Flags of B Countries

As the GeoFact of the Day Blog's B Countries post explains, there are 18 countries with names starting with the letter B, including Myanmar which is also known as Burma. Flags representing the B countries are truly unique from each other. There are a variety of diagonal, vertical, and horizontal stripes, stars, symbols, and colors.

THE BAHAMAS
This Caribbean and North American island country's flag has a black triangle to the left. There are three horizontal stripes colored aquamarine blue, yellow, and aquamarine blue from top to bottom - or bottom to top! The Bahamas' government website (bahamas.gov.bs) describes that the triangle represents the united people of the country, the yellow stripe represents the sun, while the blue stripes represent the Caribbean Sea. The wide flag's ratio is 1:2, in which horizontal sides are double the length of the vertical sides.

BAHRAIN
The flag of this Middle Eastern country comprised of 33 islands has a zigzag pattern with about one-third being white and another two-thirds colored red. The five triangular points on each side of the zigzag pattern represent the five pillars of Islam, red has been Bahrain's main flag color for centuries, and the white stands for a 19th-century treaty Bahrain signed with the United Kingdom. Bahrain's flag ratio is 3:5.

BANGLADESH
The flag of this South Asian country has a green background symbolizing Bangladesh's lush vegetation and landscape. There is a red circle positioned slightly to the left of center, and this represents the valor of the Bangladeshi people in achieving their country's independence. Like Bahrain's flag, Bangladesh's flag ratio is 3:5.

BARBADOS
Info about Barbados' flag can be found in this post, which I posted way back in October 2013.

BELARUS
This Eastern European country's flag has two horizontal rectangles of color, the top one being red and the bottom being green; there is about two times more red than there is green. Also, there is a white, vertical ornamental design along the flag's left side, representing Belarus' culture and designs on folk costumes. The flag ratio is 1:2.

BELGIUM
This wealthy Western European country's tricolor flag consists of three vertical stripes, colored black, yellow, and red from left to right. Belgium's official flag ratio is an unusual 13:15, but more common ratios (such as 2:3 or 1:2) are typically used for most Belgian flags. The colors are derived from the Duchy of Brabant's coat of arms, and the flag originally had horizontal stripes but currently has vertical stripes like France's flag.

BELIZE
The flag of this Central American country, known for its protection of Caribbean coral reefs, consists of the country's circular coat of arms enclosed in a white circle. There is a large horizontal dark blue strip in the middle, with two smaller stripes on the top and bottom. Belize's flag ratio is 2:3.

BENIN
This Western African country's flag consists of a vertical green band and two rectangular bands to the right of it; the top band is yellow while the bottom is red. Yellow and green colors represent savannas and palm groves, while red represents the people's courage when they tried to achieve independence. Benin's flag ratio is 2:3.

BHUTAN
The flag of this Central Asian kingdom in the Himalayan mountains consists of two diagonal shapes, the top left being gold-colored with the bottom right being red. A large, detailed dragon design indicates that Bhutan is the "Country of the Thunder Dragon." Bhutan's flag ratio is 2:3.

BOLIVIA
This landlocked South American country's tricolor flag consists of three horizontal stripes colored red, yellow, and green from top to bottom. The official state flag's version features the coat of arms, while the common flag typically omits it. Like many countries' use of red of their flags (such as Bangladesh and Benin), Bolivia's red color represents blood shed for achieving independence. Yellow represents Bolivia's resources, while green represents hope and the landscape's richness. Bolivia's flag ratio is 15:22, an unusual ratio like Belgium's flag ratio.

BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA
This Southeastern European country's flag features a top-left-to-bottom-right diagonal line of nine white stars (two stars are cut off along the top and bottom sides) and a yellow right triangle, both of which are on a dark blue background. Yellow represents the sun and hope, while the blue color and stars represent Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina's flag ratio is 1:2.

BOTSWANA
This Southern African country's flag features horizontal stripes: black is the central one, two thin white stripes are above and below, and much larger light blue bands are above and below the white stripes. Blue symbolizes water, while black and white symbolize that there are white-colored and black-colored people living in Botswana. Botswana's flag ratio is 2:3.

BRAZIL
A little more than a year from now, plenty of Brazilian flags will fly at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil's flag is green with a yellow diamond in the center. On top of this diamond is a dark blue circle with white stars and the phrase "ORDEM E PROGRESSO" (Order and Progress) inscribed across a curved white band. The circle represents a night sky, with constellations such as Crux; each star symbolizes Brazil's states and federal district. Brazil's flag ratio is 7:10.

BRUNEI
Officially the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace, this tiny and wealthy Southeast Asian country has a flag featuring the unique red national crest, which has two hands symbolizing benevolence on both sides of a crescent representing Islam. The flag's background color is yellow, symbolizing royalty and the Sultan of Brunei. There are two diagonal stripes, from top left to bottom right. The slightly-wider top stripe is white and the other is black; both of them represent chief ministers. Brunei's flag ratio is 1:2.

BULGARIA
The tricolor flag of this Eastern European country features white, green, and red horizontal stripes from top to bottom. Green symbolizes freedom and hope, white means peace, and red courage and strength. Bulgaria's flag ratio is 3:5

BURKINA FASO
This Western African country's flag features a red horizontal band on top and green on the bottom; both are equal sizes. Overlapping the place where both bands meet is a gold- yellow star, representing revolution and the country's resources. In fact, Burkina Faso does mine gold, an excellent representation of Burkina Faso's gold-yellow star! Red represents revolution like the star, while green symbolizes agriculture and abundance of vegetation. Burkina Faso's flag ratio is 2:3

BURMA (MYANMAR)
The current version of Southeast Asian country's flag was recently adopted in 2010. It is a tricolor flag with horizontal bands colored yellow, green, and red from top to bottom. A large white star overlaps the central area of all three stripes. Burma's flag ratio is 2:3. Yellow is solidarity, green is the landscape's vegetative vibrancy, and red is strength and courage. The star represents the country's unity after all of its civil struggles.

BURUNDI
Finally, the flag of this African country along the East African Rift features two interesting white diagonal stripes (similar to Scotland's flag in that regard) and a large central circle with three green-outlined stars colored cranberry red. Red is found above and below the circle and stripes, while green is located left and right. White represents peace, green is hope, and red represents the struggle for independence. Arranged in a triangle formation, the six-pointed stars mean "Unity, Work, Progress" (Unité, Travail, Progrés in French), which is the country's national motto. These stars could also represent the three major ethnic groups living in Burundi: Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. Burundi's flag ratio is 3:5.

Credit for flag ratios and some info: Vexilla Mundi