Monaco

About the flag

This is Monaco’s flag: a simple red-over-white bicolor derived from the heraldic colors of the ruling Grimaldi family, officially adopted in 1881. It’s often confused with Indonesia’s flag; Monaco’s is squarer (4:5 vs. Indonesia’s 2:3), and Poland’s is the reverse (white over red). Monaco is the world’s second-smallest country, famous for Monte Carlo’s casino and the glamorous, tight-street Formula 1 Grand Prix. Memory tip: think “Monaco = Monte Carlo” and picture a red roulette table resting on white marble—red on top of white.