This overview lists flags used by first-level and second-level country subdivisions. The flags of country subdivisions exhibit a wide variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as widely different styles and design principles. For example, some Indonesian provincial flags features a coat of arms, due to many provincial coat of arms within the province used on their flag. Some Estonian county flags features the green and white background with the coat of arms of the county. Subdivision flags were not always ubiquitous. Many country subdivisions went decades without a flag, until a certain event or an independence or a formation of the country to adopt a creation of the flag. A panel then reviewed the five winning entries, choosing one to become the official subdivision flag. Western Australia's example is typical of the flag adoption processes that many subdivisions undertook with their flags. The 1,000th anniversary of Gloucestershire's founding also spurred the creation of a flag, in 2008. The status of these flags varies from one country or sovereign state to the next: most of them are official flags, whereas others are only used de facto , sometimes to indicate a desire for more autonomy or independence. Some flags, such as the flags of Leicestershire and Warwickshire, were created by the College of Arms in the United Kingdom.
Due to its size, the list is split into continents:
Autonomous provinces/states
Provinces
Sharifate
Vilayet
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, states with limited recognition, constituent country, or a dependent territory. Most sovereign states, but not all countries, are members of the United Nations. There is no universal agreement on the number of "countries" in the world since several states have disputed sovereignty status, limited recognition and a number of non-sovereign entities are commonly called countries.
ISO 3166 is a standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that defines codes for the names of countries, dependent territories, special areas of geographical interest, and their principal subdivisions. The official name of the standard is Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions.
A national flag is a flag that represents and symbolizes a given nation. It is flown by the government of that nation, but can also be flown by its citizens. A national flag is typically designed with specific meanings for its colours and symbols, which may also be used separately from the flag as a symbol of the nation. The design of a national flag is sometimes altered after the occurrence of important historical events. The burning or destruction of a national flag is a greatly symbolic act.
Administrative divisions are geographical areas into which a particular independent sovereign state is divided. Such a unit usually has an administrative authority with the power to take administrative or policy decisions for its area.
In the administrative divisions of France, the department is one of the three levels of government under the national level, between the administrative regions and the communes. Ninety-six departments are in metropolitan France, with an additional five constituting overseas departments, which are also classified as overseas regions. Departments are further subdivided into 333 arrondissements and 2,054 cantons. These last two levels of government have no political autonomy, instead serving as the administrative basis for the local organisation of police, fire departments as well as, in certain cases, elections.
This is a collection of lists of flags, including the flags of states or territories, groups or movements and individual people. There are also lists of historical flags and military flag galleries. Many of the flag images are on Wikimedia Commons.
The provinces of Sweden are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces; they have no administrative function but remain historical legacies and a means of cultural identification pertaining to dialects and folklore.
ISO 3166-2 is part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and defines codes for identifying the principal subdivisions of all countries coded in ISO 3166-1. The official name of the standard is Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions – Part 2: Country subdivision code. It was first published in 1998.
This armorial of sovereign states shows the coat of arms, national emblem, or seal for every sovereign state. Although some countries do not have an official national emblem, unofficial emblems which are de facto used as national emblems are also shown below.
A state government is the government that controls a subdivision of a country in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonomy, or be subject to the direct control of the federal government. This relationship may be defined by a constitution.
In vexillology, a state flag is either the flag of the government of a sovereign state, or the flag of an individual federated state.
This is a list of the national coats of arms or equivalent emblems used by countries and dependent territories in Europe.
Countries and territories in Oceania have the following emblems and national coats of arms:
This gallery shows the coat of arms of each of the Dependent territories in the list of countries.
The list of city flags lists the flags of cities. Most of the city flags are based on the coat of arms or emblems of its city itself, and city flags can be also used by the coat of arms and emblems on its flag. Most of the city flags are flown outside town halls and councils.