List of flags of Sweden

The following is a list of flags of Sweden.

National flag and State flag

FlagDateUseDescription
1905—Present State flag and civil ensign Dimensions: 5:2:9 horizontally and 4:2:4 vertically.

Royal Standards

FlagDateUseDescription
1943—Present Personal Command Sign of H.M. the King of Sweden (used on land).The greater Coat of arms of Sweden, which is blue divided quarterly by a cross pattée of gold
1905—Present Used by H.M. The King of Sweden and H.M. The Queen of SwedenRoyal flag with the greater national coat of arms
1905—Present Used by H.M. The King of Sweden above the royal flag on naval shipsSplit pennant with the greater national coat of arms
1905—Present Used by other members of the Royal HouseRoyal flag with the lesser national coat of arms (surrounded by the insignias of the Order of the Seraphim)
1905—Present Used by the heir apparent above the royal flag on naval shipsSplit pennant with the lesser national coat of arms
1905—Present Used by the Regent ad interim, when he is a non-royalSame as the Military ensign
1844–1905 Royal Standard of the King
1815-1844 Royal Standard with the Swedish Royal ArmsNaval ensign of the Union with square canton

Military flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1905—Present Military ensign of Sweden. Also used as a naval jack.

Flags of the Navy

FlagDateUseDescription
1972—Present Rank Flag of Admirals. The naval ensign with four white stars in the upper hoist corner. Before 1972 the flag bore three stars (like the present flag of a Vice Admiral)
1972—Present Rank Flag of Vice Admirals. The naval ensign with three white stars in the upper hoist corner. Before 1972 the flag bore two stars (like the present flag of a Rear Admiral)
1972—Present Rank Flag of Rear Admirals. The naval ensign with two white stars in the upper hoist corner. Before 1972 the flag bore one star (like the present flag of a Flotilla Admiral)
2001—Present Rank Flag of Flotilla Admirals.The naval ensign with one white star in the upper hoist corner.
Broad pennant of Commodores.Horizontally divided (1:1) forked broad pennant (5:8).
Pennant of Commanders and Lieutenant Commanders.
Burgee of Captains, Lieutenants and Ensigns.Vertically divided (1:1) triangular ensign (5:8).
Pennant of the Fleet Commander.
Pennant of the Flotilla Commander.
Pennant of the Division Commander.
Pennant of the Senior Commander Afloat.

Historical flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1844–1905 National flag and civil ensign Union badge in the upper hoist corner
1844–1905 State flag and military ensign Union badge in the upper hoist corner
1897–1905 Alternate State flagState flag to be used on state ships and at government buildings that did not fly the military ensign. Prior to 1897, used by private ships serving the Swedish Royal mail.
1844–1905 Naval jack and diplomatic flagThe Union badge: a cross bearing the colours of both Sweden and Norway.
until 1844 Civil ensign Same as present national flag (slightly different colors and proportions occurred)
1818–1844 Union civil ensign ("distant waters") White saltire on red in the upper hoist corner. The canton in red and white represented Norway. The ensign was introduced on 26 October 1818, for use in "distant waters", i.e. beyond Cape Finisterre in North-West Spain, as an alternative to the standard Swedish civil ensign which could also be used by Norwegian ships if they wished. By Royal resolution of 17 July 1821, the saltire flag was ordered as the only Norwegian and Swedish civil ensign in "distant waters".
1815–1844 State flag and military ensign White saltire on red in the upper hoist corner. The canton in red and white represented Norway.
1838–1844 Alternate state flag Used by private ships serving the Swedish Royal mail.
1761–1813 Military ensign for the light Army fleet An all blue triple-tailed flag to be used by the Arméns flotta.
mid 17th century-1815 State flag and war ensign Same as present military ensign (slightly different colors and proportions occurred)
c.1520s-c.1650 State flag and war ensign Swallow-tailed flag (slightly different colors and proportions occurred)

Regional flags

FlagStatusAreaDescription
Unofficial The traditional county of Skåne (Scania)
Official Scania (Skåne) county Also a similar flag exists with blue background for Scania region. Compare unofficial above
Unofficial The county of Jämtland Jamtland (that belonged to Norway until 1645) has its own movement for the Republic of Jamtland - not a serious attempt for independence but more a touch of humor and local culture. The flag however is used in the area.
Official Jämtland county Compare unofficial above. Jämtland modern county includes the two traditional counties Jämtland and Härjedalen.
Unofficial The traditional county of Småland Småland is a relatively large traditional county in the south of Sweden that today is divided in 3 administrative counties and also with 2 smaller areas outside these 3 counties.
Official Kronoberg County Part of historical province of Småland (see above)
Official Jönköping County Part of historical province of Småland (see above)
Official Kalmar County Part of historical province of Småland (see above) and the island county Öland (see below).
Unofficial The historical province and island Öland outside Småland in the Baltic Sea Öland (Swedish means "The Island Land") has a long history and different nature compared to the main land of Sweden.
Unofficial The traditional county Östergötland The blue cross relates to the two main channels and the yellow to agricultural flat areas. Not much in use.
Official Östergötland County Compare unofficial above.
Official Västra Götaland County Flag includes arms/flags from the 4 traditional counties (Västergötland, Bohuslän, Dalsland and Älvsborg) that are included in this relatively newly formed regional county.
Unofficial The traditional county Västergötland Not much in use. Also compare the previous flag above that covers the same area and more.
Unclear Blekinge county Not much in use.
Official Halland county There is a geographical difference between the administrative Halland county and the traditional Halland county.
Official Värmland county There is a geographical difference between the administrative Värmland county and the traditional Värmland county.
Official Örebro County The Örebro county includes the traditional county Närke and parts of traditional counties of Värmland and Västmanland. The flag includes arms from these 3 counties.
Official Södermanland County The administrative Södermanland County includes parts (southern part) of traditional Södermanland County
Official Uppsala County The administrative Uppsala County includes parts (northern part) of traditional Uppland County
Official Stockholm County The administrative Stockholm County includes parts (southern part) of traditional Uppland County and (northern part) of traditional Södermanland county. the flag includes arms from these both counties and also the arms of Stockholm city.
Official Gotland County The administrative Gotland County consists of one main and a number of smaller islands in the Baltic sea. This county is the only county in Sweden that only has one municipal.
Official Västmanland County The administrative Västmanland County includes parts of traditional Västmanland County
Official Dalarna County This county was earlier known as Kopparbergs county
Official Gävleborg County Gävleborg administrative County encompasses the traditional counties of Gästrikland and Hälsingland.
Official Västernorrland County Västernorrland administrative county covers approximately the traditional county of Ångermanland and county of Medelpad.
Official Västerbotten County Västerbotten administrative county covers the traditional county of Västerbotten and parts of the traditional county Swedish Lapland and traditional county of Ångermanland.
Official Norrbotten County Norrbotten County includes the traditional county of Norrbotten and about two third of traditional county of Swedish Swedish Lapland.

Each official flag is based on the coat of arms for the county, see gallery, and used on buildings etc. used by respective county administration. Unofficial flags are used by private and local people.

Swedish municipals often use flags that simply are the actual coat of arms transferred into a flag. See List of municipalities of Sweden where you can see the arms and links to each municipal.

See also

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