Square National Flags
Discover the two sovereign states whose national flags have an official 1:1 square format: Switzerland and Vatican City.
Switzerland
Switzerland's national flag is a white cross on a red square field. Its unusual 1:1 proportions make it immediately recognisable. Switzerland is widely identified as having the world's square national flag.
Vatican City
Vatican City's flag is also square. It is divided vertically into yellow and white, with the papal arms displayed on the white half. Its design reflects the state's close relationship with the Holy See.
Why square flags are unusual
Rectangular flags are practical for poles, halyards and manufacturing. A square flag behaves differently and therefore stands out when displayed alongside conventional national flags.
Switzerland and the Red Cross
The Swiss flag has an interesting visual relationship with the Red Cross emblem: the Red Cross uses the same basic cross-and-field colours in the opposite arrangement.
Square versus non-rectangular
In everyday flag terminology, square flags are often treated separately because they do not have the usual unequal width and height. Mathematically, however, a square is a rectangle — which is why Nepal remains the true non-rectangular exception.