Similar flags explained: how to tell them apart

Quick answer: Look-alike flags usually differ in one detail: shade, proportions, a star or a coat of arms. Here are 12 groups side by side.

Chad and Romania

Almost identical blue, yellow and red stripes. Chad’s blue is slightly darker.

Indonesia and Monaco

Both are red over white. Monaco’s flag is shorter and squarer in its official proportions.

Poland and Indonesia

Poland is white over red; Indonesia is red over white.

Ireland and Ivory Coast

Mirror images: Ireland has green at the flagpole, Ivory Coast has orange.

Australia and New Zealand

Australia’s stars are white and include a large seven-pointed star; New Zealand’s four stars are red with white edges.

Netherlands and Luxembourg

Luxembourg uses a lighter blue and its flag is longer.

Senegal and Mali

Same green, yellow and red; Senegal adds a green star in the middle.

Slovenia and Slovakia

Both white, blue and red with a coat of arms; Slovakia’s arms are larger and sit nearer the centre.

Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela

Colombia has a wide yellow band; Ecuador adds a coat of arms; Venezuela has equal bands and an arc of stars.

Jordan and Palestine

Same colours and triangle; Jordan’s triangle carries a white seven-pointed star.

Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Yemen

All red, white and black. Egypt has the golden eagle, Iraq the green Takbir, Syria green stars, Yemen plain stripes.

Norway and Iceland

Same Nordic cross with swapped colours: Norway is red with a blue cross, Iceland blue with a red cross.

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