Nepal has the world’s only national flag that is not quadrilateral, shaped like two joined pennants.
The flag consists of two stacked triangular pennants with a deep crimson field, blue borders, and white emblems of the Moon and Sun. The two triangles are associated with the Himalayan mountains and are often interpreted as representing Nepal’s major religious and cultural traditions. Crimson is Nepal’s national colour, while blue is associated with peace.
Nepal adopted the current constitutional design on December 16, 1962, after the country became a constitutional monarchy. The basic double-pennant form is older and developed from traditional South Asian flag designs used by Nepalese rulers and military units.
A precise geometric construction is specified in Nepal’s constitution, including the dimensions, angles, and placement of the emblems. The flag is sometimes mistakenly described as merely triangular, but it is a compound shape made from two pennants joined vertically. Its unusual outline distinguishes it from the rectangular or square national flags used by every other sovereign state.