Flag of the Organization of American States

Map showing where Organization of American States is

What the flag looks like

A blue field with the seal of the Organization in the center: a white disc edged in gold holding a fan of the flags of the member states on gold-tipped poles.

What it means

The fan of flags shows the member states standing together, and a new flag is added to the seal whenever a country joins.

How to remember it

The OAS seal is a colorful fan of member flags inside a white disc on blue; the UN's emblem is a plain white world map on paler blue.

Fun facts

The seal was last redrawn in 1991, when the flags of Belize and Guyana were added.
The OAS Charter was signed in Bogotá in 1948, but its roots go back to the First International Conference of American States in 1889–1890.

Organization of American States at a glance

Founded: 1948
Headquarters: Washington D.C.
Headquarters: Washington D.C.
Region: Founded 1948
Languages: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Flag adopted: 1965

Flags often confused with the Organization of American States

United Nations: The UN and the OAS are both blue with a white emblem in the center. The UN is light blue with a plain white world map in olive branches; the OAS is a deeper blue with a white disc full of colorful member flags.

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