Flags of the World: The Stories Behind Them

Many people could tell you what the stars and stripes represent on the flag of the USA, or why the Canadian flag is emblazoned with a maple leaf. But most of these people could not be as confident in clarifying the reasons for the unusual shape of the Nepalese flag and would struggle to explain the reasons behind the curious presence of an AK-47 on the flag of Mozambique.

There is huge variety in the colours and designs of national flags, but there is much more to consider than first meets the eye. A flag is not simply designed to look good flying in the wind, but often symbolises the culture, history and ideals of a nation. Just The Flight has explored the stories behind some of the world’s most interesting and recognisable national flags in the fascinating infographic below.