VENEZUELA

Republic of Venezuela República de Venezuela CAPITAL: Caracas FLAG: The national flag, adopted in 1930, is a tricolor of yellow, blue, and red horizontal stripes. An arc of seven white stars on the blue stripe represents the seven original states. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, beginning “Gloria al bravo pueblo” (“Glory to the brave people”). MONETARY UNIT: The bolívar (B) is a paper currency of 100 céntimos....

URUGUAY

Oriental Republic of Uruguay República Oriental del Uruguay CAPITAL: Montevideo FLAG: The flag, approved in 1830, has four azure blue horizontal stripes on a white background; on a white canton is a golden sun, alternately straight and wavy. This “Sun of May” symbolizes Uruguay’s independence. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, which begins “Orientales, la patria o la tumba” (“Easterners [Uruguayans], our country...

UNITED STATES

United States of America CAPITAL: Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia) FLAG: The flag consists of 13 alternate stripes, 7 red and 6 white; these represent the 13 original colonies. Fifty five-pointed white stars, representing the present number of states in the Union, are placed in nine horizontal rows alternately of six and five against a blue field in the upper left corner of the flag. ANTHEM:...

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago CAPITAL: Port-of-Spain FLAG: On a red field, a black diagonal stripe with a narrow white border on either side extends from top left to bottom right. ANTHEM: Begins, “Forged from the love of liberty, in the fires of hope and prayer.” MONETARY UNIT: The Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) is a paper currency of 100 cents. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents, and...

SURINAME

Republic of Suriname Republiek Suriname CAPITAL: Paramaribo FLAG: A yellow star is at the center of five stripes: a broad red band in the middle, two white bands, and a green stripe at the top and bottom. ANTHEM: The Surinaams Volkslied (National Anthem) begins “God zij met ons Suriname” (“God be with our Suriname”). MONETARY UNIT: The Suriname guilder (SF) is a paper currency of 100 cents. There...

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

CAPITAL: Kingstown FLAG: Three vertical bands of blue, yellow, and green; centered on the yellow band are three green diamonds arranged in a v-pattern. ANTHEM: National Anthem, beginning “St. Vincent! Land so beautiful.” MONETARY UNIT: The East Caribbean dollar (EC$) of 100 cents is the national currency. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 25 cents and 1 dollar, and notes of 5, 10, 20, and 100 East...

ST. LUCIA

CAPITAL: Castries FLAG: On a blue background is a yellow triangle surmounted by a black arrowhead whose outer edges are bordered in white. ANTHEM: Sons and Daughters of St. Lucia. MONETARY UNIT: The East Caribbean dollar (EC$) of 100 cents is the national currency. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 25 cents and 1 dollar, and notes of 5, 10, 20, and 100 East Caribbean dollars. EC$1 = US$0.37037 (or...

ST. KITTS AND LEVIS

Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis CAPITAL: Basseterre FLAG: Two thin diagonal yellow bands flanking a wide black diagonal band separate a green triangle at the hoist from a red triangle at the fly. On the black band are two white five-pointed stars. ANTHEM: National Anthem, beginning “O land of beauty.” MONETARY UNIT: The East Caribbean dollar (EC$) of 100 cents is the national currency. There are...

PERU

Republic of Peru República del Perú CAPITAL: Lima FLAG: The national flag consists of red, white, and red vertical stripes. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, beginning “Somos libres, seámoslo siempre” (“We are free; let us remain so forever”). MONETARY UNIT: The nuevo sol (ML), a paper currency of 100 céntimos, replaced the inti on 1 July 1991 at a rate of I1,000,000 = ML1, but, in practice, both currencies...

PARAGUAY

Republic of Paraguay República del Paraguay CAPITAL: Asunción FLAG: The national flag, officially adopted in 1842, is a tricolor of red, white, and blue horizontal stripes. The national coat of arms appears in the center of the white stripe on the obverse, and the Treasury seal in the same position on the reverse. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, beginning “Paraguayos, república o muerte” (“Paraguayans, republic...

PANAMA

Republic of Panama República de Panamá CAPITAL: Panamá (Panama City) FLAG: The national flag is divided into quarters. The upper quarter next to the staff is white with a blue star; the upper outer quarter is red; the lower quarter next to the staff is blue; and the lower outer quarter is white with a red star. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, beginning “Alcanzamos por fin la victoria” (“We reach victory at...

NICARAGUA

Republic of Nicaragua República de Nicaragua CAPITAL: Managua FLAG: The national flag consists of a white horizontal stripe between two stripes of cobalt blue, with the national coat of arms centered in the white band. ANTHEM: Salve a ti, Nicaragua (Hail to You, Nicaragua). MONETARY UNIT: The gold córdoba (C$) is a paper currency of 100 centavos. There are coins of 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavos and 1...

MEXICO

United Mexican States Estados Unidos Mexicanos CAPITAL: Mexico City (México) FLAG: The national flag is a tricolor of green, white, and red vertical stripes; at the center of the white stripe, in brown and green, is an eagle with a snake in its beak, perched on a cactus. ANTHEM: Mexicanos, al grito de guerra (Mexicans, to the Cry of War). MONETARY UNIT: The peso (P) is a paper currency of 100 centavos....

JAMAICA

CAPITAL: Kingston FLAG: Two diagonal yellow gold bars forming a saltire divide the flag into four triangular panels. The two side panels are black, and the top and bottom panels are green. ANTHEM: First line, “Eternal father, bless our land...” MONETARY UNIT: The Jamaican dollar (J$) of 100 cents was introduced on 8 September 1969. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, and 25 cents, and 1 dollar, and notes...

HONDURAS

Republic of Honduras República de Honduras CAPITAL: Tegucigalpa FLAG: The national flag consists of a white horizontal stripe between two blue horizontal stripes, with five blue stars on the white stripe representing the five members of the former union of Central American provinces. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, beginning “Tu bandera es un lampo de cielo” (“Thy flag is a heavenly light”). MONETARY UNIT:...

HAITI

Republic of Haiti République d’Haïti CAPITAL: Port-au-Prince FLAG: The upper half is blue, the lower half red. ANTHEM: La Dessalinienne (Song of Dessalines). MONETARY UNIT: The gourde (G) is a paper currency of 100 centimes. There are coins of 5, 10, 20, and 50 centimes and notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 250, and 500 gourdes. Silver (5, 10, and 25 gourdes) and gold (20, 50, 100, 200, 1,000 gourdes)...

GUYANA

Cooperative Republic of Guyana CAPITAL: Georgetown FLAG: A red triangle at the hoist extending to the flag’s midpoint is bordered on two sides by a narrow black stripe; extending from this is a golden arrowhead pointing toward the fly and bordered on two sides by a narrow white stripe. Two green triangles make up the rest of the flag. ANTHEM: Begins “Dear land of Guyana, of rivers and plains.” MONETARY...

GUATEMALA

Republic of Guatemala República de Guatemala CAPITAL: Guatemala City FLAG: The national flag consists of a white vertical stripe between two blue vertical stripes with the coat of arms centered in the white band. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, beginning “Guatemala feliz” (“Happy Guatemala”). MONETARY UNIT: The quetzal (Q) is a paper currency of 100 centavos. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, and 25 centavos,...

GRENADA

Grenada CAPITAL: St. George’s FLAG: The national flag consists of a red border surrounding a rectangle divided into two gold and two green triangles. There are seven yellow stars—three on the upper and three on the lower red border, and one large star at the apex of the four triangles—representing the six parishes and the island of Carriacou. A yellow nutmeg is represented on the hoist triangle. ANTHEM:...

EL SALVADOR

Republic of El Salvador República de El Salvador CAPITAL: San Salvador FLAG: The national flag consists of a white stripe between two horizontal blue stripes. The national coat of arms is centered in the white band. ANTHEM: Saludemos la Patria Orgullosos (Let us Proudly Hail the Fatherland). MONETARY UNIT: The colón (C), often called the peso, is a paper currency of 100 centavos. There are coins of...

ECUADOR

Republic of Ecuador República del Ecuador CAPITAL: Quito FLAG: The flag consists of three horizontal stripes, the yellow uppermost stripe being equal to the combined widths of the blue center stripe and the red lower stripe. ANTHEM: Salve, O Patria (Hail, O Fatherland). MONETARY UNIT: The sucre has been replaced by the U.S. dollar as the official currency as of March 2000 at a rate of 25,000 sucres...

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Dominican Republic Republica Dominicana CAPITAL: Santo Domingo FLAG: The national flag, adopted in 1844, consists of a white cross superimposed on a field of four rectangles, the upper left and lower right in blue, the upper right and lower left in red. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, beginning “Quisqueyanos valientes, alcemos nuestro canto” (“Valiant Dominicans, let us raise our song”). MONETARY UNIT: The...

DOMINICA

Commonwealth of Dominica Dominica CAPITAL: Roseau FLAG: On a green background appears a cross composed of yellow, black, and white stripes; in the center is a red disk with 10 yellow-bordered green stars surrounding a parrot. ANTHEM: Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendor. MONETARY UNIT: The East Caribbean dollar (EC$) of 100 cents is the national currency. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 25, and 1...

CUBA

Republic of Cuba República de Cuba CAPITAL: Havana (La Habana) FLAG: The flag consists of five alternating blue and white horizontal stripes penetrated from the hoist side by a red triangle containing a white five-pointed star. ANTHEM: Himno de Bayamo (Hymn of Bayamo), beginning “Al combate corred bayameses” (“March to the battle, people of Bayamo”). MONETARY UNIT: The Cuban peso (C$) of 100 centavos...

COSTA RICA

Republic of Costa Rica República de Costa Rica CAPITAL: San José FLAG: The national flag consists of five horizontal stripes of blue, white, red, white, and blue, the center stripe being wider than the others. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, beginning “Noble patria, tu hermosa bandera” (“Noble native land, your beautiful flag”). MONETARY UNIT: The colón (C) is a paper currency of 100 céntimos. There are coins...

COLOMBIA

Republic of Colombia República de Colombia CAPITAL: Bogotá FLAG: The national flag consists of three horizontal stripes; the yellow upper stripe is twice as wide as each of the other two, which are blue and red. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, beginning “O gloria inmarcesible, júbilo inmortal” (“O unwithering glory, immortal joy”). MONETARY UNIT: The Colombian peso (C$) of 100 centavos is a paper currency....

CHILE

Republic of Chile República de Chile CAPITAL: Santiago FLAG: The flag, adopted in 1817, consists of a lower half of red and an upper section of white, with a blue square in the upper left corner containing a five-pointed white star. ANTHEM: Canción Nacional (National Song) beginning “Dulce Patria, recibe los votos.” MONETARY UNIT: The peso (P) of 100 centavos replaced the escudo as the nation’s monetary...

CANADA

CAPITAL: Ottawa FLAG: The national flag, adopted in 1964, consists of a red maple leaf on a white field, flanked by a red vertical field on each end. ANTHEM: Since 1 July 1980, O Canada has been the official anthem. MONETARY UNIT: The Canadian dollar (C$) is a paper currency of 100 cents. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents, 1 dollar and 2 dollars, and notes of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and...

BRAZIL

Federative Republic of Brazil República Federativa do Brasil CAPITAL: Brasília FLAG: The national flag consists of a green field upon which is a large yellow diamond twice as wide as it is high. Centered within the diamond is a blue globe showing constellations of the southern skies dominated by the Southern Cross. Encircling the globe is a white banner bearing the words Ordem e Progresso. ANTHEM:...

BOLIVIA

Republic of Bolivia República de Bolivia CAPITAL: La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (legal and judicial capital) FLAG: The flag is a horizontal tricolor of red (top), yellow, and green stripes. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, beginning “Bolivianos, el hado propicio coronó nuestros volos anhelos” (“Bolivians, propitious fate crowned our outcries of yearning.”) MONETARY UNIT: The boliviano (B) was introduced...

BELIZE

CAPITAL: Belmopan FLAG: The national flag consists of the Belize coat of arms on a white disk centered in a blue rectangular field with a narrow red stripe at the top and the bottom. ANTHEM: Land of the Free. MONETARY UNIT: The Belize dollar (B$), formerly tied to the UK pound sterling and now pegged to the US dollar, is a paper currency of 100 cents. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and...

THE BAHAMAS

Commonwealth of the Bahamas CAPITAL: Nassau FLAG: Three horizontal stripes of blue, gold, and blue, with a black triangle at the hoist. ANTHEM: March on Bahamaland. MONETARY UNIT: The Bahamas dollar (B$) of 100 cents has been in use since May 1966. As of June 1972, the Bahamas dollar ceased to be part of the sterling area and was set on a par with the US dollar. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 15, 25,...

ARGENTINA

Argentine Republic República Argentina CAPITAL: Buenos Aires FLAG: The national flag consists of a white horizontal stripe between two light blue horizontal stripes. Centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, beginning “Oíd, mortales, el grito sagrado Libertad” (“Hear, O mortals, the sacred cry of Liberty”). MONETARY UNIT: The peso (A$) is a paper...

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

CAPITAL: St. John’s FLAG: Centered on a red background is a downward-pointing triangle divided horizontally into three bands of black, light blue, and white, the black stripe bearing a symbol of the rising sun in yellow. ANTHEM: Begins “Fair Antigua and Barbuda, I salute thee.” MONETARY UNIT: The East Caribbean dollar (EC$) is a paper currency of 100 cents, pegged to the US dollar. There are coins...