FLAG MOTIF · 11
Compare the Shapes of Five National Flags
Are all national flags the same shape?
A rectangle? A square? Very wide? Take a closer look.
LOOK · COMPARE · REVEAL
Start with the outside edge
Look around each flag's outline, then compare how wide it is. These flags keep their own shapes and proportions.
Spotted the differences? Reveal the explanation
STEP 1
A flag that is not a rectangle
Start with the shape itself. Nepal's flag is not a rectangle: two joined triangular parts make its distinctive outline, edged in blue. Its constitution sets out how to construct the shape.
STEP 2
Find the squares
Switzerland and Vatican City have square national flags: the height and width are equal. Even with the same outside shape, the designs inside are very different.
STEP 3
A very wide flag
Qatar's flag looks much wider than the others. Here we show the proportions specified for outdoor use within Qatar. Next, compare it with Bahrain's flag.
STEP 4
A familiar rectangle
Japan's flag is a rectangle wider than it is tall. Use it as one example for comparison: Nepal's outline, the two squares and Qatar's wide rectangle all look different. They are all national flags, but their outside shapes and widths are not the same.
STEP 5
A little help from numbers
Notice the shapes first. The small numbers below show height : width; you do not need to memorise them.
- NepalNot a rectangle
- SwitzerlandSquare · 1：1
- Vatican CitySquare (official model) · 1：1
- QatarVery wide · outdoor use within Qatar · 11：28
- JapanA little wider than tall · 2：3
Nepal's non-rectangular flag is described by a construction drawing, so we do not label it with a rectangle's ratio here. Qatar's specifications distinguish different uses; this example is the outdoor flag used within Qatar.
STEP 6
Three ways to look at a flag
① What is the outside shape?
Follow the outline with your eyes.
② How wide is it?
Compare the height and width.
③ What changes inside the same shape?
Look at the colours and marks too.
Flags are more than colours and symbols. Their outside shapes, heights and widths can be different too.
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