The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 North America
Flag United States, in 36 editions.
The entry for United States published Flag in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 11 editions. Each is shown as published. Flag in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 11
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Flag” (1990 to 2025) and “Flag description” (1997 to 2024).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Changed since 2024The same text in 1990 and 1991.
- thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
- there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
- the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
- known as Old Glory;
- the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
The same text in 1992 and 1993.
- thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
- there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
- the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
- known as Old Glory;
- the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with
white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50
small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of
six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars
represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number
of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
- thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
- there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
- the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
- known as Old Glory;
- the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with
with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing 50
horizontal rows of
five stars; the 50 stars
represent the 13 original colonies;
colors have been the basis for a number
Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
The same text in 1995 and 1996.
- thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
- there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
- the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
- known as Old Glory;
- the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating
alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner
in nine offset
alternating with rows of
states, the 13 stripes
Old Glory; the design and
other flags including
The same text in 1997 and 1998.
Published as “Flag description”
- thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
- there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
- the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
- known as Old Glory;
- the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged
in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom)
alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50
states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as
Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of
other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
Published as “Flag description”
- thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
- there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
- the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
- known as Old Glory;
- the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and
and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper
upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white small, white, five-pointed stars arranged
arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom)
bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent
the 50
known as
number offlags flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and
Puerto Rico
The same text in 4 editions, 2000 to 2003.
Published as “Flag description”
- thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
- there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
- the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
- known as Old Glory;
- the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top
The same text in 6 editions, 2004 to 2009.
Published as “Flag description”
- 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
- there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
- the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
- known as Old Glory;
- the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
thirteen 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
The same text in 5 editions, 2010 to 2014.
Published as “Flag description”
- 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
- there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
- the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
- the blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship;
- red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct;
- commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory
note: the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as the blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship; red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct; commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory; Glory
note:
the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
The same text in 3 editions, 2015 to 2017.
Published as “Flag description”
- 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
- there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
- the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
- the blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship;
- red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct;
- commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory
note: the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; the blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship; red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct; commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory
note:
The same text in 7 editions, 2018 to 2024.
Published as “Flag description”
- 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
- there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars;
- the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
- blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship, red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct;
- commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory
note: the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; the blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship; friendship, red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct; commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory
note: the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
- description:
- 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
- a blue rectangle in the upper-left corner has 50 five-pointed white stars, arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars
- meaning:
- the stars represent the 50 states, and the stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
- blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship;
- red for courage, zeal, and fervency;
- white for purity and rectitude of conduct
note 1: sometimes referred to by its nickname of "Old Glory"
note 2: the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
description: 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side upper-left corner bearing has 50 small, white, five-pointed stars white stars, arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; stars
meaning: the 50 stars represent the 50 states, and the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship, friendship; red symbolizes for courage, zeal, and fervency, while fervency; white denotes for purity and rectitude of conduct; commonly conduct
note 1: sometimes referred to by its nickname of Old Glory "Old Glory"note: note 2: the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “United States: Flag.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/united-states/flag.