Switzerland vs Tonga
These two are close enough that people routinely draw one when they mean the other. Take the challenge first — the flags are further down the page.
The challenge
Practice
Draw the flag of
What actually differs
- Both flags use the same colours — red and white — so the difference is in the shades and the shape.
- Switzerland is a cross centred on a plain field; Tonga is a rectangular canton in the upper hoist corner over a striped field.
- Switzerland flies at 1:1 and Tonga at 1:2, so side by side one looks longer than the other.
- Even the shared colours are mixed differently: red (#FF0000 against #C10000).
How to keep them straight
Switzerland: Square flag, square-ended cross, arms one sixth wider than they are thick.
Tonga: Anchor on the biggest shape: a rectangular canton in the upper hoist corner over a striped field in red and white. Everything else on the flag hangs off that.
The drawing scorer is built for exactly this: if you swap the colours of Switzerland it will tell you which two you flipped, rather than just handing you a low number.
Questions
What is the difference between the Switzerland and Tonga flags?
Both flags use the same colours — red and white — so the difference is in the shades and the shape. Switzerland is a cross centred on a plain field; Tonga is a rectangular canton in the upper hoist corner over a striped field. Switzerland flies at 1:1 and Tonga at 1:2, so side by side one looks longer than the other. Even the shared colours are mixed differently: red (#FF0000 against #C10000).
Which is which?
Square flag, square-ended cross, arms one sixth wider than they are thick. And for the other one: anchor on the biggest shape: a rectangular canton in the upper hoist corner over a striped field in red and white. Everything else on the flag hangs off that.
Are the Switzerland and Tonga flags exactly the same?
No. They use the same colour names, but the shades and the proportions differ: Switzerland is 1:1 and Tonga is 1:2.
