Which World Flags Have Been in Continuous Use the Longest?

Flags have been used as a national emblem of countries around the world for hundreds of years. Every country flag has its own set of colors and symbols that represent the nation and its history. Over time many countries have updated the design of their national flag to represent major changes that have taken place, such as an expansion of its borders or updated policies. In light of the many updates that have been made to the national flags of the world, the Wizard Pins team put together a list of every flag in the world ranked by how long they have been in continuous use by their country. The brightly colored design of the oldest flag in the world has remained unchanged for nearly four centuries! 

Explore the list of flags below to see the wide variety of designs that adorn the flags of different countries, and to learn more about when each of the current individual flags of the world started being used to represent its nation. Which of the many world flags is your favorite? 

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Which Country’s Flag Has Been in Use the Longest?

Denmark’s flag has been used to represent the country since 1625, the longest world flag that has been in continuous use by any country. The flag of Denmark has been in use for centuries and includes a bright red background with a stark white Nordic cross intersecting it. Nordic cross flags, also known as Scandinavian cross flags, are well-known symbols of the Nordic region of the world. The Nordic cross represents Christianity and can be found on the national flags of the independent Nordic countries including Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Denmark. 

The 10 World Flags in Continuous Use the Longest

1. Denmark: 1625
2. Netherlands: 1660
3. Nepal: 1743
4. United Kingdom: 1801
5. Chile: 1817
6. Argentina: 1818
7. Peru: 1825
8. Uruguay: 1828
9. France :1830
10. Belgium & Tunisia tied: 1831

Which Country’s Flag Has Been in Use the Shortest Amount of Time?

The Mauritania flag has only been in use since 2017 when it was updated to include red bands at the top and bottom. Mauritania’s former country flag had a solid green background with a gold crescent and star and had been in use since 1991. The red bands were added to the flag of Mauritania to symbolize the efforts and sacrifices the people of Mauritania have paid to defend their territory. The green, as well as the crescent and star in the flag’s design, were chosen to symbolize Islam. 

The 10 World Flags That Have Been in Use The Shortest Amount of Time

1. Mauritania: 2017
2. Malawi: 2012
3. South Sudan: 2011
4. Libya: 2011
5. Myanmar: 2010
6. Kosovo: 2008
7. Iraq: 2008
8. Venezuela: 2006
9. Lesotho: 2006
10. Democratic Republic of the Congo: 2006

How Old is the American Flag? 

The current American flag was adopted as the national flag of the United States in 1960, making it more than sixty years old. Compared to the European flags that have been in use for centuries, it is one of the younger flags of the world. The American flag’s current design includes thirteen red and white alternating stripes and a blue corner containing fifty white stars. What do the stars and stripes on the American flag represent? The flag’s stripes represent the thirteen colonies that America was initially formed from, while the stars represent each of the fifty states within the current-day United States. The American flag has always had some iteration of the stars and stripes ever since the first American flag was created in 1776. Although, back then the flag only had thirteen stars on it to represent the colonies. 

Looking for a simple way to represent your country? Add a lapel pin of your country flag to your jacket or shirt collar and show off your heritage with pride! Below is a list of the world flag lapel pins Wizard Pins currently carries. If you don’t see your country listed below, contact us today to custom order the national flag lapel pin for your country! 

• American Flag Lapel Pin
• Argentina Flag Lapel Pin
• Australian Flag Lapel Pin
• Brazilian Flag Lapel Pin
• Chinese Flag Lapel Pin
• Indian Flag Lapel Pin
• Jamaican Flag Lapel Pin
• Mexican Flag Lapel Pin
• Nigerian Flag Lapel Pin
• South African Flag Lapel Pin
• Spanish Flag Lapel Pin
• Turkish Flag Lapel Pin

The Complete List of Country Flags of the World and the Year They Were Adopted