Introductory material (continued 56)

United Kingdom chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948) head of government: Prime Minister James Gordon BROWN (since 27 June 2007) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister

United States chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each state; president and vice president serve four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held on 6 November 2012) election results: Barack H. OBAMA elected president; percent of popular vote - Barack H. OBAMA 52.4%, John MCCAIN 46.3%, other 1.3%; note - OBAMA is expected to assume office on 20 January 2009

Uruguay chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009) election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ 50.5%, Jorge LARRANAGA 35.1%, Guillermo STIRLING 10.3%; other 4.1%

Uzbekistan chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet) head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 11 December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam AZIMOV (since 2 January 2008) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term; previously was a five-year term, extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held 23 December 2007 (next to be held in 2014); prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 88.1%, Aslidden RUSTAMOV 3.2%, Dilorom TASHMUKHAMEDOVA 2.9%, Akmal SAIDOV 2.6%

Vanuatu chief of state: President Kalkot Matas KELEKELE (since 16 August 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI (since 22 September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 22 September 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament elections: president elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils; election for president last held 16 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 22 September 2008 (next to be held following general elections in 2012) election results: Kalkot Matas KELEKELE elected president, with 49 votes out of 56, after several ballots on 16 August 2004

Venezuela chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Executive Vice President Ramon Alonzo CARRIZALEZ Rengifo (since 4 January 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Executive Vice President Ramon Alonzo CARRIZALEZ Rengifo (since 4 January 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2012) note: in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a new constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of this constitution election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%

Vietnam chief of state: President Nguyen Minh TRIET (since 27 June 2006); Vice President Nguyen Thi DOAN (since 25 July 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June 2006); Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh HUNG (since 28 June 2006), Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung HAI (since 2 August 2007), Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien NHAN (since 2 August 2007), Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia KHIEM (since 28 June 2006), and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh TRONG (since 28 June 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime minister and confirmed by National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for five-year term; last held 27 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister; appointment of prime minister and deputy prime ministers confirmed by National Assembly election results: Nguyen Minh TRIET elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 94%; Nguyen Tan DUNG elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 92%

Virgin Islands chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007) cabinet: NA elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010) election results: John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%

Wallis and Futuna chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Administrator Philippe PAOLANTONI (since 28 July 2008) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Patalione KANIMOA (since January 2001) cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly

Western Sahara none

Yemen chief of state: President Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the merger of North and South Yemen); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-Rab Mansur al-HADI (since 3 October 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad MUJAWWAR (since 31 March 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 20 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2013); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of vote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 77.2%, Faysal BIN SHAMLAN 21.8%

Zambia chief of state: President Rupiah BANDA (since 19 August 2008); Vice President George KUNDA (since 14 November 2008); note - President BANDA was acting president since the illness and eventual death of President Levy MWANAWASA on 18 August 2008, he was then elected president on 30 October 2008 to serve out the remainder of MWANAWASA's term; the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Rupiah BANDA (since 19 August 2008); Vice President George KUNDA (since 14 November 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 30 October 2008 (next to be held in 2011); vice president appointed by the president; note - due to the untimely death of former President Levy MWANAWASA, early elections were held to identify a replacement to serve out the remainder of his term election results: Rupiah BANDA elected president; percent of vote - Rupiah BANDA 40.1%, Michael SATA 38.1%, Hakainde HICHILEMA 19.7%, Godfrey MIYANDA 0.8%, other 1.3%

Zimbabwe chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Vice President Joseph MSIKA (since December 1999) and Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Vice President Joseph MSIKA (since December 1999) and Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the House of Assembly elections: presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from each province) and elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); elections last held 28 March 2008 followed by a run-off on 27 June 2008 (next to be held in 2013); co-vice presidents appointed by the president election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent of vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 85.5%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI 9.3%, other 5.2%; note - first round voting results - Morgan TSVANGIRAI 47.9%, Robert Gabriel MUGABE 43.2%, Simba MAKONI 8.3%, other 0.6%; first-round round polls were deemed to be flawed suppressing TSVANGIRAI's results; the 27 June 2008 run-off between MUGABE and TSVANGIRAI were severely flawed and internationally condemned

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2078 Exports

Afghanistan $274 million; note - not including illicit exports or reexports (2006)

Albania $1.076 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Algeria $60.51 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

American Samoa $445.6 million (FY04 est.)

Andorra $148.7 million f.o.b. (2005)

Angola $45.03 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Anguilla $13 million (2006)

Antigua and Barbuda $84.3 million (2007 est.)

Argentina $55.78 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Armenia $1.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Aruba $124 million f.o.b.; note - includes oil reexports (2006)

Australia $142.1 billion (2007 est.)

Austria $162.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan $21.27 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The $674 million (2006)

Bahrain $13.79 billion (2007 est.)

Bangladesh $12.45 billion (2007 est.)

Barbados $385 million (2006)

Belarus $24.47 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Belgium $322.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Belize $429 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Benin $586 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Bermuda $763 million (2006)

Bhutan $350 million f.o.b. (2006)

Bolivia $4.49 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina $4.243 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Botswana $5.025 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Brazil $160.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands $25.3 million (2002)

Brunei $6.767 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Bulgaria $18.44 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso $617 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Burma $6.122 billion f.o.b. note: official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh (2007 est.)

Burundi $44 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cambodia $4.089 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cameroon $3.827 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Canada $431.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cape Verde $76.5 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cayman Islands $2.52 million (2004)

Central African Republic $146.7 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Chad $4.201 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Chile $67.64 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

China $1.22 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Christmas Island $NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands $NA

Colombia $30.58 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Comoros $32 million f.o.b. (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the $1.587 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Congo, Republic of the $5.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cook Islands $5.222 million (2005)

Costa Rica $9.268 billion (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire $8.476 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Croatia $12.62 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cuba $3.734 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Cyprus $1.495 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Czech Republic $122.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Denmark $101.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Djibouti $340 million f.o.b. (2006)

Dominica $94 million f.o.b. (2006)

Dominican Republic $7.237 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ecuador $14.37 billion (2007 est.)

Egypt $24.45 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

El Salvador $4.035 billion (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea $9.904 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Eritrea $12 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Estonia $11.08 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ethiopia $1.288 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

European Union $1.33 trillion; note - external exports, excluding intra-EU trade (2005)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) $125 million (2004 est.)

Faroe Islands $634 million f.o.b. (2006)

Fiji $1.202 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Finland $89.91 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

France $546 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

French Polynesia $211 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Gabon $6.956 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Gambia, The $88 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Gaza Strip $301 million f.o.b.; (includes West Bank) (2005)

Georgia $2.104 billion (2007 est.)

Germany $1.354 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ghana $4.162 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Gibraltar $271 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Greece $23.91 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Greenland $480 million f.o.b. (2006)

Grenada $38 million (2006)

Guam $45 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Guatemala $6.94 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Guernsey $NA

Guinea $1.128 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau $133 million f.o.b. (2006)

Guyana $683 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Haiti $522 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Honduras $5.594 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Hong Kong $345.9 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2007 est.)

Hungary $87.77 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Iceland $4.793 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

India $151.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Indonesia $118 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Iran $88.26 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Iraq $38.14 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ireland $115.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Isle of Man $NA

Israel $50.37 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Italy $502.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Jamaica $2.331 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Japan $678.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Jersey $NA

Jordan $5.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan $48.35 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kenya $4.127 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kiribati $17 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Korea, North $1.466 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Korea, South $379 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kosovo $148.4 million (2007)

Kuwait $63.72 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan $1.337 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Laos $970 million (2007 est.)

Latvia $8.143 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Lebanon $4.077 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Lesotho $853 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Liberia $1.197 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Libya $42.97 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Liechtenstein $2.47 billion (1996)

Lithuania $17.18 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Luxembourg $18.42 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Macau $2.557 billion f.o.b.; note - includes reexports (2006)

Macedonia $3.35 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Madagascar $986 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Malawi $604 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Malaysia $176.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Maldives $167 million f.o.b. (2006)

Mali $294 million f.o.b. (2006)

Malta $3.238 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Marshall Islands $9.1 million f.o.b. (2000)

Mauritania $1.395 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Mauritius $2.231 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Mayotte $6.5 million f.o.b. (2005)

Mexico $271.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of $14 million (f.o.b.) (2004 est.)

Moldova $1.361 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Monaco $716.3 million note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France (2005)

Mongolia $1.889 billion f.o.b. (2007)

Montenegro $171.3 million (2003)

Montserrat $700,000 (2001)

Morocco $12.75 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Mozambique $2.412 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Namibia $2.919 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Nauru $64,000 f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Nepal $830 million f.o.b.; note - does not include unrecorded border trade with India (2006)

Netherlands $456.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles $3.71 billion f.o.b. (2006)

New Caledonia $1.341 billion f.o.b. (2006)

New Zealand $27.35 billion (2007 est.)

Nicaragua $2.313 billion f.o.b.; note - includes free trade zones (2007 est.)

Niger $428 million f.o.b. (2006)

Nigeria $61.79 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Niue $201,400 (2004)

Norfolk Island $1.5 million f.o.b. (FY91/92)

Northern Mariana Islands $NA

Norway $140.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Oman $23.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Pakistan $18.12 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Palau $5.882 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Panama $9.312 billion f.o.b.; note - includes the Colon Free Zone (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea $4.686 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Paraguay $5.463 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Peru $27.96 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Philippines $49.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Pitcairn Islands $NA

Poland $144.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Portugal $51.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico $46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Qatar $42.02 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Romania $40.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Russia $355.5 billion (2007 est.)

Rwanda $184 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Saint Helena $19 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis $84 million (2006)

Saint Lucia $288 million (2006)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon $5.5 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $193 million (2006)

Samoa $131 million f.o.b. (2006)

San Marino $1.291 billion (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe $9 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Saudi Arabia $226.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Senegal $1.65 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Serbia $8.824 billion (2007 est.)

Seychelles $395 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Sierra Leone $216 million f.o.b. (2006)

Singapore $302.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Slovakia $57.53 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Slovenia $27.06 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands $237 million f.o.b. (2006)

Somalia $300 million f.o.b. (2006)

South Africa $76.19 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Spain $256.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka $8.135 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Sudan $8.879 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Suriname $1.391 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Svalbard $197.6 million (2004)

Swaziland $1.926 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Sweden $170.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Switzerland $200.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Syria $11.14 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Taiwan $246.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Tajikistan $1.606 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Tanzania $2.227 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Thailand $151.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste $10 million; note - excludes oil (2005 est.)

Togo $702 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Tokelau $0 (2002)

Tonga $22 million f.o.b. (2006)

Trinidad and Tobago $13.39 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Tunisia $15.15 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Turkey $115.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan $7.567 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands $169.2 million (2000)

Tuvalu $1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Uganda $1.686 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Ukraine $49.84 billion (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates $178.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

United Kingdom $442.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

United States $1.148 trillion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Uruguay $5.063 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan $8.05 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Vanuatu $40 million f.o.b. (2006)

Venezuela $69.17 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Vietnam $48.56 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands $4.234 billion (2001)

Wallis and Futuna $47,450 f.o.b. (2004)

West Bank $301 million f.o.b.; (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Western Sahara $NA

World $13.89 trillion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Yemen $7.311 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Zambia $4.594 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe $1.52 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2079 Debt - external

Afghanistan $8 billion in bilateral debt, mostly to Russia; Afghanistan has $500 million in debt to Multilateral Development Banks (2004)

Albania $1.55 billion (2004)

Algeria $3.957 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

American Samoa $NA

Andorra $NA

Angola $8.357 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Anguilla $8.8 million (1998)

Antigua and Barbuda $359.8 million (June 2006)

Argentina $135.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Armenia $1.372 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Aruba $478.6 million (2005 est.)

Australia $826.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Austria $752.5 billion (30 June 2007)

Azerbaijan $2.439 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Bahamas, The $342.6 million (2004 est.)

Bahrain $7.858 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Bangladesh $21.23 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Barbados $668 million (2003)

Belarus $7.347 billion (31 December 2007)

Belgium $1.313 trillion (30 June 2007)

Belize $1.2 billion (June 2005 est.)

Benin $1.2 billion (2007)

Bermuda $160 million (FY99/00)

Bhutan $713.3 million (2006)

Bolivia $4.495 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina $6.734 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Botswana $408 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Brazil $229.4 billion (31 December 2007)

British Virgin Islands $36.1 million (1997)

Brunei $0 (2005)

Bulgaria $34.88 billion (30 June 2007)

Burkina Faso $1.33 billion (2007)

Burma $7.022 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Burundi $1.2 billion (2003)

Cambodia $3.89 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Cameroon $2.554 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Canada $758.6 billion (30 June 2007)

Cape Verde $325 million (2002)

Cayman Islands $70 million (1996)

Central African Republic $1.153 billion (2007 est.)

Chad $1.6 billion (2005 est.)

Chile $57.6 billion (31 December 2007)

China $363 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Colombia $41.39 billion (30 June 2007)

Comoros $232 million (2000 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the $10 billion (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the $5 billion (2000 est.)

Cook Islands $141 million (1996 est.)

Costa Rica $7.416 billion (30 June 2007)

Cote d'Ivoire $13.79 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Croatia $46.3 billion (30 June 2007)

Cuba $16.79 billion (convertible currency); another $15-20 billion owed to Russia (31 December 2007 est.)

Cyprus $26.97 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Czech Republic $74.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Denmark $492.6 billion (30 June 2007)

Djibouti $428 million (2006)

Dominica $213 million (2004)

Dominican Republic $10.21 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ecuador $17.12 billion (31 December 2007)

Egypt $29.2 billion (30 June 2007)

El Salvador $9.574 billion (December 2007)

Equatorial Guinea $338 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Eritrea $311 million (2000 est.)

Estonia $24.82 billion (30 June 2007)

Ethiopia $2.621 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) $NA

Faroe Islands $64 million (1999)

Fiji $127 million (2004 est.)

Finland $271.2 billion (30 June 2007)

France $4.396 trillion (30 June 2007)

French Polynesia $NA

Gabon $4.895 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Gambia, The $628.8 million (2003 est.)

Gaza Strip $NA

Georgia $4.5 billion (2007)

Germany $4.489 trillion (30 June 2007)

Ghana $4.891 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Gibraltar $NA

Greece $86.72 billion (31 December 2007)

Greenland $25 million (1999)

Grenada $347 million (2004)

Guam $NA

Guatemala $5.908 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Guernsey $NA

Guinea $3.351 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Guinea-Bissau $941.5 million (2000 est.)

Guyana $1.2 billion (2002)

Haiti $1.475 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Honduras $3.411 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Hong Kong $588 billion (2007 est.)

Hungary $125.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Iceland $3.073 billion (2002)

India $149.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Indonesia $140 billion (31 December 2007)

Iran $20.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Iraq $100.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ireland $1.841 trillion (30 June 2007)

Isle of Man $NA

Israel $89.95 billion (31 December 2007)

Italy $996.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Jamaica $9.657 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Japan $1.492 trillion (30 June 2007)

Jersey $NA

Jordan $8.133 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Kazakhstan $96.36 billion (31 December 2007)

Kenya $6.713 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Kiribati $10 million (1999 est.)

Korea, North $12.5 billion (2001 est.)

Korea, South $220.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Kosovo according to the national bank of Serbia, Kosovo's external debt was around $1.2 billion; Kosovo was willing to accept around $900 million (2007)

Kuwait $33.62 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Kyrgyzstan $2.966 billion (30 June 2007)

Laos $3.179 billion (2006)

Latvia $33.53 billion (31 December 2007)

Lebanon $31.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Lesotho $689 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Liberia $3.2 billion (2005 est.)

Libya $4.837 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Liechtenstein $0 (2001)

Lithuania $27.19 billion (31 December 2007)

Luxembourg $NA

Macau $0 (2006)

Macedonia $3.967 billion (31 December 2007)

Madagascar $4.6 billion (2002)

Malawi $894 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Malaysia $53.09 billion (31 December 2007)

Maldives $482 million (2006 est.)

Mali $2.8 billion (2002)

Malta $188.8 million (2005)

Marshall Islands $86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)

Mauritania NA

Mauritius $2.149 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Mayotte $NA

Mexico $179.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of $60.8 million (FY05 est.)

Moldova $3.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Monaco $18 billion (2000 est.)

Mongolia $1.438 billion (2007)

Montenegro $650 million (2006)

Montserrat $8.9 million (1997)

Morocco $19.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Mozambique $4.189 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Namibia $1.003 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Nauru $33.3 million (2002)

Nepal $3.07 billion (March 2006)

Netherlands $2.277 trillion (30 June 2007)

Netherlands Antilles $2.68 billion (2004)

New Caledonia $79 million (1998 est.)

New Zealand $51.44 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Nicaragua $3.341 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Niger $2.1 billion (2003 est.)

Nigeria $8.007 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Niue $418,000 (2002 est.)

Norfolk Island $NA

Northern Mariana Islands $NA

Norway $469.1 billion; note - Norway is a net external creditor (30 June 2007)

Oman $5.297 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Pakistan $38.8 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Palau $0 (FY99/00)

Panama $10.45 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea $1.646 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Paraguay $3.492 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Peru $32.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Philippines $61.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Poland $169.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Portugal $461.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Puerto Rico $NA

Qatar $33.09 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Romania $74.54 billion (31 December 2007)

Russia $356.5 billion (31 December 2007)

Rwanda $1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Saint Helena $NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis $314 million (2004)

Saint Lucia $257 million (2004)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon $NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $223 million (2004)

Samoa $177 million (2004)

San Marino $NA

Sao Tome and Principe $318 million (2002)

Saudi Arabia $58.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Senegal $2.19 billion (31 December 2007)

Serbia $26.24 billion (includes debt for Montenegro and Kosovo) (2007 est.)

Seychelles $1.059 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Sierra Leone $1.61 billion (2003 est.)

Singapore $25.59 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Slovakia $36.63 billion (31 December 2007)

Slovenia $40.42 billion (30 June 2007)

Solomon Islands $166 million (2004)

Somalia $3 billion (2001 est.)

South Africa $39.78 billion (31 December 2007)

Spain $1.084 trillion (30 June 2007 est.)

Sri Lanka $12.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Sudan $29.42 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Suriname $504.3 million (2005 est.)

Swaziland $524 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Sweden $598.2 billion (30 June 2006)

Switzerland $1.34 trillion (30 June 2007)

Syria $6.633 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Taiwan $97.85 billion (31 December 2007)

Tajikistan $1.56 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Tanzania $4.382 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Thailand $59.52 billion (31 December 2007)

Togo $2 billion (2005)

Tonga $80.7 million (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago $2.869 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Tunisia $19.27 billion (December 2007)

Turkey $247.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Turkmenistan $1.4 billion to $5 billion (2004 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands $NA

Tuvalu $NA

Uganda $1.498 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Ukraine $69.04 billion (31 December 2007)

United Arab Emirates $61.68 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

United Kingdom $10.45 trillion (30 June 2007)

United States $12.25 trillion (30 June 2007)

Uruguay $11.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Uzbekistan $3.927 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Vanuatu $81.2 million (2004)

Venezuela $43.33 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Vietnam $21.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Virgin Islands $NA

Wallis and Futuna $3.67 million (2004)

West Bank $NA

Western Sahara $NA

World $51.78 trillion note: this figure is the sum total of all countries' external debt, both public and private (2004 est.)

Yemen $6.044 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Zambia $2.596 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Zimbabwe $5.155 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2080 Fiscal year

Afghanistan 21 March - 20 March

Albania calendar year

Algeria calendar year

American Samoa 1 October - 30 September

Andorra calendar year

Angola calendar year

Anguilla 1 April - 31 March

Antigua and Barbuda 1 April - 31 March

Argentina calendar year

Armenia calendar year

Aruba calendar year

Australia 1 July - 30 June

Austria calendar year

Azerbaijan calendar year

Bahamas, The 1 July - 30 June

Bahrain calendar year

Bangladesh 1 July - 30 June

Barbados 1 April - 31 March

Belarus calendar year

Belgium calendar year

Belize 1 April - 31 March

Benin calendar year

Bermuda 1 April - 31 March

Bhutan 1 July - 30 June

Bolivia calendar year

Bosnia and Herzegovina calendar year

Botswana 1 April - 31 March

Brazil calendar year

British Virgin Islands 1 April - 31 March

Brunei 1 April - 31 March

Bulgaria calendar year

Burkina Faso calendar year

Burma 1 April - 31 March

Burundi calendar year

Cambodia calendar year

Cameroon 1 July - 30 June

Canada 1 April - 31 March

Cape Verde calendar year

Cayman Islands 1 April - 31 March

Central African Republic calendar year

Chad calendar year

Chile calendar year

China calendar year

Christmas Island 1 July - 30 June

Cocos (Keeling) Islands 1 July - 30 June

Colombia calendar year

Comoros calendar year

Congo, Democratic Republic of the calendar year

Congo, Republic of the calendar year

Cook Islands 1 April - 31 March

Costa Rica calendar year

Cote d'Ivoire calendar year

Croatia calendar year

Cuba calendar year

Cyprus calendar year

Czech Republic calendar year

Denmark calendar year

Djibouti calendar year

Dominica 1 July - 30 June

Dominican Republic calendar year

Ecuador calendar year

Egypt 1 July - 30 June

El Salvador calendar year

Equatorial Guinea calendar year

Eritrea calendar year

Estonia calendar year

Ethiopia 8 July - 7 July

European Union NA

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 1 April - 31 March

Faroe Islands calendar year

Fiji calendar year

Finland calendar year

France calendar year

French Polynesia calendar year

Gabon calendar year

Gambia, The calendar year

Gaza Strip calendar year

Georgia calendar year

Germany calendar year

Ghana calendar year

Gibraltar 1 July - 30 June

Greece calendar year

Greenland calendar year

Grenada calendar year

Guam 1 October - 30 September

Guatemala calendar year

Guernsey calendar year

Guinea calendar year

Guinea-Bissau calendar year

Guyana calendar year

Haiti 1 October - 30 September

Holy See (Vatican City) calendar year

Honduras calendar year

Hong Kong 1 April - 31 March

Hungary calendar year

Iceland calendar year

India 1 April - 31 March

Indonesia calendar year

Iran 21 March - 20 March

Iraq calendar year

Ireland calendar year

Isle of Man 1 April - 31 March

Israel calendar year

Italy calendar year

Jamaica 1 April - 31 March

Japan 1 April - 31 March

Jersey 1 April - 31 March

Jordan calendar year

Kazakhstan calendar year

Kenya 1 July - 30 June

Kiribati NA

Korea, North calendar year

Korea, South calendar year

Kuwait 1 April - 31 March

Kyrgyzstan calendar year

Laos 1 October - 30 September

Latvia calendar year

Lebanon calendar year

Lesotho 1 April - 31 March

Liberia calendar year

Libya calendar year

Liechtenstein calendar year

Lithuania calendar year

Luxembourg calendar year

Macau calendar year

Macedonia calendar year

Madagascar calendar year

Malawi 1 July - 30 June

Malaysia calendar year

Maldives calendar year

Mali calendar year

Malta calendar year

Marshall Islands 1 October - 30 September

Mauritania calendar year

Mauritius 1 July - 30 June

Mayotte calendar year

Mexico calendar year

Micronesia, Federated States of 1 October - 30 September

Moldova calendar year

Monaco calendar year

Mongolia calendar year

Montenegro calendar year

Montserrat 1 April - 31 March

Morocco calendar year

Mozambique calendar year

Namibia 1 April - 31 March

Nauru 1 July - 30 June

Nepal 16 July - 15 July

Netherlands calendar year

Netherlands Antilles calendar year

New Caledonia calendar year

New Zealand 1 April - 31 March note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes

Nicaragua calendar year

Niger calendar year

Nigeria calendar year

Niue 1 April - 31 March

Norfolk Island 1 July - 30 June

Northern Mariana Islands 1 October - 30 September

Norway calendar year

Oman calendar year

Pakistan 1 July - 30 June

Palau 1 October - 30 September

Panama calendar year

Papua New Guinea calendar year

Paraguay calendar year

Peru calendar year

Philippines calendar year

Pitcairn Islands 1 April - 31 March

Poland calendar year

Portugal calendar year

Puerto Rico 1 July - 30 June

Qatar 1 April - 31 March

Romania calendar year

Russia calendar year

Rwanda calendar year

Saint Helena 1 April - 31 March

Saint Kitts and Nevis calendar year

Saint Lucia 1 April - 31 March

Saint Pierre and Miquelon calendar year

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines calendar year

Samoa June 1 - May 31

San Marino calendar year

Sao Tome and Principe calendar year

Saudi Arabia calendar year

Senegal calendar year

Seychelles calendar year

Sierra Leone calendar year

Singapore 1 April - 31 March

Slovakia calendar year

Slovenia calendar year

Solomon Islands calendar year

Somalia NA

South Africa 1 April - 31 March

Spain calendar year

Sri Lanka calendar year

Sudan calendar year

Suriname calendar year

Swaziland 1 April - 31 March

Sweden calendar year

Switzerland calendar year

Syria calendar year

Taiwan calendar year

Tajikistan calendar year

Tanzania 1 July - 30 June

Thailand 1 October - 30 September

Timor-Leste calendar year

Togo calendar year

Tokelau 1 April - 31 March

Tonga 1 July - 30 June

Trinidad and Tobago 1 October - 30 September

Tunisia calendar year

Turkey calendar year

Turkmenistan calendar year

Turks and Caicos Islands calendar year

Tuvalu calendar year

Uganda 1 July - 30 June

Ukraine calendar year

United Arab Emirates calendar year

United Kingdom 6 April - 5 April

United States 1 October - 30 September

Uruguay calendar year

Uzbekistan calendar year

Vanuatu calendar year

Venezuela calendar year

Vietnam calendar year

Virgin Islands 1 October - 30 September

Wallis and Futuna calendar year

West Bank calendar year

Western Sahara calendar year

Yemen calendar year

Zambia calendar year

Zimbabwe calendar year

This page was last updated on 18 November 2008

======================================================================

@2081 Flag description

Afghanistan three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other two bands; the center of the emblem features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below the mosque are numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK); this central image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of wheat on the left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great"), and at bottom center is a scroll bearing the name Afghanistan

Akrotiri the flag of the UK is used

Albania red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Algeria two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary note: the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion)

American Samoa blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a "Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the United States and American Samoa

Andorra three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield note: similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem

Angola two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)

Anguilla blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy water below

Antigua and Barbuda red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the black band

Argentina three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May

Armenia three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange

Aruba blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner

Ashmore and Cartier Islands the flag of Australia is used

Australia blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories; on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars

Austria three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red

Azerbaijan three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band

Bahamas, The three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side

Bahrain red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam

Bangladesh green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh

Barbados three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

Belarus red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red

Belgium three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red note: the design was based on the flag of France

Belize blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

Benin two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Bermuda red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag

Bhutan divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side

Bolivia three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band note: similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band

Bosnia and Herzegovina a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle

Botswana light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center

Bouvet Island the flag of Norway is used

Brazil green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)

British Indian Ocean Territory white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag

British Virgin Islands blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)

Brunei yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

Bulgaria three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe, has been removed

Burkina Faso two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Burma red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 14, white, five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the seven administrative divisions and seven states

Burundi divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below)

Cambodia three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center of the red band note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its design

Cameroon three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Canada two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white

Cape Verde five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue - equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by three bands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and a bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a circle of 10, yellow, five-pointed stars, each representing one of the islands, is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist side

Cayman Islands blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

Central African Republic four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; a yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band

Chad three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red note: similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France

Chile two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red represents the blood spilled to achieve independence note: design was influenced by the US flag

China red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner

Christmas Island territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes

Clipperton Island the flag of France is used

Cocos (Keeling) Islands the flag of Australia is used

Colombia three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Comoros four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mahore (Mayotte - territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros) note: the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Congo, Democratic Republic of the sky blue field divided diagonally from the lower hoist corner to upper fly corner by a red stripe bordered by two narrow yellow stripes; a yellow, five-pointed star appears in the upper hoist corner

Congo, Republic of the divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Cook Islands blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag

Coral Sea Islands the flag of Australia is used

Costa Rica five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk on the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA

Cote d'Ivoire three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green note: similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France

Croatia three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)

Cuba five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center

Cyprus white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has a white field with narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and bottom edges between which is centered a red crescent and a red five-pointed star

Czech Republic two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side note: identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia

Denmark red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side; the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

Dhekelia the flag of the UK is used

Djibouti two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

Dominica green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

Dominican Republic a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon

Ecuador three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms

Egypt three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design is based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band

El Salvador three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

Equatorial Guinea three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)

Eritrea red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle

Estonia pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

Ethiopia three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three main colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors

European Union blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle in the center, representing the union of the peoples of Europe; the number of stars is fixed

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was once the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Faroe Islands white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Fiji light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove

Finland white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

France three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution; the design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands; the official flag for all French dependent areas

French Polynesia two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions

French Southern and Antarctic Lands the flag of France is used

Gabon three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

Gambia, The three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

Georgia white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross connecting all four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears to date back to the 14th century

Germany three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold

Ghana three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Gibraltar two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

Greece nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country

Greenland two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white

Grenada a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions

Guam territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag

Guatemala three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath

Guernsey white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross

Guinea three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Guinea-Bissau two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Guyana green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border between the yellow and the green

Haiti two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)

Heard Island and McDonald Islands the flag of Australia is used

Holy See (Vatican City) two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band

Honduras three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

Hong Kong red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center

Hungary three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

Iceland blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

India three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band

Indonesia two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red

Iran three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band

Iraq three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; design is based upon the Arab Liberation colors; Council of Representatives approved this flag as a compromise temporary replacement for Ba'athist Saddam-era flag

Ireland three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red

Isle of Man red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used

Israel white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

Italy three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797

Jamaica diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)

Jan Mayen the flag of Norway is used

Japan white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

Jersey white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield with the three lions of England in yellow

Jordan three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design is based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

Kazakhstan sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in gold

Kenya three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center

Kiribati the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean

Korea, North three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star

Korea, South white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field

Kosovo centered on a dark blue field is the geographical shape of Kosovo in a gold color surmounted by six white, five-pointed stars - each representing one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo - arrayed in a slight arc

Kuwait three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to 1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I

Kyrgyzstan red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt

Laos three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

Latvia three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon

Lebanon three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band

Lesotho three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence

Liberia 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag

Libya plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)

Liechtenstein two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Lithuania three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

Luxembourg three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France

Macau light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in center of arc and four smaller

Macedonia a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field

Madagascar two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

Malawi three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Malaysia 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US

Maldives red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag

Mali three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Malta two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red

Marshall Islands blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes

Mauritania green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Mauritius four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

Mayotte unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte centered on a white field, above which the name of the island appears in red capital letters; the main elements of the coat of arms, flanked on either side by a seahorse, appear above a scroll with the motto RA HACHIRI (We are Vigilant); the only official flag is the national flag of France

Mexico three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak perched on a cactus) is centered in the white band

Micronesia, Federated States of light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Moldova three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow; same color scheme as Romania

Monaco two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

Mongolia three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)

Montenegro a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the Montenegrin coat of arms centered

Montserrat blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross

Morocco red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; design dates to 1912

Mozambique three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book

Namibia a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green

Nauru blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

Navassa Island the flag of the US is used

Nepal red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun

Netherlands three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century

Netherlands Antilles white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

New Caledonia the flag of France is used

New Zealand blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

Nicaragua three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

Niger three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band

Nigeria three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green

Niue yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large star on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star on each arm of the bold red cross

Norfolk Island three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band

Northern Mariana Islands blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

Norway red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Oman three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band

Pakistan green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Palau light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

Panama divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center

Papua New Guinea divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered

Paraguay three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)

Peru three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a vicuna, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath

Philippines two equal horizontal bands of blue (top; representing peace and justice) and red (representing courage); a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side represents equality; the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays, each representing one of the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain; each corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star representing the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897; in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top

Pitcairn Islands blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor

Poland two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

Portugal two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line

Puerto Rico five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

Qatar maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side

Romania three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

Russia three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red

Rwanda three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue band

Saint Barthelemy the flag of France is used

Saint Helena blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship

Saint Kitts and Nevis divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red

Saint Lucia blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border

Saint Martin the flag of France is used

Saint Pierre and Miquelon a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a dark blue background with yellow wavy lines under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern

Samoa red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation

San Marino two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)

Sao Tome and Principe three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Saudi Arabia green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932

Senegal three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Serbia three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white; charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the hoist side

Seychelles five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side

Sierra Leone three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue

Singapore two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle

Slovakia three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills); the coat of arms is centered vertically and offset slightly to the hoist side

Slovenia three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands

Solomon Islands divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green

Somalia light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; blue field influenced by the flag of the UN

South Africa two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a shield with a golden lion centered; the shield is supported by a fur seal on the left and a penguin on the right; a reindeer appears above the shield, and below it on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land)

Spain three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms is quartered to display the emblems of the traditional kingdoms of Spain (clockwise from upper left, Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon) while Granada is represented by the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield; the arms are framed by two columns representing the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; the red scroll across the two columns bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond) referring to Spanish lands beyond Europe

Sri Lanka yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels

Sudan three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

Suriname five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band

Svalbard the flag of Norway is used

Swaziland three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally

Sweden blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Switzerland red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Syria three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colors associated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; the current design dates to 1980

Taiwan red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Tajikistan three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe

Tanzania divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue

Thailand five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

Timor-Leste red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star is in the center of the black triangle

Togo five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a white five-pointed star on a red square is in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Tokelau the flag of New Zealand is used

Tonga red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner

Trinidad and Tobago red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side

Tunisia red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam

Turkey red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening

Turkmenistan green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches; a white crescent moon representing Islam with five white stars representing the regions or welayats of Turkmenistan appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe

Turks and Caicos Islands blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus

Tuvalu light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands

Uganda six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side

Ukraine two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow represent grain fields under a blue sky

United Arab Emirates three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side

United Kingdom blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, and British overseas territories

United States 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges the flag of the US is used

Uruguay nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy

Uzbekistan three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and 12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant

Vanuatu two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow

Venezuela three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

Vietnam red field with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

Virgin Islands white field with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel

Wake Island the flag of the US is used

Wallis and Futuna unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is the only official flag

Yemen three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, and of Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band

Zambia green field with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag

Zimbabwe seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in black with its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird representing the long history of the country is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle, which symbolizes peace; green symbolizes agriculture, yellow - mineral wealth, red - blood shed to achieve independence, and black stands for the native people

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2085 Roadways (km)

Afghanistan total: 42,150 km paved: 12,350 km unpaved: 29,800 km (2006)

Albania total: 18,000 km paved: 7,020 km unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)

Algeria total: 108,302 km paved: 76,028 km (includes 645 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,274 km (2004)

American Samoa total: 221 km (2007)

Andorra total: 270 km

Angola total: 51,429 km paved: 5,349 km unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)

Anguilla total: 175 km paved: 82 km unpaved: 93 km (2004)

Antigua and Barbuda total: 1,165 km paved: 384 km unpaved: 781 km (2002)

Argentina total: 231,374 km paved: 69,412 km (includes 734 km of expressways) unpaved: 161,962 km (2004)

Armenia total: 7,700 km paved: 7,700 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways) (2006)

Australia total: 812,972 km paved: 341,448 km unpaved: 471,524 km (2004)

Austria total: 107,262 km paved: 107,262 km (includes 1,677 km of expressways) (2006)

Azerbaijan total: 59,141 km paved: 29,210 km unpaved: 29,931 km (2004)

Bahamas, The total: 2,717 km paved: 1,560 km unpaved: 1,133 km (2002)

Bahrain total: 3,498 km paved: 2,768 km unpaved: 730 km (2003)

Bangladesh total: 239,226 km paved: 22,726 km unpaved: 216,500 km (2003)

Barbados total: 1,600 km paved: 1,600 km (2004)

Belarus total: 94,797 km paved: 84,028 km unpaved: 10,769 km (2005)

Belgium total: 152,256 km paved: 119,079 km (includes 1,763 km of expressways) unpaved: 33,177 km (2006)

Belize total: 3,007 km paved: 575 km unpaved: 2,432 km (2006)

Benin total: 16,000 km paved: 1,400 km unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)

Bermuda total: 447 km paved: 447 km note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2007)

Bhutan total: 8,050 km paved: 4,991 km unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)

Bolivia total: 62,479 km paved: 3,749 km unpaved: 58,730 km (2004)

Bosnia and Herzegovina total: 21,846 km paved: 11,425 km (4,714 km of interurban roads) unpaved: 10,421 km (2006)