Civil ensign facts for kids

The British Red Ensign is a famous example of a special flag for civilian ships, very different from the main national flag.

A civil ensign is a special flag flown by civilian ships to show which country they belong to. Think of it as a ship's passport! It's different from the flags used by a country's government ships or navy ships. Sometimes it's called a merchant ensign or merchant flag. Some countries even have unique civil ensigns for yachts, which are called yacht ensigns.

Many countries use their regular national flag for all purposes, both on land and at sea. But other countries have different flags for different uses. For example, the British ensigns are not the same as the Union Flag used on land. They have different versions, like the Red Ensign and Blue Ensign, for civilian ships, government ships, and navy ships.

Different Kinds of Civil Ensigns
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Different Kinds of Civil Ensigns

Civil ensigns that are different from a country's main national flag can be grouped into several types.

Flags with a Small National Flag in the Corner

Some countries use red flags with their national flag (or the Union Flag) in the top corner near the flagpole. This corner is called the canton. This style is inspired by the British Red Ensign. For example, British overseas territories often fly a plain Red Ensign or one with their local symbols in the main part of the flag. Saudi Arabia uses a green flag with its national flag in the upper right corner (because their flag is hoisted from the right).

Some countries, like Ghana (in 2003) and Sri Lanka (in 1969), stopped using these special red ensigns. They now use their regular national flag for all ships. The Solomon Islands also officially use their national flag for ships, but sometimes the Red Ensign is still seen.

Countries with Their Own Flags in the Corner

British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies

British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Guernsey
Isle of Man
Jersey
Turks and Caicos Islands

Special Blue Ensign Flags

Sometimes, a Blue Ensign can be flown instead of a Red Ensign. This happens if many of the merchant ship's crew used to be in the Royal Navy. It also applies if they are current Royal Navy Reservists, or if the ship is commanded by a Royal Navy Reserve officer. India and Sri Lanka have similar rules for their ships.

Flags That Look Very Different

Some countries have civil ensigns that look very different from their main national flag.

Flags with Extra Symbols

Some civil ensigns are the national flag with an added symbol or emblem. For example, the Italian civil ensign has a shield with symbols of old sea republics. The Polish civil ensign has the Polish coat of arms. These extra symbols help tell the flag apart from similar flags of other countries or from other signal flags used at sea.

Colombia
El Salvador
Italy
Morocco
Poland
United States (Yacht ensign; unofficial)
Finland (Yacht ensign)
Spain (Yacht ensign)

Simpler Flags Without Big Symbols

Many countries, especially in Hispanic America and parts of Europe, have two main versions of their flag. One is simpler, often just stripes. The other is more detailed, with a national symbol called a coat of arms. The simpler flag is usually used as the civil ensign for civilian ships. The more detailed flag is mainly for government and military use. For example, in El Salvador, the civil ensign also has different proportions (its height and width are different) from the national flag.

Andorra
Argentina
Austria
Baden-Württemberg
Bolivia
Bremen
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Finland
Germany
Guatemala
Haiti
Hesse
Hungary
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
North Rhine-Westphalia
Peru
Romania
San Marino
Saxony
Schleswig-Holstein
Serbia
Spain
Tajikistan
Thuringia
Transnistria
Venezuela

Flags with Modified Symbols

Some civil ensigns have their national symbols (like a coat of arms) changed slightly. These small changes help make the civil ensign unique.

Berlin
Hamburg

Flags with Different Shapes or Sizes

Civil ensigns can also differ from national flags in their proportions. This means the ratio of their height to their width is different. Many former British colonies use a 1:2 ratio for their ship flags, but a 3:5 ratio for flags on land. Countries like Slovenia, Croatia, and Hungary do the opposite. France is a special case where the overall size is the same, but the colored stripes on the ship's flag are slightly different widths.

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National flag of Albania (1946–1992)
Civil ensign of Albania (1945–1992)
National flag of the Anconine Republic (1797–1798)
Civil ensign of the Anconine Republic (1797–1798)
National flag of Anguilla (1967–1969)
Civil ensign of Anguilla (1967–1969)
National flag of Australia (1901–1903)
Civil ensign of Australia (1901–1903)
National flag of Australia (1903–1908)
Civil ensign of Australia (1903–1908)
Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy
Civil ensign of Austro-Hungary (1869–1918)
National flag of The Bahamas (1869–1904)
Civil ensign of The Bahamas (1869–1904)
National flag of The Bahamas (1904–1923)
Civil ensign of The Bahamas (1904–1923)
National flag of The Bahamas (1923–1953)
Civil ensign of The Bahamas (1923–1953)
National flag of The Bahamas (1953–1964)
Civil Ensign of the Bahamas (1953–1964).svg

Civil ensign of The Bahamas (1953–1964)
National flag of The Bahamas (1964–1973)
Civil ensign of The Bahamas (1964–1973)
National flag of Barbados (1870–1966)
Civil ensign of Barbados (1870–1966)
National flag of British Guiana (1906–1919)
Civil ensign of British Guiana (1906–1919)
National flag of British Guiana (1919–1955)
Civil ensign of British Guiana (1919–1955)
National flag of British Guiana (1955–1966)
Civil ensign of British Guiana (1955–1966)
National flag of British Honduras (1870–1919)
Civil ensign of British Honduras (1870–1919)
National flag of British Honduras (1919–1981)
Civil ensign of British Honduras (1919–1981)
National flag of British Leeward Islands (1871–1952)
Civil ensign of British Leeward Islands (1871–1952)
National flag of British Leeward Islands (1952–1958)
Civil ensign of British Leeward Islands (1952–1958)
National flag of British Somaliland (1903–1950)
Civil ensign of British Somaliland (1903–1950)
National flag of British Somaliland (1950–1952)
Civil ensign of British Somaliland (1950–1952)
National flag of British Somaliland (1952–1960)
Civil ensign of British Somaliland (1952–1960)
National flag of British Windward Islands (1903–1953)
Civil ensign of British Windward Islands (1903–1953)
National flag of British Windward Islands (1953–1958)
Civil ensign of British Windward Islands (1953–1958)
National flag of Burma (1948–1974)
Civil ensign of Burma (1952–1974)
National flag of Burma (1974–2010)
Civil ensign of Burma (1974–2010)
National flag of the United Kingdom
Civil ensign of Canada (1868–1922)
National flag of the United Kingdom
Civil ensign of Canada (1907–1922) (Unofficial)
National flag of the United Kingdom
Civil Ensign of Canada (1922–1957)
National flag of the United Kingdom
Civil Ensign of Canada (1957–1965)
National flag of the Cayman Islands (1988–1999)
Civil ensign of the Cayman Islands (1988–1999)
National flag of Ceylon (1875–1948)
Civil ensign of Ceylon (1875–1948)
National flag of Sri Lanka
Civil ensign of Ceylon (1955–1969)
National flag of China / Taiwan (1929–1966)
Civil ensign of China / Taiwan (1929–1966)
National flag of Croatia-Slavonia (1868–1918)
Civil ensign of Croatia-Slavonia (1868–1918)
National flag of Banovina of Croatia (1939–1941)
Civil ensign of Croatia (1939–1941)
National flag of Independent State of Croatia (1941–1945)
Civil ensign of Croatia (1941–1945)
National flag of Cyprus (1922–1960)
Civil ensign of Cyprus (1922–1960)
National flag of Egypt (1882-1922)
Civil ensign of Sultanate of Egypt (1914–1922)
National flag of England
Civil ensign of England (1674–1707)
National flag of Ethiopia (1975–1987)
Civil ensign of Ethiopia (1975–1987)
National flag of Ethiopia (1992–1996)
Civil ensign of Ethiopia (1991–1996)
National flag of Etruria
Civil ensign of Etruria (1803–1807)
National flag of Etruria
Civil ensign of Etruria (1803–1807) (Smaller ships)
National flag of the Falkland Islands (1948–1999)
Civil ensign of the Falkland Islands (1999)
National flag of Fiji (1924–1970)
Civil ensign of Fiji (1908–1970)
National flag of Finland (1918–1920)
Civil ensign of Finland (1918–1920)
National flag of the Republic of Florence
Civil ensign of Florence (1251–1569)
National flag of France
Civil ensign of France (1600s–1789)
National flag of France
Civil ensign of France (1689–1789, 1814–1830)
National flag of France
Civil ensign of French Algeria (1848–1910)
National flag of Colonial Annam
Civil ensign of French Indochina (1923–1949)
National flag of France
Civil ensign of French Morocco (1912–1956)
National flag of The Gambia (1889–1965)
Civil ensign of The Gambia (1889–1965)
National flag of the German Empire
Civil ensign of Germany (1896–1918)
National flag of Germany
Civil ensign of Germany (1919–1933)
National flag of Germany (1933–1935)
Civil ensign of Germany (1933–1935)
National flag of Nazi Germany
Civil ensign of Germany (1935–1945)
National flag of East Germany
Civil ensign of East Germany (1959–1973)
National flag of the German Democratic Republic
Civil ensign of East Germany (1959–1973) (Alternative)
National flag of Germany
Civil ensign of West Germany (1949–1990)
National flag of Ghana
Civil ensign of Ghana (1963–1964, 1966–2003)
National flag of Ghana (1964–1966)
Civil ensign of Ghana (1964–1966)
National flag of the Gold Coast (1877–1957)
Civil ensign of the Gold Coast (1877–1957)
National flag of Great Britain (1707–1800)
Civil ensign of Great Britain (1707–1801)
National flag of the Ottoman Empire
Civil ensign of Greece (1774–1821)
National flag of Greece (1822-1978)
Civil ensign of Greece (1822–1828)
National flag of Greece (1822-1978)
Civil ensign of Greece (1828–1970)
National flag of Haiti (1964–1986)
Civil ensign of Haiti (1964–1986)
National flag of Hanover
Civil ensign of Hanover (1816–1837)
National flag of Hong Kong (1876–1955)
Civil ensign of Hong Kong (1876–1955) (Unofficial)
National flag of Hong Kong (1955–1959)
Civil ensign of Hong Kong (1955–1959) (Unofficial)
National flag of Hong Kong (1959–1997)
Civil ensign of Hong Kong (1959–1997) (Unofficial)
National flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946)
Civil ensign of Hungary (1921–1946)
National flag of Hungary (1949-1956)
Civil ensign of Hungary (1950–1957)
National flag of the United Kingdom
Civil ensign of British India (1880–1947)
National flag of Persia (1907–1933)
Civil ensign of Persia and later Iran (1910–1933)
National flag of Iran (1933–1964)
Civil ensign of Iran (1933–1964)
National flag of Iran (1964–1980)
Civil ensign of Iran (1964–1980)
National flag of Ireland
Civil ensign of Ireland (1701–1801)
National flag of the United Kingdom
Civil ensign of Ireland (1801–1922)
National flag of Italy (1861-1946)
Civil ensign of Piedmont-Sardinia and later Italy (1851–1946)
National flag of Jamaica (1906–1957)
Civil ensign of Jamaica (1906–1957)
National flag of Jamaica (1957–1962)
Civil ensign of Jamaica (1957–1962)
National flag of Jamaica (1962)
Civil ensign of Jamaica (1962)
National flag of Kenya (1921–1963)
Civil ensign of British East Africa and later Kenya (1895–1963)
National flag of Lucca
Civil ensign of Lucca (1200s-1799)
National flag of Lucca
Civil ensign of Lucca (1801–1805)
National flag of the Duchy of Lucca (1818-1824)
Civil ensign of Lucca (1818–1824)
National flag of the Duchy of Lucca (1818-1824)
Civil ensign of Lucca (1819–1820)
National flag of the Duchy of Lucca (1818-1824)
Civil ensign of Lucca (1820–1847)
National flag of Malaya
Civil ensign of Malaya (1957–1963)
National flag of Malta (1923–1943)
Civil ensign of Malta (1898–1943)
National flag of Malta (1943–1964)
Civil ensign of Malta (1943–1964)
National flag of Mauritius (1923–1968)
Civil ensign of Mauritius (1906–1968)
National flag of Mecklenburg
Civil Ensign of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1863–1918)
National flag of the Duchy of Modena and Reggio (1830-1859)
Civil Ensign of Modena and Reggio (1830–1859)
National flag of Montenegro (1905–1918)
Civil ensign of Montenegro (1905–1918)
National flag of the United Kingdom
Civil ensign of Newfoundland (1904–1949)
National flag of Nigeria (1914–1952)
Civil ensign of Nigeria (1914–1952)
National flag of Nigeria (1952–1960)
Civil ensign of Nigeria (1952–1960)
National flag of North Borneo (1882–1902)
Civil ensign of North Borneo (1882–1902)
National flag of North Borneo (1902–1946)
Civil ensign of North Borneo (1902–1942, 1945–1946)
National flag of North Borneo (1948–1963)
Civil ensign of North Borneo (1948–1963)
National flag of the Ottoman Empire
Civil ensign of the Ottoman Empire (1774–1793)
National flag of Pakistan
Civil ensign of Pakistan (1956–1958)
National flag of the United Kingdom
Civil ensign of Palestine (1927–1948)
National flag of the Duchy of Parma (1851-1859)
Civil ensign of Parma and Piacenza (1851–1859)
National flag of the Savoyard States
Civil ensign of Piedmont-Sardinia (1720–1799)
National flag of the Savoyard States
Civil ensign of Piedmont-Sardinia (1799–1802)
National flag of the Savoyard States
Civil ensign of Piedmont-Sardinia (1802–1814)
National flag of the Savoyard States
Civil ensign of Piedmont-Sardinia (1814–1816)
National flag of the Kingdom of Sardinia
Civil ensign of Piedmont-Sardinia (1816–1848)
National flag of Poland (1919–1928)
Civil ensign of Poland (1919–1928)
National flag of Poland (1927–1980)
Civil ensign of Poland (1955–1980)
National flag of Poland
Civil ensign of Poland (1980–1990)
National flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1803-1892)
Civil ensign of Prussia (1823–1863)
National flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1803-1892)
Civil ensign of Prussia (1863–1892)
National flag of Prussia (1892-1918)
Civil ensign of Prussia (1892–1918)
National flag of Prussia (1918–1933)
Civil ensign of Prussia (1918–1935)
National flag of the United States (1912-1959)
Civil ensign of the Ryukyu Islands (1952–1967)
National flag of the United States
Civil ensign of the Ryukyu Islands (1967–1972)
National flag of Sarawak (1870–1946, 1963–1973)
Civil ensign of Sarawak (1870–1946)
National flag of Sarawak (1947–1963)
Civil ensign of Sarawak (1947–1963)
National flag of Saxony-Anhalt
Civil ensign of Saxony-Anhalt (1991–2017)
National flag of Serbia (1882–1918)
Civil ensign of Kingdom of Serbia (1835–1918)
National flag of Serbia (2004–2010)
Civil ensign of Serbia (2006–2010)
National flag of Seychelles (1903–1961)
Civil ensign of Seychelles (1903–1961)
National flag of Seychelles (1961–1976)
Civil ensign of Seychelles (1961–1976)
National flag of Sierra Leone (1916–1961)
Civil ensign of Sierra Leone (1916–1961)
National flag of Singapore (1946–1952)
Civil ensign of Singapore (1946–1952)
National flag of Singapore (1952–1959)
Civil ensign of Singapore (1952–1959)
National flag of the Solomon Islands (1906–1947)
Civil ensign of the Solomon Islands (1906–1947)
National flag of the Solomon Islands (1947–1956)
Civil ensign of the Solomon Islands (1947–1956)
National flag of the Solomon Islands (1966–1977)
Civil ensign of the Solomon Islands (1956–1977)
National flag of the United Kingdom
Civil ensign of South Africa (1910–1912)
National flag of South Africa (1928-1994)
Civil ensign of South Africa (1912–1951)
National flag of South Australia (1870–1876)
Civil ensign of South Australia (1870–1876)
National flag of Spain (1785–1931)
Civil ensign of Spain (1785–1927)
National flag of Spain (1931–1939)
Civil ensign of Spain (1931–1939)
National flag of Spain (1945–1977)
Civil ensign of Spanish Morocco (1937–1956)
National flag of the British Straits Settlements (1874–1904)
Civil ensign of the Straits Settlements (1874–1904)
National flag of the British Straits Settlements (1925–1946)
Civil ensign of the Straits Settlements (1904–1942, 1945–1946)
National flag of Spain (1945–1977)
Civil ensign of Tangier International Zone (1953–1957)
National flag of Trinidad and Tobago (1889–1958)
Civil ensign of Trinidad and Tobago (1889–1958)
National flag of Trinidad and Tobago (1958–1962)
Civil ensign of Trinidad and Tobago (1958–1962)
National flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands (1968–1999)
Civil ensign of the Turks and Caicos Islands (1968–1999)
National flag of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Civil Ensign of Tuscany (1600s-1737)
National flag of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Civil ensign of Tuscany (1781–1800, 1815–1848, 1849–1860)
National flag of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Civil ensign of Tuscany (1824–1848, 1849–1860)
National flag of Venezuela (1863-1905)
Civil ensign of Venezuela (1863–1905)
National flag of Venezuela (1905-1930)
Civil ensign of Venezuela (1905–1930)
National flag of Venezuela (1954–2006)
Civil ensign of Venezuela (1930–2006)
National flag of Victoria
Civil ensign of Victoria (1870–1877)
National flag of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Civil ensign of Yugoslavia (1919–1943)
National flag of SFR Yugoslavia
Civil ensign of Yugoslavia (1950–1992)
National flag of Serbia and Montenegro
Civil ensign of Yugoslavia and later Serbia and Montenegro (1992–2006)