# Civil ensign

A civil ensign is an ensign (maritime flag) used by civilian vessels to denote their nationality. It can be the same or different from the state ensign and the naval ensign (or war ensign). It is also known as the merchant ensign or merchant flag. Some countries have special civil ensigns for yachts, and even for specific yacht clubs, known as yacht ensigns.
Most countries have only one national flag and ensign for all purposes. In other countries, a distinction is made between the land flag and the civil, state and naval ensigns. The British ensigns, for example, differ from the flag used on land (the Union Flag) and have different versions of plain and defaced Red and Blue ensigns for civilian and state use, as well as the naval ensign (White Ensign) that can also be used by yachts of the Royal Yacht Squadron.

## Countries having specific civil ensigns

The civil ensigns that are different from the general national flag can be grouped into a number of categories.

### Civil ensigns with the national flag in the canton

Several countries use red flags with, in most cases, either the respective national flag or the Union Flag in the canton, patterned after the Red Ensign. British overseas territories fly the plain Red Ensign or a Red Ensign with the respective colonial arms in the fly. Saudi Arabia puts its national flag in the canton of an otherwise-green flag (the Saudi Arabian flag is hoisted with the flagpole to its right so the canton is in the upper right corner of the flag). Ghana stopped using its Red Ensign in 2003 with the adoption of a new merchant shipping act, which made the Ghanaian flag the proper national colors for Ghanaian ships. Similarly, Sri Lanka stopped using its Red Ensign in 1969 and uses the Sri Lankan flag as the civil ensign. Under the relevant shipping law for the Solomon Islands, the Shipping Act 1998, (No. 5 of 1998), the national flag of the Solomon Islands and not a Red Ensign is the appropriate flag: "The National Flag of Solomon Islands shall be the national colours for a vessel registered under this Act." Nevertheless, the Solomon Islands Red Ensign is still used in some cases.

#### Sovereign states

* National flag Civil ensignAustralia
* National flag Civil ensignBangladesh
* National flag Civil ensignThe Bahamas
* National flag Civil ensignFiji
* National flag Civil ensignIndia
* National flag Jamaica
* National flag Civil ensignMalaysia
* National flag Civil ensignMauritius
* National flag Civil ensignNew Zealand
* National flag Civil ensignNigeria
* National flag Civil ensignPakistan
* National flag Civil ensign Saudi Arabia
* National flag Civil ensign Solomon Islands
* National flag Civil ensignUnited Arab Emirates
* National flag Civil ensignUnited Kingdom

#### British overseas territories and crown dependencies

Source:
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Virgin Islands
* National flag Civil ensignCayman Islands
* National flag Civil ensignFalkland Islands
* National flag Civil ensignGibraltar
* National flag Civil ensignGuernsey
* National flag Civil ensignIsle of Man
* National flag civil ensignJersey
* National flag Civil ensignTurks and Caicos Islands

#### Blue Ensign exceptions

In some cases, the Blue Ensign may be flown in lieu of the Red Ensign if a number of merchant vessels crew are former Royal Navy personnel or current Royal Navy Reservists, or commanded by an officer of the Royal Navy Reserve. India and Sri Lanka enact similar laws.
* National flag Government ensignUnited Kingdom
* National flag Reserve ensignIndia
* National flag Government ensignSri Lanka

### Civil ensigns that vary greatly from the national flag

Several countries have civil ensigns that are very different from the national flag.
* National flag Civil ensignAlbania
* National flag Civil ensignIsrael
* National flag Civil ensignLuxembourg
* National flag Civil ensignMaine
* National flag Civil ensignMalta
* National flag Civil ensignMonaco
* National flag Civil ensignThe Philippines (inland only)
* National flag Civil ensignSingapore

### Civil ensigns consisting of the national flag with an additional emblem

Well-known examples are the Italian civil ensign showing the shield with the arms of the sea republics, and the Polish civil ensign with the arms of Poland. Most of these emblems were added to distinguish the ensign from similar flags of other countries (e.g. Colombia/Ecuador) or from other signal flags (e.g. Malta/ H signal flag).
* National flag Civil ensignColombia
* National flag Civil ensignEl Salvador
* National flag merchant marine ensignItaly
* National flag Civil ensignMorocco
* National flag Civil ensignPoland
* National flag Yacht ensign (US Waters only)United States (Yacht ensign; unofficial)
* National flag Yachting club ensignFinland (Yacht ensign)
* National flag Yachting club ensignSpain (Yacht ensign)

### Civil ensigns that are simplified national flags with coat of arms removed

In several countries (such as Spain and much of Hispanic America, and some European countries), there are two main versions of the flag, a simpler one (usually a striped flag) and a more elaborate one with the national arms. The simpler one is used as a civil ensign (and in most cases also as a civil flag), whereas the version with the arms is mainly used by the government and the military. In El Salvador, the civil ensign also differs from the national flag in the proportions.
* National flag Civil ensignAndorra
* National flag Civil ensignArgentina
* National flag Civil ensignAustria
* National flag Civil ensignBaden-Württemberg
* National flag Civil ensignBolivia
* National flag Civil ensignBremen
* National flag Civil ensignCosta Rica
* National flag Civil ensignDominican Republic
* National flag Civil ensignEcuador
* National flag Civil ensignEl Salvador
* National flag National flagFinland
* National flag Civil ensignGermany
* National flag Civil ensignGuatemala
* National flag Civil ensignHaiti
* National flag Civil ensignHesse
* National flag Civil ensignHungary
* National flag Civil ensignMecklenburg-Vorpommern
* National flag Civil ensignNorth Rhine-Westphalia
* National flag Civil ensignPeru
* National flag Civil ensignRomania
* National flag Civil ensignSan Marino
* National flagCivil ensignSaxony
* Civil ensignSchleswig-Holstein
* National flag Civil ensignSerbia
* National flag Civil ensignSpain
* National flag Civil ensignThuringia
* National flag Civil ensignTransnistria
* National flag Civil ensignVenezuela

### Civil ensigns with a modified coat of arms

Some civil ensigns have had their coat of arms modified with an additional feature or features to distinguish them.
* National flag Civil ensignBerlin
* National flag Civil ensignHamburg

### Civil ensigns differing from the national flag in the proportions

Several former British colonies use 1:2 as a proportion for their ensigns and 3:5 for flags ashore, whereas Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary have it the other way around, with ensigns at 2:3 and flags ashore at 1:2. France is a special case: the overall proportion is the same, but the bands on the ensign differ in width slightly.
* National flag Civil ensignBelgium
* National flag Civil ensignCroatia
* National flag Civil ensignGrenada
* National flag Civil ensignHungary
* National flag Civil ensignLower Saxony
* National flag Civil ensignSlovenia
* National flag Civil ensignSwitzerland
* National flag Civil ensignTrinidad and Tobago

### Former civil ensigns no longer in current use or obsolete

* National flag Civil ensignAlbania (1945–1992)
* National flag Civil ensignAnconine Republic (1797–1798)
* National flag Civil ensignAnguilla (1967–1969)
* National flag Civil ensignAustralia (1901–1903)
* National flag Civil ensignAustralia (1903–1908)
* Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy Civil ensignAustria-Hungary (1869–1918)
* National flag Civil ensignThe Bahamas (1869–1904)
* National flag Civil ensignThe Bahamas (1904–1923)
* National flag Civil ensignThe Bahamas (1923–1953)
* National flag Civil ensignThe Bahamas (1953–1964)
* National flag Civil ensignThe Bahamas (1964–1973)
* National flag Civil ensignBarbados (1870–1966)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Guiana (1906–1919)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Guiana (1919–1955)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Guiana (1955–1966)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Honduras (1870–1919)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Honduras (1919–1981)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Leeward Islands (1871–1952)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Leeward Islands (1952–1958)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Somaliland (1903–1950)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Somaliland (1950–1952)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Somaliland (1952–1960)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Windward Islands (1903–1953)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish Windward Islands (1953–1958)
* National flag Civil ensignBurma (1952–1974)
* National flag Civil ensignBurma (1974–2010)
* National flag Civil ensignCanada (1868–1922)
* National flag Canada (1907–1922) (Unofficial)
* National flag Civil EnsignCanada (1922–1957)
* National flag Civil EnsignCanada (1957–1965)
* National flag Civil ensignCayman Islands (1988–1999)
* National flag Civil ensignCeylon (1875–1948)
* National flag Civil ensignCeylon (1955–1969)
* National flag Civil ensignChina / Taiwan (1929–1966)
* National flag Civil ensignCroatia-Slavonia (1868–1918)
* National flag Civil ensignCroatia (1939–1941)
* National flag Civil ensignCroatia (1941–1945)
* National flag Civil ensignCyprus (1922–1960)
* National flag Civil ensignEgypt (1914–1922)
* National flag Civil ensignEngland (1674–1707)
* National flag Civil ensignEthiopia (1975–1987)
* National flag Civil ensignEthiopia (1991–1996)
* National flag Civil ensignEtruria (1803–1807)
* National flag Civil ensignEtruria (1803–1807) (Smaller ships)
* National flag Civil ensignFalkland Islands (1999)
* National flag Civil ensignFiji (1908–1970)
* National flag Civil ensignFinland (1918–1920)
* National flag Civil ensignFlorence (1251–1569)
* National flag Civil ensignFrance (1600's–1789)
* National flag Civil ensignFrance (1689–1789, 1814–1830)
* national flag Civil ensignFrench Algeria (1848–1910)
* National flag Civil ensignFrench Indochina (1923–1949)
* national flag Civil ensignFrench Morocco (1912–1956)
* National flag Civil ensignThe Gambia (1889–1965)
* Germany (1896–1918)
* National flag Civil ensignGermany (1919–1933)
* National flag Civil ensignGermany (1933–1935)
* Germany (1935–1945)
* National flag Civil ensignEast Germany (1959–1973)
* National flag Civil ensignEast Germany (1959–1973) (Alternative)
* National flag Civil ensignWest Germany (1949–1990)
* National flag Civil ensignGhana (1963–1964, 1966–2003)
* National flag Civil ensignGhana (1964–1966)
* National flag Civil ensignGold Coast (1877–1957)
* National flag Civil ensignGreat Britain (1707–1801)
* National flag Civil ensignGreece (1774–1821)
* National flag Civil ensignGreece (1822–1828)
* National flag Civil ensignGreece (1828–1970)
* National flag Civil ensignHaiti (1964–1986)
* National flag Civil ensignHanover (1816–1837)
* National flag Hong Kong (1876–1955) (Unofficial)
* National flag Hong Kong (1955–1959) (Unofficial)
* National flag Hong Kong (1959–1997) (Unofficial)
* National flag Civil ensignHungary (1921–1946)
* National flag Civil ensignHungary (1950–1957)
* National flag Civil ensignIndia (1880–1947)
* National flag Civil ensignPersia and later Iran (1910–1933)
* National flag Civil ensignIran (1933–1964)
* National flag Civil ensignIran (1964–1980)
* National flag Civl ensignIreland (1701–1801)
* National flag Civil ensignIreland (1801–1922)
* National flag Civil ensignPiedmont-Sardinia and later Italy (1851–1946)
* National flag Civil ensignJamaica (1906–1957)
* National flag Civil ensignJamaica (1957–1962)
* National flag Civil ensignJamaica (1962)
* National flag Civil ensignJapan (1870–1875)
* National flag Civil ensignBritish East Africa and later Kenya (1895–1963)
* National flag Civil ensignLucca (1200's-1799)
* National flag Civil ensignLucca (1801–1805)
* National flag civil ensignLucca (1818–1824)
* National flag Civil ensignLucca (1819–1820)
* National flag Civil ensignLucca (1820–1847)
* National flag Civil ensignMalaya (1957–1963)
* National flag Civil ensignMalta (1898–1943)
* National flag Civil ensignMalta (1943–1964)
* National flag Civil ensignMauritius (1906–1968)
* National flag Civil EnsignMecklenburg-Schwerin (1863–1918)
* National flag Civil EnsignModena and Reggio (1830–1859)
* National flag Civil ensignMontenegro (1905–1918)
* National flag Civil ensignNewfoundland (1904–1949)
* National flag Civil ensignNigeria (1914–1952)
* National flag Civil ensignNigeria (1952–1960)
* National flag Civil ensignNorth Borneo (1882–1902)
* National flag Civil ensignNorth Borneo (1902–1942, 1945–1946)
* National flag Civil ensignNorth Borneo (1948–1963)
* National flag Civil ensignOttoman Empire (1774–1793)
* National flag Civil ensignPakistan (1956–1958)
* National flag Civil ensignPalestine (1927–1948)
* National flag Civil ensignParma and Piacenza (1851–1859)
* National flag Civil ensignPiedmont-Sardinia (1720–1799)
* National flag Civil ensignPiedmont-Sardinia (1799–1802)
* National flag Civil ensignPiedmont-Sardinia (1802–1814)
* National flag Civil ensignPiedmont-Sardinia (1814–1816)
* National flag Civil ensignPiedmont-Sardinia (1816–1848)
* National flag Civil ensignPoland (1919–1928)
* National flag Civil ensignPoland (1955–1980)
* National flag Civil ensignPoland (1980–1990)
* National flag Civil ensignPrussia (1823–1863)
* National flag Civil ensignPrussia (1863–1892)
* National flag Civil ensignPrussia (1892–1918)
* National flag Prussia (1918–1935)
* National flag Civil ensignRyukyu Islands (1952–1967)
* National flag Civil ensignRyukyu Islands (1967–1972)
* National flag Civil ensignSarawak (1870–1946)
* National flag Civil ensignSarawak (1947–1963)
* National flag Civil ensignSaxony-Anhalt (1991–2017)
* National flag Civil ensignSerbia (1835–1918)
* National flag Civil ensignSerbia (2006–2010)
* National flag Civil ensignSeychelles (1903–1961)
* National flag Civil ensignSeychelles (1961–1976)
* National flag Civil ensignSierra Leone (1916–1961)
* National flag Civil ensignSingapore (1946–1952)
* National flag Civil ensignSingapore (1952–1959)
* National flag Civil ensignSolomon Islands (1906–1947)
* National flag Civil ensignSolomon Islands (1947–1956)
* National flag Civil ensignSolomon Islands (1956–1977)
* National flag Civil ensignSouth Africa (1910–1912)
* National flag Civil ensignSouth Africa (1912–1951)
* National flag Civil ensignSouth Australia (1870–1876)
* National flag Civil ensignSpain (1785–1927)
* National flag Civil ensignSpain (1931–1939)
* National flag Civil ensignSpanish Morocco (1937–1956)
* National flag Civil ensignStraits Settlements (1874–1904)
* National flag Civil ensignStraits Settlements (1904–1942, 1945–1946)
* National flag Civil ensignTangier International Zone (1953–1957)
* National flag Civil ensignTrinidad and Tobago (1889–1958)
* National flag Civil ensignTrinidad and Tobago (1958–1962)
* National flag Civil ensignTurks and Caicos Islands (1968–1999)
* National flag Civil EnsignTuscany (1600's-1737)
* National flag Civil ensignTuscany (1781–1800, 1815–1848, 1849–1860)
* National flag Tuscany (1824–1848, 1849–1860)
* National flag Civil ensignVenezuela (1863–1905)
* National flag Civil ensignVenezuela (1905–1930)
* National flag Civil ensignVenezuela (1930–2006)
* National flag Civil ensignVictoria (1870–1877)
* National flag Civil ensignYugoslavia (1919–1943)
* National flag Civil ensignYugoslavia (1950–1992)
* National flag Civil ensignYugoslavia and later Serbia and Montenegro (1992–2006)