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This list of highest civilian awards is an index to articles that describe the highest civilian award given by each country in the world.
Country | Ribbon | Image | Name | Date first awarded | Number awarded | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abkhazia | Order of Honour and Glory | First Class is the highest grade of the order. Hero of Abkhazia is the highest civilian title awarded in Abkhazia | |||||
Albania | Honour of the Nation Decoration | 2006 | |||||
Algeria | National Order of Merit | 1992 | |||||
Andorra | Cross of the Seven Arms | 2022 | |||||
Angola | Order of the National Hero | ||||||
Antigua and Barbuda | Order of the National Hero | ||||||
Argentina | Order of the Liberator General San Martín | 1943 | List | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||
Armenia | Order of Glory | National Hero of Armenia is the highest civilian title awarded in Armenia. | |||||
Australia | Order of Australia | 1975 | List | Companion is the highest grade of the order. | |||
Austria | Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria | 1926 | Grand Star is the highest grade of the order. | ||||
Azerbaijan | Heydar Aliyev Order | 2005 | 23 | National Hero of Azerbaijan is the highest civilian title awarded in Azerbaijan. | |||
Bahamas, The | Order of the National Hero | ||||||
Bahrain | Order of Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa | ||||||
Bangladesh | Independence Award | 1977 | |||||
Barbados | Order of National Heroes | 1998 | 11 | ||||
Belarus | Order of the Fatherland | First Class is the highest grade of the order. Hero of Belarus is the highest civilian title awarded in Belarus. | |||||
Belgium | Order of Leopold | List | Grand Cordon is the highest grade of the order. | ||||
Belize | Order of the National Hero | 2000 | 3 | ||||
Benin | National Order of Benin | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Bhutan | Order of the Dragon King | First Class is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Bolivia | Order of the Condor of the Andes | Grand Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Order of Freedom | 1994 | |||||
Botswana | Presidential Order of Botswana | ||||||
Brazil | Order of the Southern Cross | 1822 | Grand Collar is the highest grade of the order. | ||||
Brunei | Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei | ||||||
Bulgaria | Order of Stara Planina | ||||||
Burkina Faso | Order of the Stallion | Grand Commander is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Burundi | National Order of the Republic | Grand Cordon is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Cambodia | Grand Order of National Merit | 1996 | 5 | ||||
Cameroon | Order of Merit | Grand Cordon is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Canada | Order of Canada | 1967 | List | Companion, is the highest grade of the order. | |||
Cape Verde | Order of Amílcar Cabral | First Class is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Central African Republic | Order of Central African Merit | Grand Cross, is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Chad | National Order of Chad | Grand Cross, is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Chile | Order of Merit | Collar, is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
China | Friendship Medal | 2018 | 10 | Both medals are the joint-highest civilian awards of China. | |||
Medal of the Republic | 2019 | 9 | |||||
Colombia | Order of Boyacá | Grand Collar, is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Comoros | Order of the Green Crescent | Commander is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | Order of the National Heroes Kabila-Lumumba | Grand Cordan is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Congo, Republic of | Order of Merit | Knight is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Costa Rica | Beneméritos de la Patria | National Hero of Costa Rica is the highest civilian title awarded in Costa Rica. | |||||
Croatia | Grand Order of King Tomislav | ||||||
Cuba | Order of José Martí | Hero of the Republic of Cuba is the highest civilian title awarded in Cuba. | |||||
Cyprus | Order of Makarios III | Grand Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Czech Republic | Order of the White Lion | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Denmark | Order of the Elephant | 1693 | List | ||||
Djibouti | National Independence Order of June 27th | Commander is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Dominica | Dominica Award of Honour | ||||||
Dominican Republic | Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
East Timor | Order of Timor-Leste | ||||||
Ecuador | National Order of San Lorenzo | Grand Cordon is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Egypt | Order of the Nile | 1915 | Grand Cordon is the highest grade of the order. | ||||
El Salvador | Order of José Matías Delgado | Grand Cross with Gold Star and Special Distinction is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Equatorial Guinea | National Order of Equatorial Guinea | Grand Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Estonia | Order of the National Coat of Arms | First Class is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Eswatini | Royal Order of King Sobuzha II | Grand Master is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Ethiopia | Order of Solomon | ||||||
Fiji | Order of Fiji | Companion is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Finland | Order of the White Rose of Finland | 1919 | List | Grand Cross with Collar is the highest grade of the order. | [1] | ||
France | Legion of Honour | 1804 | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | ||||
Gabon | Order of the Equatorial Star | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Gambia, The | Order of the Republic of the Gambia | Grand Commander is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Georgia | Order of the National Hero | 2004 | |||||
Germany | Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany | List | Grand Cross Special Class is the highest grade of the order. | ||||
Ghana | Grand Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana | ||||||
Greece | Order of the Redeemer | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Grenada | Order of the National Hero | ||||||
Guatemala | Order of the Quetzal | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Guinea | National Order of Guinea | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Guinea-Bissau | Amílcar Cabral Medal | ||||||
Guyana | Order of Excellence of Guyana | ||||||
Haiti | National Order of Honour and Merit | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Honduras | Order of Santa Rosa and the Civilization | ||||||
Hungary | Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen | 2013 | |||||
Iceland | Order of the Falcon | Collar with Grand Cross Breast Star is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
India | Bharat Ratna | 1954 | 53 | ||||
Indonesia | Star of the Republic of Indonesia | First Class is the highest grade of the order. National Hero of Indonesia is the highest civilian title awarded in Indonesia. | |||||
Iran | Order of Islamic Revolution | ||||||
Israel | President's Medal | 2012 | |||||
Italy | Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | Knight Grand Cross with Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Ivory Coast | National Order of the Ivory Coast | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Jamaica | Order of the National Hero | 1969 | 7 | ||||
Japan | Order of the Chrysanthemum | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Jordan | Order of Al-Hussein bin Ali | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Kazakhstan | Order of the Golden Eagle | Hero of Kazakhstan is the highest civilian title awarded in Kazakhstan. | |||||
Kenya | Order of the Golden Heart | Chief is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Kiribati | Kiribati Grand Order | ||||||
Kosovo | Hero of Kosovo Order | ||||||
Kuwait | Order of Mubarak the Great | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Kyrgyzstan | Order of Manas | 1997 | First Class is the highest grade of the order. Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic is the highest civilian title awarded in Kyrgyzstan. | ||||
Laos | National Gold Medal | ||||||
Latvia | Order of the Three Stars | List | Commander Grand Cross with Chain is the highest grade of the order. | ||||
Lebanon | Order of Merit | Extraordinary Class is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Lesotho | Order of Lesotho | Grand Commander is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Liberia | Humane Order of African Redemption | Grand Commander is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Liechtenstein | Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein | Grand Cross Special Class is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Lithuania | Order of Vytautas the Great | Special Class is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Luxembourg | Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau | ||||||
Madagascar | National Order of Madagascar | Grand Cordon is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Malawi | Most Excellent Grand Commander | ||||||
Malaysia | Order of the Royal Family of Malaysia | 13 | Awarded only to the Malay rulers who have been appointed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. | ||||
Maldives | Order of the Ghazi | 1965 | 7 | ||||
Mali | National Order of Mali | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Malta | National Order of Merit | Honorary Companion of Honour with Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Mauritania | National Order of Merit | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Mauritius | Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean | Grand Commander is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Mexico | Order of the Aztec Eagle | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Moldova | Order of the Republic | ||||||
Monaco | Order of Saint-Charles | Knight Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Mongolia | Order of Genghis Khan | 2005 | 14 | ||||
Morocco | Order of Muhammad | Special Class is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Montenegro | Order of the Republic of Montenegro | First Class is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Mozambique | Eduardo Mondlane Order | ||||||
Myanmar | Order of the Union of Burma | Grand Commander is the highest grade of the order. Thiri Thudhamma Thingaha is the highest civilian title awarded in Myanmar. | |||||
Namibia | Order of the Welwitschia | ||||||
Nauru | Order of Nauru | ||||||
Nepal | Nepal Ratna Man Padavi | 2010 | 5 | National Hero of Nepal is the highest civilian title awarded in Nepal. | |||
Netherlands | Order of the Netherlands Lion | List | Knight Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | ||||
New Zealand | Order of New Zealand | 1987 | 69 | ||||
Nicaragua | Order of Augusto César Sandino | First Class is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Niger | National Order of Niger | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Nigeria | Order of the Federal Republic | Grand Commander is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
North Korea | Order of Kim Il Sung | Both orders are the joint-highest civilian awards of North Korea. Hero of Labor is the highest civilian title awarded in North Korea. | |||||
Order of Kim Jong Il | |||||||
North Macedonia | Order of the Republic of North Macedonia | ||||||
Norway | Order of St. Olav | Grand Cross with Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Oman | Order of Al-Said | ||||||
Pakistan | Nishan-e-Pakistan | 1959 | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | ||||
Palestine | Order of the State of Palestine | Grand Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Panama | Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Papua New Guinea | Order of Logohu | Grand Companion is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Paraguay | National Order of Merit | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Peru | Order of the Sun of Peru | Grand Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Philippines | Quezon Service Cross | 1951 | 7 | National Hero of the Philippines is the highest civilian title awarded in the Philippines. | |||
Poland | Order of the White Eagle | 1921 | 355 | ||||
Portugal | Military Order of the Tower and Sword | Grand Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Qatar | Order of Independence | Knight Grand Cross with Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Romania | Order of the Star of Romania | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Russia | Order of St. Andrew | Hero of the Russian Federation is the highest civilian title awarded in Russia. | |||||
Rwanda | National Liberation Medal | National Hero of Rwanda, is the highest civilian title awarded in Rwanda. | |||||
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Order of the National Hero | 1998 | 5 | ||||
Saint Lucia | Order of Saint Lucia | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Samoa | Grand Order of Samoa | ||||||
San Marino | Order of San Marino | Knight Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Saudi Arabia | Great Chain of Badr | ||||||
Senegal | National Order of the Lion | Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Serbia | Order of the Republic of Serbia | 2009 | First Class is the highest grade of the order. | ||||
Seychelles | Medal of the Republic | ||||||
Sierra Leone | Order of the Republic | Grand Commander is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Singapore | Darjah Utama Temasek | With High Distinction is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Slovakia | Order of the White Double Cross | 94 | 186 | First Class is the highest grade of the order. | |||
Slovenia | Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia | Gold Medal is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Solomon Islands | Star of the Solomon Islands | 1982 | |||||
Somalia | Order of the Somali Star | 1965 | Order of the Leopard is the highest grade of the order. | ||||
South Africa | Order of Mapungubwe | Platinum is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
South Korea | Grand Order of Mugunghwa | ||||||
South Ossetia | Order of Uatsamonga | ||||||
Spain | Order of Charles III | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Sri Lanka | Sri Lankabhimanya | 1986 | 9 | National Hero of Sri Lanka is the highest civilian title awarded in Sri Lanka. | |||
Sudan | Collar of Honour | ||||||
Suriname | Honorary Order of the Yellow Star | Grand Cordon is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Sweden | Order of Seraphim | 1748 | 887 | Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||
Syria | Order of the Unity of the Nation | First Class is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Taiwan | Order of Brilliant Jade | 22 | |||||
Tajikistan | Order of Ismoili Somoni | First Class is the highest grade of the order. Hero of Tajikistan is the highest civilian title awarded in Tajikistan. | |||||
Tanzania | Order of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere | 2011 | 3 | Awarded only to the former President of Tanzania. | |||
Thailand | Order of the Rajamitrabhorn | 1962 | 33 | ||||
Togo | Order of Mono | Knight Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Tonga | Order of the Crown of Tonga | Knight Grand Cross is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Transnistria | Order of the Republic | ||||||
Trinidad and Tobago | Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago | ||||||
Tunisia | Order of Independence | ||||||
Turkey | Order of the State of the Republic of Turkey | 1994 | 30 | Order of the State is the highest grade of the order. | |||
Turkmenistan | Watan Order | 2007 | 1 | Awarded only to the incumbent President of Turkmenistan Hero of Turkmenistan is the highest civilian title awarded in Turkmenistan. | |||
Tuvalu | Tuvalu Order of Merit | 2017 | 3 | ||||
Uganda | Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa | 2007 | 8 | ||||
Ukraine | Order of Liberty | 75 | Hero of Ukraine is the highest civilian title awarded in Ukraine. | ||||
United Arab Emirates | Order of Zayed | ||||||
United Kingdom | Order of the Garter | 1348 | List | Knight Companion is the highest grade of the order. | |||
United States | Congressional Gold Medal | 1776 | List | Both medals are the joint-highest civilian awards of the United States. With Distinction is the highest grade of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. | |||
Presidential Medal of Freedom | 1963 | List | |||||
Uruguay | Medal of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay | ||||||
Uzbekistan | Order of Independence | Hero of Uzbekistan is the highest civilian title awarded in Uzbekistan. | |||||
Vanuatu | Order of Vanuatu | Badge of Honour is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Vatican City | Order of Pope Pius IX | Knight with the Collar is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Venezuela | Order of the Liberators of Venezuela | ||||||
Vietnam | Gold Star Order | 1958 | List | Hero of Labor is the highest civilian title awarded in Vietnam. | |||
Yemen | Order of the Republic | ||||||
Zambia | Order of the Eagle of Zambia | Grand Commander is the highest grade of the order. | |||||
Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe Order of Merit |
Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion.
The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service of a high order ... without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex." The award criteria include "service in any field including service rendered by Government servants" including doctors and scientists, but exclude those working with the public sector undertakings. As of 2020, the award has been bestowed on 1270 individuals, including twenty-four posthumous and ninety-seven non-citizen recipients.
An order is a visible honour awarded by a sovereign state, monarch, dynastic house or organisation to a person, typically in recognition of individual merit, that often comes with distinctive insignia such as collars, medals, badges, and sashes worn by recipients.
Civil awards and decorations of the United States are awards and decorations of the United States of America which are bestowed by various agencies of the United States government for acts of accomplishment benefiting the nation as a whole. U.S. civil awards and decorations are typically issued for sustained meritorious service or for eminence in a field of endeavour, though there are also awards and decorations for a specific heroic act.
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The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Uruguay:
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