The flag of the United States of America (USA), commonly known as the American flag, Stars and Stripes or Old Glory, is a symbol of the nation’s history, ideal, and unity. Designed by Francis Hopkinson and adopted on June 14, 1777, the U.S. flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes of red and white and a blue canton in the upper left corner. The canton has fifty white stars arranged neatly in 9 rows.
The thirteen stripes alternate between red and white represent the original thirteen colonies‘ struggle for independence. The red stripes symbolize valor while the white stripes stand for purity. The blue field, or canton, signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The fifty stars arranged in 9 rows in the canton represent the 50 states that comprise the United States. FYI, the first US flag had only 13 stars. Over time, as new states joined the union, additional stars were added to the flag. The U.S. flag is a powerful symbol of freedom, democracy, and the enduring values of the nation.
Two flags similar to the flag of the United States (U.S.A)
There are two countries whose flags are similar to the American flag – the Malaysia and Liberia. All three flags have equal-sized alternating horizontal stripes of red and white with a blue canton in the upper left corner. While the layout is similar, each flag has unique design elements and colors based on their distinct historical and cultural narratives.
Malaysia Flag: Red and white stripes with crescent and large star
The flag of Malaysia shares interesting design parallels with the United States of America (USA). Both flags have red and white alternating horizontal stripes, but Malaysia’s flag has fourteen while the U.S. flag has thirteen horizontal stripes representing the original thirteen colonies. Incidentally, the red and white colors in both the flags stand for valour and purity, respectively. Also, the blue rectangle on both flags stands for unity. The prime difference between the two flags is the canton, or rather what appears inside the blue canton. In the Malaysian flag there is a yellow crescent and a fourteen-pointed star, while in the U.S. flag fifty white stars are arranged neatly in 9 rows.
Liberia Flag: Red and white stripes with a single white star
The flags of the United States of America (USA) and Liberia share design similarities and color symbolization. Both flags feature red and white horizontal stripes and a blue rectangle in the upper-left corner (canton). In the U.S. flag, the canton contains 50 white stars one for each state, while Liberia’s flag has a single white star that stands for freedom and the African continent. The stripes on both flags are red and white, with 13 stripes on the U.S. flag representing the original colonies and 11 on Liberia’s flag representing the signatories of its Declaration of Independence. The red in both flags symbolizes bravery, while white signifies purity.
Flags design and style: red and white horizontal stripes and a blue canton with star/s
All flags share a common design element – horizontal stripes of alternating red and white colors, and a blue canton. The differences between the flags are mainly in the number of stripes, the symbols that appear in the canton, and the tints and shades of colors. The USA, Malaysia and Liberia’s flags feature 13, 14, and 11 stripes respectively. In the canton, the American flag has fifty stars, while the flag of Malaysia has a yellow crescent and a fourteen-pointed star, and the flag of Liberia has a single white star. Another difference is in the proportions of the flags, whereas the flag of Malaysia has a 1:2 height-width ratio, those of the USA and Liberia have a proportion of 10:19.
| United States of America (USA) flag | Malaysia Flag | Liberia Flag | |
| Canton contents | 50 stars | Crescent and fourteen-point star | Five-point star |
| No. of Colors | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Year of Adoption | 1777 | 1950 | 1847 |
| Proportion | 10:19 | 1:2 | 10:19 |
| No of Stripes | 13 | 14 | 11 |
| Currency | United States Dollar (USD, $) | Malaysian Ringgit (MYR, RM) | Liberian Dollar (LRD, L$) |
World Map showing the United States of America (USA), Malaysia, and Liberia
The world map above shows the United States of America (USA), Malaysia, and Liberia – the three countries with similar flags.