Country profile: Cambodia

The temple of Angkor Wat, built in the 12th century under King Suryavarman II, has appeared on the flags of Cambodia since the 19th century. The current flag, blue, red and blue, with Angkor Wat in white in the centre, was adopted in 1948.

It was replaced in 1970 under the Khmer Republic, then by the red flag of Democratic Kampuchea under the Khmer Rouge, from 1975 to 1979.

It was restored in 1993, with the return of constitutional monarchy and of King Norodom Sihanouk, after the transition period under United Nations authority.

The Cambodian flag illustrates the kingdom's motto, ‘Nation, Religion, King’:

• Blue: the monarchy.
• Red: the nation.
• White: religion, and Buddhism in particular.
• Angkor Wat: the largest religious monument in the world, a symbol of Khmer civilisation.

Cambodia is one of the few countries to depict a monument on its national flag.

Angkor Wat has appeared on almost all of the country's flags since the 19th century, including that of the Khmer Rouge, in a stylised form with three towers.

The Angkor site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, attracts millions of visitors every year.