Flags That Look Alike and How to Tell Them Apart

Some flags are so similar that even geography fans mix them up. The good news: almost every confusing pair has one small detail that gives it away. Learn these 11 pairs and you'll get them right every time.

Almost identical

1. Chad and Romania

This is the hardest pair in the world. Both flags have three vertical stripes in blue, yellow and red, in the same order.

ChadThe blue is darker, closer to indigo.

RomaniaThe blue is lighter and brighter.

Honestly, on a small phone screen it can be almost impossible. If you see both side by side, pick the darker blue for Chad.

2. Indonesia and Monaco

Both are simply red on top and white on the bottom. The difference is the shape.

IndonesiaLonger and wider (2:3).

MonacoCloser to a square (4:5).

Bonus: Poland is the same two colours, but upside down, with white on top.

3. Australia and New Zealand

Both are dark blue with the British Union Jack in the corner and the Southern Cross stars on the right.

AustraliaWhite stars, six in total, including a large seven-pointed star under the Union Jack.

New ZealandFour red stars with white borders, and no big star under the Union Jack.

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Same colours, different order

4. Ireland and Côte d'Ivoire

Green, white and orange, in vertical stripes. The trick is which colour is next to the flagpole.

IrelandGreen next to the pole, then white, then orange.

Côte d'IvoireOrange next to the pole, then white, then green.

An easy way to remember it: Ireland is the "green island", so green comes first.

5. Italy and Mexico

Green, white and red vertical stripes in the same order. Mexico is easy to spot because it has its coat of arms in the middle: an eagle on a cactus, eating a snake. Italy's flag has no symbol at all.

6. Netherlands and Luxembourg

Both have horizontal red, white and blue stripes. Luxembourg's blue is a lighter sky blue, and its flag is slightly longer. The Netherlands uses a darker blue.

7. Senegal and Mali

Both have green, yellow and red vertical stripes. Senegal has a green star in the middle; Mali has no star. And watch out for Guinea, which has the same three colours in the reverse order: red, yellow, green.

Look for the small symbol

8. Slovenia, Slovakia and Russia

All three have white, blue and red horizontal stripes.

Russia: no symbol at all.
Slovakia: a red shield with a white double cross standing on three blue hills.
Slovenia: a smaller blue shield in the top corner, showing the mountain Triglav with three stars above it.

9. Norway and Iceland

Same design, swapped colours. Both have a cross shifted toward the pole, with a second cross inside it.

NorwayRed background, blue cross with a white border.

IcelandBlue background, red cross with a white border.

10. Colombia and Ecuador

Both have a wide yellow stripe on top, then blue, then red. Ecuador has its coat of arms in the centre, with a condor on top. Colombia's flag has no emblem.

11. Honduras and Nicaragua

Blue, white, blue in horizontal stripes. Honduras has five blue stars in the middle. Nicaragua has a round coat of arms with a triangle and a rainbow inside it.

The quick checklist

Check the shape: is it long or almost square?
Check the shade: dark blue or light blue?
Check the side: which colour is next to the pole?
Check for a symbol: a star, a shield, an eagle, or nothing?

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