Europe

Flag of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a tiny doubly landlocked microstate in Central Europe nestled between Switzerland and Austria, and is one of only two countries in the world entirely surrounded by landlocked countries. Despite covering just 160 square kilometres, it has one of the world's highest per-capita incomes and is a significant international financial centre. Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy ruled by the Prince of Liechtenstein and has no airport.

CapitalVaduz
RegionEurope
Current flag since1982
Main coloursBlue, Red, Yellow
Populationabout 40,000
Areaabout 160 km²
GeographyLandlocked
Flags in history3

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of Liechtenstein means

Blue and red were the colours of the princely household's livery. The gold crown was added in 1937 after Liechtenstein's team discovered at the 1936 Berlin Olympics that their flag was identical to Haiti's. The crown, the princely hat, stands for the unity of the people and their prince.

More about the flag

Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked principality between Switzerland and Austria, and one of the smallest countries in Europe. When the flag is hung vertically, the crown is turned so that it stays upright. The crown's exact design was fixed by law in 1982. The princely family, which gave the country its name, still lives in Vaduz Castle above the capital.

How to recognise it

Horizontal blue-red with a small gold crown in the upper left.

Did you know?

Liechtenstein is one of only two doubly landlocked countries, surrounded entirely by landlocked countries. The other is Uzbekistan.

Easily confused with

Liechtenstein's flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:

Haiti

Flag history of Liechtenstein

Every flag that has flown over Liechtenstein, from today back through time.

1982–present

Blue-red with crown

A restyled, more detailed gold crown was adopted in 1982. Blue represents the sky and red the evening fires lit in homes.

1937–1982

Crown added (1937)

At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Liechtenstein discovered its flag was identical to Haiti's. To tell them apart, it added a gold princely crown in 1937 — also signifying its status as a principality.