What does the blue on Thailand's flag stand for?

The monarchy. Red stands for the nation and white for religion.

True or false: Thailand was never ruled by a European power.

True. Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never ruled by a European power.

The flag of Thailand has red, white and blue stripes. Here is what each colour stands for, which flags look like it, and a quick quiz to try.

Last changed: 22 October 2026

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The flag of Thailand has five stripes going across: red, white, a wide blue stripe, white and red.

Red stands for the nation, white for religion, and blue for the monarchy.

Thailand's flag once showed an elephant. The blue stripe was added in 1917, during the First World War, to match the colours of Thailand's allies.

Some flags use the same colours or the same shape. Here is how to tell them apart:

Flags that look like the flag of Thailand, and how each one differs
Flag	How it differs
Costa Rica	Five stripes too, but blue, white, a wide red stripe, white and blue.
North Korea	A wide red stripe with white and blue too, and a red star in a white circle.

Capital city: Bangkok
Continent: Asia
Countries next door: Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.
A fact to impress your friends: Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never ruled by a European power.

Try these, then tap Show answer under each one.

Which animal did Thailand's flag once show?
- An elephant
- A tiger
- A dragon
- A peacock
ShowHide answer to question 1
An elephant.
What does the blue on Thailand's flag stand for?
- The sea
- The sky
- The monarchy
- Rivers
ShowHide answer to question 2
The monarchy. Red stands for the nation and white for religion.
What is the capital city of Thailand?
- Phuket
- Bangkok
- Hanoi
- Chiang Mai
ShowHide answer to question 3
Bangkok.
True or false: Thailand was never ruled by a European power.
ShowHide answer to question 4
True. Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never ruled by a European power.
In which year was the blue stripe added to Thailand's flag?
- 1066
- 1917
- 1945
- 1999
ShowHide answer to question 5
1917.

More flags that share something with this one