Why Switzerland’s Flag is Almost Unique in the World (And What It Really Means)

Flags are everywhere – countries, regions, cities, international organizations, various institutions, political movements, social causes, and countless other entities that have adopted them as commercial emblems or symbolic statements. There’s something for every taste and every field, often with quirks and specificities we tend to overlook. And if you look closer, many flags tell us a story – or rather, History itself. At least when it comes to countries…

Today, we’re talking about the Swiss flag, which has an almost unique characteristic you might not have noticed…

Switzerland and the Vatican

It’s true that outside of Switzerland, not everyone has noticed that the Confederation’s flag isn’t quite like the others in its dimensions. Because, apart from Nepal’s triangular shapes and the Vatican’s flag which is identical to Switzerland’s, all other national flags are rectangular. Nearly half of them have a 2:3 ratio between length and width like the French flag, while others are 1:2 (like Canada’s) or 3:5 (like Britain’s).

But Switzerland chose a square format for its flag. A choice that might seem surprising but nevertheless reflects a certain history and symbolism for the country.

Historically, the Swiss flag originates from the emblem of the small town of Schwyz, capital of one of the three founding cantons of the Swiss Confederation. An emblem that has always been represented by a white cross on a red background, which remained and even became the symbol of Swiss troops. Behind this lies a cross representing Christian faith and a red background for the blood shed by soldiers defending freedom.

As for the shape, it comes from military tradition and standards whose square format proved more practical to handle on battlefields than rectangular flags. A “detail” perhaps, but one that remained as a tradition for Swiss cantonal flags as well as the federal flag since it was adopted in 1889.

But beyond these historical references, this square shape can also be seen as a symbol of stability, neutrality, honor, and peace in the eyes of the rest of the world. These same virtues that led the Red Cross to simply invert the colors of the Swiss flag to create their own – a red cross on a white background. Unless it was in tribute to Henry Dunant, its founder, and his native Switzerland…