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Flag Dates: by month

Adoption Dates

Last modified: 2013-11-16 by rob raeside
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Flag Dates by Month
Month Country Flag Event
Unknown Sweden First use as a battle flag - 1569
Netherlands First use of the flag - 1581
Sweden Use as a naval flag 1620s
Denmark Flag adopted 1625
Netherlands 1630-1660 - orange stripe becomes red
Sweden 1663 - warrant on use of flags at sea
Russia 1693 - First use as a naval ensign
Denmark Specifications on dimensions specified - 1748
United States Two stars and two stripes added to flag in 1795
France Colors standardized 1804
France Colors standardized 1812
El Salvador Flag adopted 1822
Peru Flag adopted 1825
Poland flag constituted by Polish parliament 1831 following November uprising (modeled on the flag of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw)
Greece Flag adopted 1832
Romania Flag first authorized by Ottoman sultan 1834
Tunisia Flag adopted 1835
El Salvador Minor modifications to flag - 1841
Haiti Flag current pattern adopted 1843
Turkey flag in use since 1844 (ref: Ottoman Empire)
Costa Rica Flag adopted 1848
Hungary Flag adopted during the 1848-49 uprising
Hungary First law about flag in Constitution - 1848
Haiti flag reconfirmed - 1849
Hungary Flag in disuse during Austrian period 1849-1867
Haiti arms on flag changed - 1859
Romania Horizontal version of the flag adopted 1859
Haiti circa 1860 - blue-red bicolor in use
Poland 1863 - 1831 flag with arms used during Polish revolt
Andorra Adopted 1866
Romania Vertical version of the flag adopted 1866
Hungary Flag restored 1867
Venezuela Minor modification 1867
Panama Provisionally approved 1904
Albania Flag Adopted 1912 modeled on the flag of Iskander Bey
Taiwan Flag adopted as naval ensign - 1914
Armenia Adopted 1918; disuse during Soviet era
Azerbaijan Adopted 1918; disuse during Soviet era
Lithuania Flag adopted 1918 (in disuse during Soviet era)
Albania Flag changed with a redesigned double headed eagle - 1920
Panama Flag officially approved 1925
Nepal First Nepali flag adopted 1928
Afghanistan Current pattern (Black-Red-Green vertical bars) adopted between September 1928 and January 1929
Afghanistan 1929 - Black-Red-Green motif restored after period of disuse
Venezuela Star pattern redesigned 1930
Bahrain Serrated flag adopted 1933
Albania Color of flag background changed - 1934
Mongolia Flag adopted 1940 (socialist version)
Albania Postwar flag adopted - 1944
Faroe Islands Flag recognized by Denmark - 1948
Romania Arms of People's Republic of Romania added to flag 1948
Hungary Ráskosi arms on flag - 1949-1956
Hungary Constitution modified regarding flag - 1949
Korea, Republic of Defacto use of the flag, 1950 (from older flag)
Puerto Rico Flag adopted for use by Commonwealth 1952
Romania New arms of People's Republic of Romania added to flag 1952
Venezuela Venezuelan flag law passed 1954 regulating flag
British Virgin Islands Flag adopted - 1956
Morocco Flag adopted by decree - 1956
Hungary Basic flag restored 1957
Netherlands Colors defined - 1958
Nigeria Flag selected (pre-independence) 1959
Guam Red border added around flag 1960
Trinidad and Tobago Flag adopted 1962
Syria Reverted to original pattern with three green stars 1963 (following coup d'état
Bhutan Flag adopted 1969
Afghanistan circa 1973 - flag modified to eliminate Arabic numerals; replaced and in disuse as of 9 May 1974
East Timor Self-proclaimed independence flag 1975
Norfolk Island 1980 - Official approval by Australian Governor-General and Queen Elizabeth II
Poland 1980 - Minor modification to flag (People's Republic of Poland)
Syria previous flag readopted 1980
Northern Mariana Islands Design modified 1985
Paraguay ratio changed 1988
Northern Mariana Islands Modified 1991
Paraguay Apparent change to flag circa 1991
Åland Islands proportions standardized - 1992
Turkmenistan Flag adopted 1992
Czech Republic Flag adopted 1993, using the former flag of Czechoslovakia, originated on 30 March 1920
Hungary Flag legislated regarding use - 1995
Puerto Rico Colors standardized - 1995
Zambia Flag specifications changed 1996
British Virgin Islands Size of badge modified - 1999
Cayman Islands Badge modified on flag 1999
Turks and Caicos Badge modified in 1999
Hungary Ratio set for flag and pole sizes 2000
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Flag adopted 2003 (unofficial)
January United Kingdom Flag adopted 1 January 1801 adding "St. Patrick's Cross" to the flag of the United Kingdom of England and Scotland
Mexico Flag decreed in December 1880 becomes effective 1 January 1881
Mexico New emblem placed on flag 1 January 1889
Italy Official date of flag use - 1 January 1948
Syria Federation of Arab Republics formed, stars replaced by golden Quraish eagle
Norfolk Island Flag adopted 1 January 1980
Palau Flag adopted 1 January 1981
Netherland Antilles Adopted 1 January 1986
Myanmar Flag adopted 3 January 1974
Afghanistan Black-Red-Green motif restored 4 January 2004
Seychelles Flag legislated 8 January 1996
Honduras Flag adopted 9 January 1866
Mauritius Flag adopted 9 January 1968
Bangladesh Adopted 13 January 1972
Iraq Takbir added to flag 13 January 1963
Georgia Flag adopted 14 January 2004
Norfolk Island Flag official 17 January 1980
Russia Adopted as Merchant ensign 20 January 1705 (disuse during Soviet era)
Lesotho Flag adopted 20 January 1987
Belgium Adopted 23 January 1831
Turkmenistan design modified 24 January 2001
Korea, Republic of Flag adopted 25 January 1950
Montserrat Badge modified on flag 25 January 1999
Christmas Island Official adoption of flag 26 January 2006
Belgium Flag reconfirmed - 28 January 1936
Ukraine Flag adopted 28 January 1992
Turkmenistan Olive branch added to flag 29 January 1997
Nauru Flag adopted 21 January 1968
February Belize Flag adopted 2 February 1950 from the design of People's Unity Party
Belgium Order of colors specified by Minister of Navy - 4 February 1831
Bosnia and Herzegovina Adopted 4 February 1998
Mexico New emblem placed on flag 5 February 1934
Azerbaijan Readopted, 5 February 1991
Ethiopia Flag adopted 6 February 1996
Grenada Flag adopted 7 February 1974
Mexico Flag reconfirmed 8 February 1984
Sri Lanka Flag legislated in constitution 8 February 2000
Guam Flag accepted by Guam congress 9 February 1948
Poland New law on the Polish flag - 9 February 1990
Finland Colors slightly modified - 12 February 1920
Mongolia Socialist star removed 12 February 1992
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Coat of arms introduced 14 February 1992
Bahrain Flag serrations modified 14 February 2002
France Flag adopted 15 February 1794
Canada Flag proclaimed by Queen Elizabeth II, 15 February 1965
Hong Kong Flag adopted (pre-transfer) - 16 February 1990
Haiti Flag restored 17 February 1986
Gambia Flag adopted and hoisted 18 February 1965
Vanuatu Flag adopted 18 February 1980
Slovakia Specifications issued 18 February 1993
Congo, Democratic Republic of New symbols and arms legislated 16 February 2006
Netherlands Colors regulated by royal decree and official adoption of flag - 19 February 1937
Venezuela Codification of flag 19 February 1954 ????
Australia 20 February 1903 - Flag approval announced by King Edward VII
Korea, Republic of Change to ying-yang symbols on flag, 21 February 1984
Macao Flag adopted 31 March 1993
Syria Flag of United Arab Republic (Syria and Egypt) adopted 22 February 1958
Saint Lucia Flag adopted 22 February 1979 (in use since 1 March 1967)
Poland Effective date of legislation - 22 February 1990
Estonia Flag adopted 24 February 1918, in disuse during Soviet era
Samoa Flag adopted 24 February 1949
Antigua and Barbuda Adopted 27 February 1997
Western Sahara Flag adopted 27 February 1976
Latvia Flag readopted 27 February 1990
Ghana Flag readopted 28 February 1966
March Mali Flag approved 1 March 1961
Kyrgyzstan Flag Adopted 3 March 1992
Congo, Democratic Republic of New flag of D.R. Congo first hoisted - 4 March 2006
Ghana Flag adopted 6 March 1957, in disuse 1964-66
Venezuela Law changing flag and arms passed 9 March 2006
Morocco Flag described in constitution - 10 March 1974
Haiti Cap of Liberty restored to flag in constitution dated 10 March 1987
Venezuela Publication of law and arms legislation 10 March 2006
Venezuela New 8-star national flag first hoisted 12 March 2006
Aruba Official specifications published - 14 March 1977
Saudi Arabia Flag adopted 15 March 1973
South Africa Flag design selected 15 March 1994
Aruba Flag adopted 16 March 1976
Aruba Flag first hoisted - 18 March 1976
South Africa Specification issued 18 March 1994
Lithuania Readopted, 20 March 1989
Namibia Flag adopted 21 March 1990
East Timor Flag confirmed and colors redefined in constitution 22 March 2002
Philippines Specifications issued 25 March 1936
Venezuela Minor modification adding coat of arms to the flag - 28 March 1905
Panama Flag ratified 28 March 1941
Haiti Constitution officially ratified 29 March 1987
Peru Civil flag confirmed 31 March 1950
Northern Mariana Islands Adopted as a district flag 31 March 1972
April Mauritania Flag adopted 1 April 1959
Pitcairn Flag approved by Queen Elizabeth II on 2 April 1984 (based on 1980 design)
Albania Socialist star added to flag - 1946
Åland Islands Flag first hoisted - 3 April 1954
Monaco Flag adopted 4 April 1881
Northern Mariana Islands Adopted as territorial flag 4 July 1976
San Marino Flag adopted 6 April 1862
Albania 1920 flag readopted - 7 April 1992
Montserrat Flag adopted 10 April 1909
Togo Flag adopted 11 April 1960
Tuvalu reverted to 1977 flag 11 April 1997
French Polynesia Flag use regulated 12 April 1996 (autonomous region flag)
Albania Flag changed by occupying Italian government - 13 April 1939
Mexico Flag modified by Republican government 14 April 1823
Australia flag confirmed in legislation - 14 April 1954
Christmas Island Flag unofficially adopted 14 April 1986
Bulgaria Flag adopted 16 April 1897
Jordan Flag adopted 16 April 1928
Tuvalu flag legislated 17 April 1997
Zimbabwe Flag adopted 18 April 1980
South Africa Flag proclamation issued in government gazette
American Samoa Flag changed 27 April 1960
Sierra Leone Flag adopted 27 April 1961
Austria Legislated 27 April 1984, flag dates to 1230
Moldova Flag adopted 27 April 1990
El Salvador Flag replaced 28 April 1865
May Pitcairn First hoisted May 1984
Denmark Proportions set - 1 May 1893
Mozambique Flag adopted 1 May 1983
South Africa Flag adopted in Constitution
Russia Adopted as Civil ensign 7 May 1883 (disuse during Soviet era)
Germany Flag adopted 9 May 1949
Brazil Four stars added to flag 11 May 1992
Cayman Islands Flag adopted 14 May 1958
El Salvador 1821 flag reinstated - 17 May 1912
Virgin Islands Flag adopted 17 May 1921
Congo, Democratic Republic of Flag adopted 17 May 1997
Philippines Flag adopted 19 May 1898 (use prohibited until 1919)
Cuba Flag adopted 20 May 1902, from a revolutionary flag dating from 1850
Sudan Flag adopted 20 May 1970
Cameroon Flag adopted 20 May 1975
Yemen Flag adopted 20 May 1990
East Timor First hoisting 20 May 2002
Niger Flag specified in constitution, 22 May 1995
Guyana Flag adopted 26 May 1966
Finland Colors standardized - 26 May 1978
South Africa Flag first hoisted 27 April 1994
Brazil Star added to flag 28 May 1968
Finland Flag adopted 29 May 1918
Anguilla Adopted 30 May 1990; First hoisted 30 May 1990
June Brazil Star added to flag June 1960
Tunisia flag legislated 1 June 1959
Albania Italian occupying flag formalized in constitution - 3 June 1939
Liechtenstein Crown modified 3 June 1957
Kazakhstan Flag adopted 4 June 1992
Turkey Flag adopted 5 June 1936
Faroe Islands Change of shade of blue - 5 June 1959
Norfolk Island Flag selected 6 June 1979 (unofficial)
Belarus Flag adopted 7 June 1995
Vatican City (Holy See) Flag adopted 8 June 1929 (based on Catholic Church flag of 1825)
New Zealand Flag legislated as National flag - 12 June 1902
Marshall Islands Flag adopted 12 June 1979
United States Flag adopted 14 June 1777
Iceland Change in the specification for the blue color 17 June 1944
Seychelles Effective date of legislation 17 June 1996
Mexico Arms on flag modified 18 June 1864
Iceland Flag approved by royal decree 19 June 1915 for Marine purposes
Italy Flag adopted 19 June 1946 (originally the flag of the Cisalpine Republic
Greenland Flag adopted 21 June 1985
Sweden Officially readopted 22 June 1906
Marshall Islands Flag approved by High Commissioner 22 June 1979
Luxembourg Flag adopted 23 June 1972 (first hoisted circa 1845-1848)
Liechtenstein Flag adopted 24 June 1937 (crown added to older version)
Haiti new constitution changes flag - 25 June 1964, in disuse until 1987
Djibouti Flag adopted 27 June 1977
Slovenia Flag adopted 27 June 1991
Burundi Adopted 28 June 1967
Iraq Flag modified 28 June 2004
Portugal Flag adopted 30 June 1911
Tanzania Flag adopted 30 June 1964
Liechtenstein Crown modified 30 June 1982
July Papua New Guinea Flag adopted 1 July 1971 (pre-independence)
Hong Kong Flag officially hoisted 1 July 1997
Algeria Flag adopted 3 July 1962 - originally a pre-revolutionary flag
United States Five stars added and number of stripes returned to 13 - 4 July 1818
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1819
United States Two stars added to flag 4 July 1820
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1822
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1836
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1836
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1845
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1846
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1847
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1848
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1851
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1858
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1859
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1861
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1863
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1865
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1867
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1877
United States Five stars added to flag 4 July 1890
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1891
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1896
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1908
United States Two stars added to flag 4 July 1912
Guam Flag adopted 4 July 1917
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1959
United States One star added to flag 4 July 1960
Malawi Flag adopted 6 July 1964
Venezuela Flag pattern adopted 9 July 1863 with seven stars
Qatar Flag adopted 9 July 1971
Bahamas Flag adopted 10 July 1973
Uruguay Flag adopted 11 July 1830
Kiribati Flag adopted 12 July 1979
Montenegro Flag adopted 12 July 2004
Venezuela First hoisting of Venezuelan flag 14 July 1811
Bolivia Flag reconfirmed 14 July 1888
Hungary Decree specifies flag sizes for governmental use - 14 July 2000
Venezuela Flag adopted as official flag 15 July 1811
Venezuela Flag adopted 15 July 1930
Montenegro Flag first hoisted 15 July 2004
Norway Flag adopted - July 21, 1821 (unofficial)
Hungary Flag replaced by Hungarian Soviet Republic flag
India Flag adopted 22 July 1947
Maldives Flag adopted 25 July 1965
Liberia Flag created 26 July 1847
Iran Flag adopted 29 July 1980
Hungary Flag restored circa 31 July 1919
Iraq Flag adopted 31 July 1963
August Poland 1831 flag used as the flag of the Second Republic - 1 August 1919
Benin Flag readopted 1 August 1990
Albania Kingdom of Albania approved a modified flag to include Skanderbeg's Helmet - 3 August 1929
Cook Islands Flag adopted 4 August 1979
Burkino Faso Flag adopted 4 August 1984
Albania New flag proposal submitted to King Zog - 5 August 1929
Jamaica Flag adopted 6 August 1962
Estonia Flag reinstated 7 August 1990
Albania Kingdom of Albania flags formally adopted - 8 August 1929
Gabon Flag adopted 09 August 1960
Niger Flag recodified in constitution, 9 August 1999
Hong Kong Approval of flag by Hong Kong SAR preparatory committee 10 August 1996
Guatemala Flag adopted 12 August 1871
Japan Flag adopted 13 August 1999 (in use since 17th century)
Pakistan Flag adopted 14 August 1947
Paraguay First Paraguayan tribar adopted 15 August 1812
Cyprus Flag adopted 16 August 1960
Luxembourg Adoption official on 16 August 1972
Serbia Flag adopted 17 August 2004
Congo Flag adopted 18 August 1958, in disuse 1969-1991
Senegal Flag adopted 20 June 1960
Romania New arms of People's Republic of Romania added to flag 21 August 1965
Equatorial Guinea Flag adopted 21 August 1979
Russia Officially adopted as state flag 21 August 1991
Nicaragua Specifications on size and shade of blue issued 23 August 1971
Armenia Reconfirmed by Supreme Council 23 August 1990
Liberia First hoisted 24 August 1847
Armenia Adopted by Supreme Council 24 August 1990
Angola 27 August 2003 - New flag adopted, not yet ratified
September Slovakia Flag adopted 1 September 1992
Lithuania Proportions changed 1 September 2004
Australia First hoisted, 3 September 1901
Slovakia First hoisted 3 September 1992
Ukraine use reconfirmed 3 September 1998
Nicaragua Flag adopted 4 September 1908
Morocco Flag described in constitution - 4 September 1992
Kuwait Flag adopted 7 September 1961
Sri Lanka Flag adopted 7 September 1978, incorporating thee flag of Kandy, dating back to 1815, and national flag of 1948
Korea, Democratic Peoples Republic of Flag adopted 8 September 1948
Guatemala Flag colors and size standardized 12 September 1968
El Salvador Flag reaffirmed in legislation - 14 September 1972
Mexico New representation of arms on flag 15 September 1917
Malaysia Flag adopted 16 September 1963
Indonesia Flag hoisted 17 August 1945
Mexico Flag revised 17 September 1968
Haiti flag dimensions specified 18 September 1949
Italy Colors standardized 18 September 2002
Saint Kitts and Nevis Flag adopted 19 September 1983
Malta Flag adopted 21 September 1964
Cambodia Flag readopted 21 September 1993
Cape Verde Flag adopted 22 September 1992
Guinea Bissau Flag adopted 24 September 1973
Ecuador Flag adopted 26 September 1860
Guatemala Colors standardized 26 September 1997
Burundi Proportions changed 27 September 1982
Lesotho New flag adopted 27 September 2006 (National Flag Act)
Thailand Flag adopted 28 September 1917
Albania Royal decree (Italian) approving flag - 28 September 1939
Syria United Arab Republic dissolved 28 September 1961, flag in disuse
Brunei Flag adopted 29 September 1959
Botswana Flag adopted 30 September 1996
October Chile Flag adopted 1 October 1949
China Flag adopted 1 October 1949
Nigeria Flag officially adopted 1 October 1960
Tuvalu Flag adopted at independence 1 October 1978
Tuvalu Flag changed to add additional star - 1 October 1995
Lesotho New flag hoisted - 3 October 2006
Bermuda Flag adopted 4 October 1910
Egypt Flag adopted 4 October 1984
Saint Helena Flag adopted 4 October 1984
Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Flag approved 5 October 1995
Swaziland Flag adopted 6 October 1968
Mexico Flag adopted 7 October 1821
Taiwan Naval ensign adopted as national flag - 8 October 1928
Uganda Flag adopted 9 October 1962
Congo Flag readopted 10 October 1991
Somalia Flag adopted 12 October 1954
Niue Flag adopted 15 October 1975
Oman Change in width of stripes and proportions 18 October 1995
Tristan da Cunha Flag adopted 20 October 2002
Madagascar Flag adopted 21 October 1958
Costa Rica Change to number of stars - 12 October 1964
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Flag adopted 21 October 1985
Canada Flag adopted 22 October 1964
New Zealand 23 October 1869 - Flag proclaimed as colonial ensign
Zambia Flag adopted 24 October 1964
Rwanda Flag adopted 25 October 2001
Israel Flag adopted 28 October 1948
Cambodia Flag adopted 29 October 1948 (in disuse 1970-1993)
Philippines Flag sanction lifted by US - 30 October 1919
Bolivia Flag adopted 31 October 1851
November Dominica Flag adopted 3 November 1978
Dominica Modifications to disk - 3 November 1981
Dominica Fimbriations eliminated around stars 3 November 1990
Tonga Flag adopted 4 November 1875
São Tomé and Principe Flag adopted 5 November 1975
Dominican Republic Flag adopted 6 November 1844
Chad Flag adopted 6 November 1959
Turks and Caicos Flag adopted 7 November 1968
British Indian Ocean Territory Flag adopted 8 November 1990
Guinea Flag adopted 10 November 1958
Angola Adopted 11 November 1975
British Virgin Islands Scroll added to flag - 15 November 1960
Benin Flag adopted 16 November 1959, in disuse 1975-1990
Morocco French protectorate of Morocco flag officialized - 17 November 1915
Latvia Adopted 18 November 1918 (flag dates from 1279, in disuse during Soviet era)
Solomon Islands Flag adopted 18 November 1977
Uzbekistan Flag adopted 18 November 1991
Brazil Adopted 19 November 1889
Libya Flag adopted 19 November 1977
Macao Officially hoisted at transfer 19 November 1999
Romania Flag established in Romanian constitution 21 November 1991
Niger Flag adopted 23 November 1959
French Polynesia Flag adopted 23 November 1984
Kuwait Flag first hoisted, 24 November 1961
Tajikistan Flag adopted 25 November 1992
Paraguay Flag with arms in center codified 25 November 1842
Suriname Flag adopted 25 November 1975
Columbia Flag adopted 26 November 1861
Iceland Flag approved for national use 30 November 1918
Vietnam Flag adopted 30 November 1955
Federated States of Micronesia Flag adopted 30 November 1978 as the flag of the Pacific Island Trust Territory
Barbados Adopted 30 November 1996
December Afghanistan Black-Red-Green motif restored December 1992 - in disuse during Taliban era
Tuvalu Flag changed in December 1995 and original pattern goes into disuse
Central African Republic Flag adopted 1 December 1958
Laos Flag adopted 2 December 1975
Singapore Flag adopted 3 December 1959
Côte d'Ivoire Flag adopted 4 December 1959
Eritrea Flag adopted 5 December 1995
Bulgaria arms of People's Republic added to flag - 6 December 1947
Lebanon Flag adopted 7 December 1943
Romania Effective date of Romanian Constitution 8 December 1991
Mexico recodification of flag law in revised decrees on national symbols - 8 December 2005
Norway Flag legislated on 10 December 1898
Switzerland Flag adopted 12 December 1889, although some forms were in use unoffically since the 15th century
Kenya Flag adopted 12 December 1963
India New law regarding respect for the national flag - 12 December 2005
Norway Flag legislation published 15 December 2 1898
Norway legislation becomes effective 15 December 1899
Nepal Emblems on flag streamlined 16 December 1962
Oman Flag adopted 17 December 1970
Australia Addition of seventh point to Commonwealth star announced 19 December 1908
Spain Flag adopted 19 December 1981
Congo, Democratic Republic of Constitutional referendum (18-19 Dec. 2005) passed - planned return to flag of 1963-66 (implementation date unknown)
Mexico Arms on flag modified 20 December 1880 by proclamation
Panama Flag first hoisted 20 December 1903
United Arab Emirates Adopted 21 December 1971
Croatia Flag adopted 21 December 1990
Puerto Rico Flag adopted 22 December 1895 (use forbidden until 1952)
Greece Colors standardized 22 December 1978
Comoros Flag prescribed in new constitution - 23 December 2001
Russia Reuse following dissolution of Soviet Union - 26 December 1991
Romania Arms removed from flag 27 December 1989
Bulgaria 1897 flag readopted 17 December 1990
Ireland Use confirmed 29 December 1937
Faroe Islands Blue color standardized - 29 December 1998
Comoros New flag hoisted - 31 December 2001