Which country has the best flag?

Flags are important and powerful things. They represent a whole nation's personality, history and identity. That is a lot of responsibility for anyone to take on, so it's little wonder that so many flags try to keep it as simple as possible.

But simple, formulaic flags are boring. Someone from France, Ireland or Romania might be moved by the sight of their tricolour, but it hardly sets the pulses racing from a purely aesthetic point of view. The majority of the world's flags fit in to these same-old, same-old templates.

This is not the case for this fly twenty-five. Unique design elements, unusual patterns and unexpected colours are their calling card. Imagine being from one of these countries and seeing your flag fluttering up its pole. "Hell yeah!", you'd scream, probably fit to punch a horse. Maybe you are. If so, rest assured that you are very lucky and leave those horses alone.

(NB: This list is 100% accurate and non-negotiable. Only flags from sovereign nations have been considered. Sorry Wales.)

25 Zimbabwe

A bird hat on your flag is worth two in the bush

24 Brazil

"Ordem e Progresso" is Portuguese for "check THIS flag out"

23 Qatar

Almost unique in design, completely unique in proportions and in colour. Score.

22 Vietnam

It's not a unique design (Somalia has the same one but with a white star on a sky blue background),
but something about this flag just screams "I AM VIETNAM". You'd probably guess it was the
Vietnamese flag even if you didn't know. It is almost unimaginably beautiful as a piece of design.

21 Switzerland

It's one of only two square flags in the world (Vatican City has the other) but this one wins.
The subtlety and crisp accuracy of this flag gives me the horn and puts holes in me cheese.

20 Cyprus

Cyprus go for the map flag. An over-literal approach, perhaps? Like hell it is.

19 Panama

Oh HELLS yeah

18 Brunei

There's all manner of things going on here. Keeps you entertained for hours.

17 Swaziland

This flag wails "don't mess with us, we've got old time African tribal weapons up in this gaff"

16 Eritrea

Like someone shot a tricolour through a prism, then folded it up wrong. Plus hand tree!

15 Comoros

"What elements shall we put on our flag?" "All".

14 Uganda

"Double Belgium sideways with a stork, please"

13 Papua New Guinea

Stars. Bird. Diagonals.

12 Saint Lucia

Turbomountain

11 Central African Republic

CENTRAL VERTICAL BAND, BITCHES

10 Seychelles

"Because fuck you, that's why"

9 Bhutan

Diagonals. Dragons. Didragonals.

8 Guyana

Bitchin' flag, this way >>>

7 Kiribati

Come on

6 Nepal

Because rectangles are for wimps

5 FYR Macedonia

Brasso

4 Mozambique

Star. Book. Hoe. And...AND... A MOTHER FUCKING AK-47.

3 Sri Lanka

Every single thing about this flag rules.

2 Grenada

Like playing the world's funnest board game, in the world's best circus, in space. On fire.

1 Antigua and Barbuda

Look at the way the blue band seems to bend to form a horizon. More flags need optical illusions, please.