If you’ve ever looked at two flags and thought, “Wait… haven’t I seen this one before?” — you’re definitely not alone. Some countries share colors, designs, or patterns so closely that even flag lovers pause for a moment. And that’s exactly why flag quizzes are so much fun. You think you know a flag, and suddenly, another one pops up that looks almost identical.
So, let’s take a friendly deep dive into 20 flags that look surprisingly similar.
20 Flags That Look Surprisingly Similar
1. Indonesia & Monaco
This is the classic pair that confuses everyone. Both flags use only two horizontal stripes — red on top and white below. They look like copy-paste versions at first glance.
The only difference? Indonesia’s flag is slightly longer.
2. Chad & Romania
These two are almost twins. Both use vertical stripes of blue, yellow, and red.
Chad’s blue is a little darker, but unless the lighting is perfect, they look the same.
3. Ireland & Ivory Coast
This one is all about order. Ireland has green–white–orange. Ivory Coast reverses it to orange–white–green.
People mix them up all the time, especially in tiny icon form.
4. Norway & Iceland
Both use a Nordic cross with red, blue, and white.
Iceland simply swaps some colors while keeping the same structure.
5. Australia & New Zealand
If you don’t look closely at the stars, you’ll mix them up.
Australia has a lot more stars, including the Commonwealth Star.
New Zealand uses four red stars with white borders.
6. Qatar & Bahrain
These two are practically siblings.
Both have a white serrated edge and a deep color on the right.
Bahrain uses red and has fewer points.
Qatar uses maroon and has more points.
7. El Salvador & Nicaragua
Both are blue–white–blue tricolor flags with a central emblem.
Unless you zoom in, you won’t know which is which.
8. India & Niger
The colors look similar at a distance.
India has the Ashoka Chakra in navy blue.
Niger uses a simple orange circle.
9. Mali & Guinea
Another order-based confusion.
Mali is green–yellow–red.
Guinea flips it to red–yellow–green.
10. Colombia, Venezuela & Ecuador
All three share the yellow-blue-red tricolor.
Colombia has wide yellow.
Ecuador and Venezuela add symbols and stars.
11. Russia & Slovakia
Russia is plain white–blue–red.
Slovakia adds a coat of arms, but in fast-paced quizzes, it’s easy to miss.
12. Mexico & Italy
The colors match, but Mexico includes its national emblem.
Still, when flags appear small, people confuse them.
Read This Too – The Psychology Behind Flag Colors: What Red, Blue, and Green Mean
13. The Netherlands & Luxembourg
Both have red–white–blue stripes.
Luxembourg uses lighter shades, but the similarity is strong.
14. Bangladesh & Japan
Circle-in-the-center flags often confuse beginners.
Japan uses a red circle on white.
Bangladesh uses a red circle on green, slightly shifted left.
15. Cambodia & Haiti
Both have a blue–red–blue design with a coat of arms.
Their emblems make them unique, but at a glance, they look close.
16. Slovenia & Slovakia
Both flags share the same colors and almost the same layout.
Only their small crests separate them.
17. Sweden & Finland
The Nordic cross layout returns again.
Blue-yellow for Sweden.
Blue-white for Finland.
Simple but confusing for many.
18. Kuwait & Jordan
Both have black, white, and green horizontal stripes.
The triangle shapes on the left make them look even more similar.
19. Guinea-Bissau & Ghana
The colors and the star theme overlap.
Only the positions differ.
20. Poland & Indonesia
This one surprises people.
It’s the same red–white palette but flipped.
Why These Flags Confuse Us So Easily
Flags follow patterns. Many countries share colors because of shared history, cultures, or influences. When designs repeat, our brains take shortcuts and assume similarities. That’s exactly why these lookalikes are fun to challenge yourself with — they sharpen attention.
Perfect Warm-Up for Your Fun With Flags Quiz
These confusing pairs are exactly the kind of trick questions that appear in flag quizzes. When people scroll through this blog, they get prepared in a natural way. They learn small details, patterns, and visual cues that help them score higher.
And honestly, once someone identifies the differences between tricky flags, the quiz instantly becomes more satisfying. They don’t just guess — they recognize.