Flag of Croatia

What the flag looks like

Three equal horizontal stripes of red, white and blue, with the coat of arms in the center: a red-and-white checkerboard shield topped by a crown of five small historical shields.

What it means

Red, white and blue are pan-Slavic colors; the checkerboard is Croatia's traditional arms, and the five crown shields represent historic regions including Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria and Slavonia.

How to remember it

Red-white-blue with a red-and-white chessboard shield in the middle: Croatia plays chess, while the Netherlands is plain and Serbia runs red-blue-white.

Fun facts

• The checkerboard shield, called the šahovnica, has been a Croatian symbol since at least the 15th century.
• The necktie takes its name, 'cravat', from the scarves worn by Croatian soldiers in 17th-century France.

Croatia at a glance

Capital

Zagreb

Region

Southeast Europe

Population

3.9 million

Area

56,594 km²

Languages

Croatian

Currency

Euro (€)

Flag adopted

1990

Flags often confused with Croatia

• Netherlands: Croatia and the Netherlands are both red, white and blue horizontal stripes. Croatia has a red-and-white checkerboard shield in the center; the Netherlands is plain.
• Paraguay: Croatia and Paraguay are both red, white and blue with a central emblem. Croatia has a large checkerboard shield spilling over the stripes; Paraguay has a small round seal inside the white band.
• Serbia: Croatia and Serbia both use red, white and blue with a coat of arms. Croatia's order is red-white-blue with a checkerboard shield; Serbia's is red-blue-white with an eagle shield towards the hoist.
• Luxembourg: Croatia and Luxembourg are both red, white and blue. Croatia has a large checkerboard shield in the center; Luxembourg is plain with a lighter blue.