5 of The World’s Ugliest Flags
Last Updated on May 18, 2024 by Adam Watts
Are you tired of seeing the same old beautiful flags of the world? I sure am. That’s why I put myself through a lot of pain looking for the world’s ugliest flags. I was hoping some of them would be so bad they’re good — but no, these things are hideous no matter at first, fifth and fiftieth glance.
So let’s get right to it. I’m going to rip the band-aid off and just show you the world’s ugliest flag, because I hate those lists that make you scroll to the bottom to the get to the top rank. Life is short, man.
The World’s Ugliest Flag is… British Columbia
There’s no competition in my mind. This is it. The worst of the worst. British Columbia, congratulations, you have the ugliest flag in the world. I’ll get to some other flags I’m not a fan of later, but none of them come close to this monstrosity.
There’s a Union Jack flag (or just Union Flag, if you prefer) at the top that is seriously stretched like it’s about to explode, and for some reason there’s a ClipArt crown plonked on top like an eight-year-old making a school presentation.
Below that is what is probably the sun, but is underwater for some reason, making it look like a sea monster with giant tentacles.
What more is there to say? British Columbia is hands down the world’s ugliest flag. Now let’s look at some other competitors so you can see that while other countries are inept at flag-designing, none of them are legitimately painful to look at.
Belize
I don’t like flags with people. They’re jarring and confusing. Belize doesn’t help the confusion by adding a tree, a latin motto, a wreath around the edge, and a coat of arms sub-divided into three parts each with their own little emblem. And they seem to be standing on grass for some reason, which is the most unnecessary thing I’ve ever seen in my life. If you zoom in far enough, you can even see a grasshopper and the rest of the cast of A Bug’s Life.
I also want to point out the red stripes at the top and bottom, added in seemingly as an afterthought. Many countries use stripes, and some countries (looking at Ukraine and Indonesia for example) are content to paint a stripe and go home early. Not Belize though, oh no.
The Belize flag was designed by someone who thought the task wasn’t “please design an elegant flag that represents our country”, they thought the task was “fit as many things as you can into a rectangle”.
And after they’d come up with an overly complex design, someone also pointed out that a lot of countries have stripes so they wanted stripes too, and the designer begrudging smushed them into a tiny fraction at the top and bottom.
But fun facts about this flag, for people who love fun facts:
- Belize is the only country in the world to have humans as a major design element on their flag.
- Belize’s flag uses 12 different colors/shades, making it the most colorful flag in the world. But obviously in this case colorful doesn’t mean “prettiest”, because it’s an ugly mess.
Virginia
Virginia, didn’t you listen to anything I said? I said I didn’t like flags with people, and that trying to put too much into one design is a bad thing, yet here you are.
There’s not much to say here. Again, too much going on. And I don’t know about you, I don’t care what kinky stuff Virginians get up to, they don’t need to put it on their flag. Keep it to yourself.
Fun fact: “sic semper tyrannis” (if you squint to read it) translates to “thus always to tyrannosaurus” meaning that it’s inevitable that one day T-Rexes will rule the earth again. Virginians are weird.
Turkmenistan
Green background, sure, why not. Islamic crescent, cool. Five stars representing the five regions of the country, nice and elegant.
But what are you doing with that red-striped splodge on the left? It’s a mess. From a distance it looks like an animal has been run over, had its blood and guts smeared over the road, and then someone replicated that on the flag. And up close, it’s not much better.
I don’t want to come across as insensitive. I appreciate that the red stripe is in fact made up of five traditional carpet designs, each representing one of the five major tribes/houses of Turkmenistan. Very cool to include that on your flag but can’t you have represented them…better? You could have maybe made one emblem encompassing different parts of all five tribes/houses? Just a thought, if the Senior Minister for Flag Design of Turkmenistan happens to read this.
Morocco
Continuing with the red and green color scheme, we have Morocco.
Morocco is unique on this list in that the problem with their flag isn’t that they didn’t know when to stop. They have a red background and a green star in the middle and that’s it. Simple, elegant, memorable.
The problem Morocco has is that it was clearly made by an artist who missed the lesson about color theory. Red on green is a bold, bright choice – Turkmenistan’s flag might be ugly, but it’s easy to see that red stripe from a mile away. You just can’t tell what it is.
Morocco’s green star on a red background is very difficult to see. I’m sure you’re managing it fine reading this on your phone or a computer, but imagine that flag atop a flagpole on a windy day; you’ll be hard-pressed to spot the green star.
I’m also red-green color-blind so I’m also just personally affected by this. (As are about 8% of the male population, so I’m not alone here.)
The World’s Ugliest Flag
There you have it. The world’s ugliest country flags. Hopefully you learned something. Belize and Virginia have people on their flags, Turkmenistan has carpet, and Morocco are making an enemy out of colour blind people. And British Columbia, well, the less said about their flag the better. Just know that it’s by far the world’s ugliest flag.
If you can’t get enough of flag content and ugly things, click here for even more of the world’s ugliest flags!
Or if you want more flag-based content, learn about Dark Tourism, learn that the country of Burundi in the middle of Africa changed its capital, check out our Educational section.
I found this piece educational and entertaining. Good job.
Glad you enjoyed!
OMG British Columbia! For shame! 😀
I know, what were they thinking?!
BC is 1 of the most beautiful places on earth and a lot of you would give up a limb to spend a weekend on the coast. The flag is beautiful there’s nothing wrong with it and it I doubt you know anything about the history of it without google so your opinion doesn’t matter!
personally i like the Moroccan flag
I think in theory I do too, I just find it so difficult to tell the colors apart!
it has such a bad shade of green
I agree its very nice, it kinda makes me feel oddly safe…
I guess the Pakistani flag is the worst flag in the whole universe, even the aliens might have got bad views on it.
Nice did quite well except the fact that I WAS BORN IN MOROCCO 😡😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬😡🤬🤬 You disappointed me 😾😾😾You better look under bed tonight you never know whats under their🧠🩸🦴💀
Lucky you was born in morocco I was born in srilanka but we just moved to QATAR!
Hahaha, well at least I didn’t say it was the absolute worst flag in the world, just one of the worst! Morocco is beautiful in real life though, I loved the Atlas Mountains!
As a person from British Columbia, I gotta agree, I think my province could really use a new flag, haha.
I’m glad you can laugh about such an absolute travesty! 😂
Oh my, i found this article and it’s super entertaining no doubt!!
The Turkish flag, I think, is beautiful. Perfectly represents the little I’ve learned of Turkey. British Columbia I would not describe as ugly. Morocco, if they just would have chosen a better shade of green. The others, are too busy.
Definitely agree on Turkey, it’s a great flag! And yes, a better (brighter) shade of green for Morocco would help my poor eyes. British Columbia let’s agree to disagree 😉
I love the British Columbia flag. I’m one of those people that just loves the most random weird things that most people wouldn’t like. I just found out I have a new favourite food yesterday. It is egg and onion! 😂😂
You better keep your eggy onions far away from me, you weirdo!
Well, the Türkmes flas actually has a darker shade of green. Also you’re very much allowed to have your opinions, but it feels like you’re being a bit disrespectful. I’m really not trying to be rude. This might also be a me problem yk, since I am from Türkmenistan. The flag is also MUCH prettier whe you see it in Türkmenistan.
You are dumb my man. Sic Semper tyrannis means Thus always to tyrants
Not us thinking dinosaurs will rule the earth again apparently…
You don’t have to be rude. And it’s just a little fun!
That made me laugh 😂!
Shut up you idiot. You’re just saying this cause you’re Indian. I am Australian and I do not have any biased point of view. I personally think that the Pakistani flag is one of the most beautiful flags. Honestly speaking, its the Indian flag thats ugly.
Indian flag is not ugly. . .Well I also like the Turkmenistan flag but its pretty hard to draw. . .
The Indian flag colours are quite ugly tbf.
As a born and bred British Columbian, I have to admit our flag is sinfully ugly. Super busy, too much going on, and that squashed Union Jack looks terrible!
Oh, and just as an aside, some folks in British Columbia think we should change our flag to have indigenous elements. Sounds like a good idea, but this is the monstrosity they suggested we use instead: https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/redesign-of-b-c-flag-with-first-nations-elements-reflects-who-we-are
Interesting, thanks for sharing! Love the idea of using indigenous elements but agreed, that version is somehow even uglier than the current one!
Australia’s flag is ugly
As someone from british colombia, i completely agree. Our flag really needs a redesign.
though i disagree with morocco, i like that.
you can’t say you’re from BC if you dislike the flag that’s bogus. the water and sun is because we are furthest west and the British flag and crown is for heritage and the royal family. THE FLAG IS FINE BE PROUD OF IT! this guy’s opinion is stupid I love BCs flag
Bollocks!!! I love Burundi’s flag and Morocco. Whoever wrote this is a SPAZ!!!!
Who said anything about Burundi?! Burundi’s flag is amazing!
I feel like you’ve forgotten about the most hideous flag of them all: Milwaukee. It’s a god-awful mess…
Wow, that Milwaukee flag is…quite something. If you’ll excuse me, I now have to go wash my eyeballs.
THESE ARE ALL GOOD WDYM THIS IS FAKE NEWS!!! (ARMENIA SHOULD BE ON THE LIST!)