The world has seen profound changes in recent years. Democracy movements have freed populations and new governments have been established. Territorial wars and ethnic fighting have fractured regions, giving rise to new countries. A new flag is an important symbol of change and newfound freedom. More than a dozen new country flags have been adopted since this book's 2003 edition, including South Sudan, Iraq, Kosovo, Burma, Libya, Malawi, Afghanistan, Georgia, Congo-Kinshasa, Montenegro and Serbia. Flags of the World has been fully revised and updated to reflect today's world. It is organized alphabetically by nation. Concise text describes how the flag came into being and explains the symbolism of its elements, lending a fascinating perspective on the country. Each country's flag is shown in full color along with these quick-reference facts: Flag ratio, flag use, date of adoption, most recent amendment, geographical area, population, capital city, languages, religions, ethnic groups, national anthem title, and national motto. A sample stamp in color adds further insight. The book also includes these revised and updated features: Brief history of flags Anatomy of flags Illustrated directory of flag styles State flags of the United States Provincial flags of Canada Flags of the United Kingdom Flags of international organizations Signal flags and ensigns World map. Flags of the World is an authoritative and brightly illustrated guide to the national flags of all of the world's sovereign states and territories. It has been compiled by a team of international experts and is endorsed by the Flag Institute. It is a highly practical reference that also makes for enjoyable and informative reading.