Flag of the United States

What the flag looks like

Thirteen horizontal stripes alternating red and white, starting and ending with red, with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist holding 50 white five-pointed stars in nine offset rows of six and five.

What it means

The 13 stripes represent the original colonies and the 50 stars the states; red is traditionally said to signify valour, white purity and blue vigilance and justice.

How to remember it

The United States: 50 stars and 13 stripes; Liberia has 11 stripes and one big star, and Malaysia adds a crescent.

Fun facts

• The 50-star flag became official on 4 July 1960 and has been in use longer than any earlier version.
• Six American flags were planted on the Moon during the Apollo landings between 1969 and 1972.

United States at a glance

Capital

Washington D.C.

Region

North America

Population

340 million

Area

9,372,610 km²

Languages

English

Currency

United States dollar ($)

Flag adopted

1960

Flags often confused with the United States

• Liberia: Liberia and the United States both have red and white stripes with a blue canton. Liberia's canton holds just one large white star; the US canton holds 50 small stars.
• Malaysia: Malaysia and the United States both have red and white stripes with a blue canton. Malaysia's canton has a yellow crescent and star; the US canton has 50 white stars.
• Chile: Chile and the United States both have a blue corner square with white stars over red and white. Chile has one star and two bands; the US has 50 stars and thirteen stripes.