Flags of the Americas
Recognise all 35 national flags of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean from a picture and a description.
35 cards · Geography
Each Zap teaches up to 5 new cards, so you learn the deck a few at a time.
Checked by the Brain Zap team · reviewed 23 Oct 2026
Sources: Gallery of sovereign state flags (Wikipedia), flag-icons by Lipis, MIT licence (the pictures)
Preview
Red maple leaf on white between two red bars
Show answerHide answer: Red maple leaf on white between two red bars
Canada
Learn more: The maple leaf flag was adopted on 15 February 1965. Red and white became its official colours in 1921.
White stars on blue, red and white stripes
Show answerHide answer: White stars on blue, red and white stripes
United States
Learn more: 13 stripes for the first colonies, one star per state. 50 since Hawaii joined; this version dates from 1960.
Gold diagonal cross, with green and black triangles
Show answerHide answer: Gold diagonal cross, with green and black triangles
Jamaica
Learn more: The only national flag with no red, white or blue. Adopted at independence in 1962.
Yellow diamond with a blue globe on green
Show answerHide answer: Yellow diamond with a blue globe on green
Brazil
Learn more: The globe shows the night sky over Rio de Janeiro on 15 November 1889, when the republic was proclaimed.
Light blue and white bands, with a golden sun
Show answerHide answer: Light blue and white bands, with a golden sun
Argentina
Learn more: The Sun of May recalls the May Revolution of 1810 in Buenos Aires.
About this topic
The 35 countries of the Americas tell their stories of independence on their flags: suns, stars, eagles, volcanoes, even a broken trident.
Several families make them easier to learn. The blue, white and blue bands of Central America come from a short-lived federation of five nations. Yellow, blue and red link Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, once one country called Gran Colombia. The Sun of May shines on both sides of the River Plate. The Caribbean islands, mostly independent since the 1960s, chose bold new designs of triangles and diagonals.
Learn the family, then the detail that sets each flag apart: a star, an emblem, a bird or the width of a band.
All 35 cards
Red maple leaf on white between two red bars
Canada
Learn more: The maple leaf flag was adopted on 15 February 1965. Red and white became its official colours in 1921.
White stars on blue, red and white stripes
United States
Learn more: 13 stripes for the first colonies, one star per state. 50 since Hawaii joined; this version dates from 1960.
Gold diagonal cross, with green and black triangles
Jamaica
Learn more: The only national flag with no red, white or blue. Adopted at independence in 1962.
Yellow diamond with a blue globe on green
Brazil
Learn more: The globe shows the night sky over Rio de Janeiro on 15 November 1889, when the republic was proclaimed.
Light blue and white bands, with a golden sun
Argentina
Learn more: The Sun of May recalls the May Revolution of 1810 in Buenos Aires.
White over red, with a white star on a blue square
Chile
Learn more: Adopted in 1817. Blue for the sky, white for the snowy Andes, red for the blood of independence.
Blue and white stripes, with a white star on a red triangle
Cuba
Learn more: Designed in 1849. The three blue stripes stood for the island's three old departments.
Green, white and red, with an eagle eating a snake
Mexico
Learn more: The eagle on a cactus recalls the Aztec legend of where to found Tenochtitlan.
Yellow top half, then blue and red bands
Colombia
Learn more: The yellow band is as wide as the other two together. Two neighbours share these colours, from Gran Colombia.
Yellow, blue and red bands, with an arc of eight stars
Venezuela
Learn more: The eighth star was added in 2006, following an 1817 decree by Simón Bolívar.
Yellow, blue and red bands, with a condor coat of arms
Ecuador
Learn more: Its coat of arms tells it apart from its neighbours' tricolours. The condor stands for power and courage.
Red, white and red vertical bands
Peru
Learn more: Legend says San Martín chose the colours in 1820 after seeing flamingos with red wings and white chests.
Red, yellow and green bands, with a coat of arms
Bolivia
Learn more: Red for its heroes' blood, yellow for its mineral wealth, green for its land. Adopted in 1851.
Red, white and blue bands, with an emblem
Paraguay
Learn more: The only national flag with a different emblem on each side: the arms on the front, a treasury seal on the back.
Blue and white stripes, with a golden sun
Uruguay
Learn more: Its nine stripes stand for the nine original departments. The Sun of May is shared with a neighbour.
Green with a red and yellow arrowhead
Guyana
Learn more: The 'Golden Arrowhead' was adopted at independence in 1966: green for forests, gold for mineral wealth.
Green, white and red bands, with a yellow star
Suriname
Learn more: Adopted at independence in 1975. The yellow star stands for unity and a golden future.
White and coloured quarters, with a red and a blue star
Panama
Learn more: Blue and red stood for its two rival parties, white for peace between them. First flown in 1903.
Blue, white and a wide red band
Costa Rica
Learn more: Inspired by the French tricolour in 1848. The red band is twice as wide as each of the others.
Blue and white bands, with a triangle emblem
Nicaragua
Learn more: Like its neighbours, it keeps the blue, white and blue of the old Federal Republic of Central America.
Blue and white bands, with five blue stars
Honduras
Learn more: The five stars stand for the five nations of the old Central American federation.
Blue and white bands, with a coat of arms
El Salvador
Learn more: Its motto, 'God, Union, Liberty', is written around the coat of arms.
Light blue and white vertical bands, with a bird
Guatemala
Learn more: The bird is the resplendent quetzal, perched on a scroll with the date of independence: 15 September 1821.
Blue with red edges and a large round emblem
Belize
Learn more: The emblem shows two woodcutters, recalling the mahogany trade. Adopted at independence in 1981.
Blue over red, with a coat of arms
Haiti
Learn more: Born in 1803 when the white was torn out of the French tricolour. The arms show a palm tree and cannons.
White cross over blue and red quarters
Dominican Republic
Learn more: The only national flag with a Bible in its coat of arms.
Black triangle on aquamarine and gold bands
Bahamas
Learn more: Aquamarine for the sea, gold for sand and sun, black for the people's strength. Adopted in 1973.
Black trident on gold between blue bands
Barbados
Learn more: The broken trident marks the break from British rule in 1966: the shaft of the old colonial badge, snapped.
Black band edged in white across red
Trinidad and Tobago
Learn more: Red for the sun's warmth, black for the people's strength, white for the sea. Adopted in 1962.
Green with a cross and a red disc holding a parrot
Dominica
Learn more: The bird is the sisserou parrot, found nowhere else. One of the few national flags with purple.
Red border with stars, yellow and green triangles
Grenada
Learn more: The small symbol near the pole is a nutmeg, the spice it is famous for.
Blue with a black, white and gold triangle
Saint Lucia
Learn more: The triangles echo the Pitons, two volcanic peaks rising from the sea.
Blue, gold and green bands, with three green diamonds
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Learn more: The three diamonds form a V for its name and give it the nickname 'the Gems of the Antilles'.
Black diagonal band with two white stars
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Learn more: The two stars stand for hope and liberty, not for the two islands as often thought.
Rising sun over black, blue and white, inside a red V
Antigua and Barbuda
Learn more: The V shape stands for victory. Adopted in 1967.
Image credits
- Red maple leaf on white between two red bars: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red maple leaf on white between two red bars
- White stars on blue, red and white stripes: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White stars on blue, red and white stripes
- Gold diagonal cross, with green and black triangles: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Gold diagonal cross, with green and black triangles
- Yellow diamond with a blue globe on green: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow diamond with a blue globe on green
- Light blue and white bands, with a golden sun: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Light blue and white bands, with a golden sun
- White over red, with a white star on a blue square: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White over red, with a white star on a blue square
- Blue and white stripes, with a white star on a red triangle: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue and white stripes, with a white star on a red triangle
- Green, white and red, with an eagle eating a snake: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Green, white and red, with an eagle eating a snake
- Yellow top half, then blue and red bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow top half, then blue and red bands
- Yellow, blue and red bands, with an arc of eight stars: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow, blue and red bands, with an arc of eight stars
- Yellow, blue and red bands, with a condor coat of arms: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow, blue and red bands, with a condor coat of arms
- Red, white and red vertical bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, white and red vertical bands
- Red, yellow and green bands, with a coat of arms: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, yellow and green bands, with a coat of arms
- Red, white and blue bands, with an emblem: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, white and blue bands, with an emblem
- Blue and white stripes, with a golden sun: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue and white stripes, with a golden sun
- Green with a red and yellow arrowhead: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Green with a red and yellow arrowhead
- Green, white and red bands, with a yellow star: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Green, white and red bands, with a yellow star
- White and coloured quarters, with a red and a blue star: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White and coloured quarters, with a red and a blue star
- Blue, white and a wide red band: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue, white and a wide red band
- Blue and white bands, with a triangle emblem: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue and white bands, with a triangle emblem
- Blue and white bands, with five blue stars: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue and white bands, with five blue stars
- Blue and white bands, with a coat of arms: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue and white bands, with a coat of arms
- Light blue and white vertical bands, with a bird: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Light blue and white vertical bands, with a bird
- Blue with red edges and a large round emblem: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue with red edges and a large round emblem
- Blue over red, with a coat of arms: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue over red, with a coat of arms
- White cross over blue and red quarters: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White cross over blue and red quarters
- Black triangle on aquamarine and gold bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Black triangle on aquamarine and gold bands
- Black trident on gold between blue bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Black trident on gold between blue bands
- Black band edged in white across red: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Black band edged in white across red
- Green with a cross and a red disc holding a parrot: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Green with a cross and a red disc holding a parrot
- Red border with stars, yellow and green triangles: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red border with stars, yellow and green triangles
- Blue with a black, white and gold triangle: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue with a black, white and gold triangle
- Blue, gold and green bands, with three green diamonds: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue, gold and green bands, with three green diamonds
- Black diagonal band with two white stars: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Black diagonal band with two white stars
- Rising sun over black, blue and white, inside a red V: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Rising sun over black, blue and white, inside a red V
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