Flag of Slovenia

What the flag looks like

Three equal horizontal stripes of white, blue and red, with the coat of arms in the upper hoist side straddling the white and blue: a white three-peaked mountain over wavy blue lines, under three gold stars, on a blue shield edged in red.

What it means

White, blue and red are pan-Slavic colors; the mountain is Triglav, the country's highest peak, the wavy lines represent rivers and the sea, and the stars come from the Counts of Celje.

How to remember it

Slovenia's small shield sits high and shows a three-peaked mountain with three stars; Slovakia's bigger shield has a white double cross, and Russia has no shield.

Fun facts

• Mount Triglav, at 2,864 meters, is the highest mountain in Slovenia and appears on its coat of arms and euro coins.
• Slovenia and Slovakia are mixed up so often that their embassies have reportedly met regularly to swap misdirected mail.

Slovenia at a glance

Capital

Ljubljana

Region

Central Europe

Population

2.1 million

Area

20,273 km²

Languages

Slovene

Currency

Euro (€)

Flag adopted

1991

Flags often confused with Slovenia

• Slovakia: Slovenia and Slovakia are both white, blue and red stripes with a coat of arms. Slovenia's is a small blue shield with a mountain, high in the corner; Slovakia's is a larger red shield with a white double cross.
• Russia: Russia and Slovenia are both white, blue and red horizontal stripes. Slovenia has a small blue shield with a white mountain in the upper hoist; Russia's flag is plain.
• Serbia: Serbia and Slovenia both use red, blue and white stripes with a coat of arms. Serbia has red on top and a red shield with a white eagle; Slovenia has white on top and a blue shield with a mountain.