed as a historical entity. The timeline extends through the 19th and 20th centuries, capturing the rise and fall of empires and the birth of new nations. For instance, the flag of the Kingdom of Italy (1805–1814) was adopted in 1805, and the flag of the German Empire is also documented. The 20th century saw a proliferation of flags, including the flag of the Soviet Union (1923–1991), the flag of Nazi Germany (1935–1945), and the flags of the various Socialist Republics of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. The timeline concludes with modern adoptions, such as the flag of South Sudan (2005), the flag of Kosovo (2008), and the flag of Myanmar (2010).

### Current Sovereign States
The knowledge base lists the national flags of numerous current sovereign states, often with specific inception dates.
*   **Africa:** Includes flags for Nigeria (1960), Ghana (1957), Kenya (1963), South Africa (1994), and Egypt (1984). Specific dates are provided for many, such as the flag of Angola (1975) and the flag of Namibia (1990).
*   **Americas:** Covers the United States (1777), Canada (1965), Brazil (1889), and Argentina (1812). It also includes flags for Caribbean nations like Jamaica (1962) and Trinidad and Tobago (1962).
*   **Asia:** Features the flag of China (1949), Japan (1870), India (1947), and South Korea (1883). It also lists the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran (1980) and the flag of North Korea (1948).
*   **Europe:** Includes the flag of France (1853), Germany (1917), Italy (1946), and the United Kingdom (1801). It also covers newer nations like the Czech Republic (1993) and Slovakia (1992).
*   **Oceania:** Lists the flag of Australia (1901), New Zealand (1903), and Fiji (1970).

### Historical and Defunct Regimes
A significant portion of the data is dedicated to flags of historical entities that no longer exist or have undergone regime changes.
*   **Empires and Kingdoms:** The flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844), the flag of the Umayyad Caliphate, the flag of the Kingdom of Etruria, and the flag of the Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia are documented.
*   **Soviet Era:** The data includes the flag of the Soviet Union (1923–1991), the flag of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (multiple versions from 1918 to 1991), and flags for various Soviet Socialist Republics such as the Ukrainian SSR, Byelorussian SSR, and the Baltic states.
*   **World War II Era:** Flags for Nazi Germany (1935–1945), the Vichy France, the Italian Social Republic, and the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo (1932) are listed.
*   **Cold War and Post-Colonial:** The flag of East Germany (1959–1990), the flag of South Vietnam (1948–1975), and the flag of the Republic of the Congo (1959) are included.
*   **Secessionist and Breakaway States:** The data lists flags for entities like the Confederate States of America (1861–1865), Biafra (1967), South Ossetia (1992), and the Republic of Serbian Krajina (1992).

### Regional and Sub-National Flags
While the primary focus is on national flags, the source material also includes flags for regions, autonomous republics, and special administrative regions.
*   **Autonomous Republics:** Flags for the Komi Republic, Bashkortostan, Chechnya, and the Republic of Adygea within Russia are listed.
*   **Special Administrative Regions:** The flag of Hong Kong (1990) and the flag of Macau (implied by context of regional flags) are noted.
*   **Historical Regions:** Flags for the Senyera (Crown of Aragon), the Kingdom of Galicia, and the Faroe Islands are included.
*   **Micronations and Unrecognized States:** The flag of the Conch Republic, Talossa, and the Kingdom of Wessex are documented.

### Specific Flag Details and Inception Dates
The source material provides precise inception dates for many flags, allowing for a detailed chronological analysis.
*   **Early Adoptions:** The flag of Denmark (1748), the flag of the United States (1777), and the flag of Ethiopia (1778) are among the earliest.
*   **19th Century:** The flag of Spain (1785), the flag of the Kingdom of Italy (1805), and the flag of the United States of the Ionian Islands (1815) are noted.
*   **Early 20th Century:** The flag of the Ottoman Empire (1844), the flag of the German Empire (1871), and the flag of Japan (1870) are listed.
*   **Mid-20th Century:** A surge in flag adoptions occurred post-1945, including the flag of India (1947), the flag of Israel (1948), and the flag of the People's Republic of China (1949).
*   **Late 20th Century:** The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of apartheid in South Africa led to new flags, such as the flag of the Czech Republic (1993) and the flag of South Africa (1994).
*   **21st Century:** Recent adoptions include the flag of South Sudan (2005), the flag of Kosovo (2008), and the flag of Myanmar (2010).

### Digital and Academic Presence
The concept of the national flag is well-represented in digital and academic databases.
*   **Wikimedia Commons:** The category "Flags by country" serves as the central repository.
*   **Wikipedia:** The topic has a dedicated page titled "National flag" with versions in over 60 languages.
*   **Encyclopedias:** Entries exist in the Great Russian Encyclopedia, the Encyclopedia of China, the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, and the Australian Educational Vocabulary.
*   **Academic Databases:** The topic is indexed in JSTOR, WordNet, and the Analysis & Policy Observatory.
*   **Cultural Tags:** It is tagged in Pixiv Encyclopedia, Niconico Pedia, and Zhihu.

### Related Entities and Variations
The knowledge base connects the national flag to various related entities and variations.
*   **State Flags:** The national flag is often synonymous with the state flag, which represents the government.
*   **Civil and Naval Ensigns:** While not explicitly detailed as separate entities in the main list, the concept implies the existence of civil and naval ensigns, such as the Civil Ensign of Hungary (1949–1957).
*   **Mourning Flags:** The Danish flag of mourning is a specific variation used for mourning.
*   **Historical Variations:** Many countries have multiple historical flags, such as the flag of Afghanistan (1880–2004) and the flag of the Russian SFSR (1918–1991).
*   **Disambiguation:** Some entries, like the "Flag of Ossetia," serve as disambiguation pages.

### Global Distribution and Representation
The data reflects a global distribution of national flags, covering every continent.
*   **Africa:** A wide range of flags from the 1950s to the 2000s, reflecting decolonization and independence movements.
*   **Asia:** Flags representing diverse political systems, from monarchies to communist states and democracies.
*   **Europe:** A mix of ancient flags (Denmark, Ethiopia) and modern flags formed after the dissolution of empires and the Soviet Union.
*   **Americas:** Flags from the colonial era to the present, including the United States and various Latin American nations.
*   **Oceania:** Flags of island nations and territories, often with unique designs reflecting local culture and history.

### Technical and Metadata Details
The source material includes specific metadata for the entity.
*   **Image:** The representative image is "UN_Members_Flags.JPG," showing multiple national flags outside the UN.
*   **Sitelink Count:** The entity has a sitelink count of 66, indicating its widespread recognition across different language versions of Wikipedia.
*   **References:** Many flag entries include references to specific Wikipedia revisions or external sources, ensuring the accuracy of the inception dates and descriptions.
*   **Qualifiers:** Some entries include qualifiers such as "start_time" and "end_time" to denote the period of use for historical flags.
*   **Aliases:** The entity has multiple aliases in different languages, reflecting its global significance.

### Conclusion
The national flag is a complex and multifaceted entity that serves as a cornerstone of national identity and international relations. From the earliest flags of Denmark and Ethiopia to the modern flags of South Sudan and Kosovo, the history of national flags is a reflection of the history of nations themselves. The detailed documentation of these flags, including their inception dates, historical variations, and digital presence, provides a comprehensive resource for understanding the evolution of statehood and national symbolism. The entity is not just a piece of cloth but a symbol of sovereignty, history, and culture, recognized and respected across the globe.

## References

1. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
2. Quora
3. KBpedia
4. GF WordNet