Which flags have a cross? Nordic crosses, saltires and more

Quick answer: 22 national flags in the Trivillion flags quiz include a cross. Five use the Nordic cross (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden). Others include Switzerland, Greece, Georgia, the Dominican Republic, Tonga, Malta, the United Kingdom, Jamaica, Burundi and Dominica, plus flags that carry the Union Jack and flags with a cross in the coat of arms.

Every flag with a cross

Grouped by the type of cross:

The Nordic cross

The five Nordic countries share a cross that sits off-centre, closer to the hoist. Denmark’s Dannebrog is often described as the oldest national flag still in use; legend says it fell from the sky during a battle in 1219. Sweden’s is yellow on blue, Norway’s red with a blue cross edged in white, Finland’s blue on white, and Iceland’s red edged in white on blue.

The Union Jack

The United Kingdom’s flag combines three crosses: the red cross of St George for England, the white saltire of St Andrew for Scotland and the red saltire of St Patrick for Ireland. Four independent countries still carry it in the top corner of their flags: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tuvalu.

Other crosses with a story

Switzerland’s flag is square, one of only two square national flags with Vatican City’s. The Red Cross, founded in Geneva, uses the Swiss flag with its colours reversed. Greece’s nine stripes are commonly said to match the nine syllables of its motto, Eleftheria i Thanatos, freedom or death. Georgia’s flag has a large red cross with four smaller ones. Malta’s George Cross was awarded by King George VI in 1942 for the island’s bravery in the Second World War. Jamaica’s gold saltire on green and black makes it the only national flag with no red, white or blue.

Telling them apart

The Nordic crosses are easy to confuse. Remember that Denmark and Norway are both red; Norway adds a blue cross inside the white. Iceland reverses Norway’s colours. For Australia and New Zealand, count the stars: Australia has white stars, including a large seven-pointed one, and New Zealand has four red stars.

Flags with a cross

Frequently asked questions