Which countries have a crescent on their flag? All 13
Quick answer: 13 national flags have a crescent: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Comoros, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. All except the Maldives also show at least one star.
All 13 flags with a crescent
Here is every national flag with a crescent, with the colours and symbols that go with it:
| Country | Region | Crescent colour | With it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | North Africa | Red | Red star, green and white halves |
| Azerbaijan | Caucasus | White | Eight-pointed star, blue, red and green stripes |
| Comoros | Indian Ocean | White | Four stars, one per main island |
| Libya | North Africa | White | Star, red, black and green stripes |
| Malaysia | Southeast Asia | Yellow | 14-pointed star, red and white stripes |
| Maldives | South Asia | White | No star, green panel on red |
| Mauritania | North Africa | Yellow | Star, green field, red bands |
| Pakistan | South Asia | White | Star, white stripe at the hoist |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | White | Five stars on red |
| Tunisia | North Africa | Red | Star inside a white disc |
| Turkey | West Asia | White | Star on red |
| Turkmenistan | Central Asia | White | Five stars, carpet patterns |
| Uzbekistan | Central Asia | White | Twelve stars, blue, white and green |
What the crescent means
The crescent and star were used in the ancient world and in Byzantium, then became the emblem of the Ottoman Empire. Over time they came to be widely associated with Islam, and most of the countries on this list have Muslim-majority populations. The Red Crescent, the sister movement of the Red Cross, uses the same symbol.
Meanings vary from flag to flag. Pakistan’s crescent stands for progress and its star for light and knowledge, while its white stripe represents religious minorities. Singapore’s crescent stands for a young nation on the rise. Mauritania’s crescent points upwards, unlike most others.
Crescent flags of the Arab world
Four Arab countries use the crescent: Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Tunisia, all in North Africa. Libya’s flag, first used at independence in 1951, was restored in 2011, replacing the plain green flag used from 1977, which was the only single-colour national flag in modern times. Tunisia’s flag is among the oldest in the region and is very close to Turkey’s, reflecting its Ottoman history.
Look-alikes to watch in a quiz
Turkey and Tunisia are the classic mix-up: both are red with a white crescent and star, but Tunisia’s sit inside a white disc. Algeria and Pakistan both pair green and white, but Algeria’s halves are vertical with a red crescent, while Pakistan’s white stripe sits at the hoist with a white crescent. Malaysia’s flag looks a little like the United States flag, with red and white stripes and a blue canton holding a yellow crescent.
| Pair | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Turkey and Tunisia | Tunisia has a white disc around the crescent |
| Algeria and Pakistan | Algeria has a red crescent; Pakistan a white one |
| Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan | Azerbaijan: blue, red, green; Uzbekistan: blue, white, green with 12 stars |
| Comoros and Mauritania | Comoros has four stars and coloured stripes |
Crescents outside this list
A few territories that are not UN members also use a crescent, such as Northern Cyprus and Western Sahara. They do not appear in most flag quizzes, which follow the 193 UN member states plus observer states.
All 13 flags with a crescent
Related reading
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Frequently asked questions
How many flags have a crescent?
13: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Comoros, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Which crescent flag has no star?
The Maldives.
Why do some flags have a crescent?
It became the emblem of the Ottoman Empire and is widely associated with Islam.
What is the difference between the Turkish and Tunisian flags?
Tunisia’s crescent and star sit inside a white disc.
Which Arab countries have a crescent on their flag?
Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Tunisia.