Sweden

About the flag

Correct: Sweden. The yellow Nordic cross on blue reflects Sweden’s shared Scandinavian heritage; the colors come from the royal coat of arms. A popular legend says King Eric IX saw a golden cross in a blue sky during battle, inspiring the design. The flag dates to the 16th century and was standardized in 1906, making it among the oldest national flags still in use. Memory tip: think IKEA—Sweden’s famous brand uses the same blue and yellow. To avoid mix-ups: Austria is red–white–red, Estonia is blue–black–white stripes, and Azerbaijan has a tricolor with a crescent and star.