Ranking the world's best and worst flags
Gambia's great, Senegal plagiarized, and Libya didn't even try. So says a fun new evaluation of the flags of every nation in the world. In an admittedly unscientific ranking of the world's flags, high marks are given for good color schemes and originality, while grades are lowered for the presence of weapons, writing, and "too many stars."
Here's the unflattering commentary on Saint Lucia's flag: "Best corporate logo. Makes me want to invest money there."
The flag of Turkmenistan is described as vomit inducing, while the lowest-ranking flag, that of the Northern Marianas Islands, "appears to have been constructed from clip art."
I've always been partial to the flag of South Africa, while I find the flag of Guam to be hideous beyond comprehension. In my book, Bhutan's flag (seen above) wins the award for most bad-ass, barely edging out Mozambique's, which features an AK-47.
Check out the highly entertaining rankings here, in order from best to worst. The ranking methodology is described here.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Gambia, Libya, Senegal, Bhutan, Turkmenistan
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jan 14th 2008 @ 6:27PM
Rob Brooks-Bilson said...
aaron, Justin already posted this back in Jan of 2007 ;-)
http://www.gadling.com/2007/01/18/the-worlds-flags-given-letter-grades/
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Jan 14th 2008 @ 7:44PM
Justin Glow said...
Though it's worthy of another post. ;)
Jan 14th 2008 @ 9:00PM
Aaron Hotfelder said...
Well, I was trying to celebrate its almost-one-year anniversary then.
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Jan 15th 2008 @ 12:58AM
Marilyn Terrell said...
It may be old but it's still good! I love the little icons indicating Bad Colors, Weapons, Writing, and Too Busy. The author raises an intriguing question about Kyrgyzstan: IS that a tennis ball on this flag?
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Jan 19th 2008 @ 2:46AM
Mike Sanders said...
I think that Israel's blue and white flag, is beautiful. I had never seen it flying, until recently... Someone in my neighborhood, had both the United States and Israel's flags, flying next to one another. I realize that it was a political statement, but it was beautiful, anyway.
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May 14th 2008 @ 11:22AM
Admiral Blas said...
If you did your research Mr. Hotfelder, you would have known that it was Mrs. Helen L. Paul, the wife of an American Navy Officer who designed the Guam flag in 1917, and not the people of Guam. The design later became known to the Americans as the “UNINCORPORATED”-TERRITORIAL flag of Guam. We are a mere procession of the U.S. It was not a flag designed for independence, but rather dependence.
On some level agree. It is not the best flag in the world. In my observance of the world flags, some of the well-designed yet simple flags tend to be from the world powers. For example, you do not see United States with the Statue of Liberty in the background and the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA across the flag. Japan’s flag is simply a red dot, which representing the rising sun. And when you think about how within these past years the Yen has been getting stronger against the dollar, it really starts to make a statement. The flag is not everything. However, to some it may mean so.
The red borders were added on to the flag by the Guamanians after the WWII to symbolize the bloodshed from the numerous Japanese atrocities that occurred during the occupation. This was the result of the Americans ditching Guam. They knew that the Japanese were going to invade Guam. However, the U.S. government claimed they didn’t have the money to fortify the island, so instead they chose to leave quietly, not saying a word to Guamanians. Japan invaded the island shortly after the bombardment of Pearl Harbor. It is also worthy knowing that during the Vietnam War, per capita more Guamanians died than any other ethnic group. This may have been the only time when brown people were given the chance to stay at the “FRONT of the LINE”.
I just wanted you to know Mr. Hotfelder, instead of degrading other world flags; you should try to find something more appropriate to spend your time on. Like find a cure for cancer! Also, my father is a Guamanian, which makes me one. I am deeply offended that you of all people have the nerve!!! If you do not have the whole story, then don’t publish the book. You idiot! I am 18 years old, and I feel I have more common sense then you do.
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May 14th 2008 @ 12:09PM
Admiral Blas said...
Excuse me, I ment to say that Guam is an Unincorporated Territory of the U.S.
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