Quiz of the Day
The United Nations & World Flags
Saturday, 24 October 2026
Anchored to United Nations Day (Oct 24, 1945), covering global institutions, countries, capitals, and flags
1. United Nations Day marks the founding of the UN in which year?
- 1948
- 1955
- 1919
- 1945
The UN Charter came into force on October 24, 1945, after being ratified by the major powers, and that date is now celebrated worldwide as United Nations Day. The organization replaced the failed League of Nations, which had been established after World War I. The UN was created with the primary goal of preventing another global conflict.
2. In which city is the main headquarters of the United Nations located?
- Paris
- Vienna
- New York City
- Geneva
The UN's main headquarters sits on an 18-acre site along the East River in Manhattan, on land donated by philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. The complex is considered international territory and is not technically governed by New York City or the United States. Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi host major secondary UN offices.
3. The UN flag shows a white world map framed by olive branches on a field of what color?
- Green
- White
- Light blue
- Dark blue
The UN flag features a polar-projection map of the world centered on the North Pole, encircled by two olive branches symbolizing peace, all set on a light blue background. The design was adopted in 1946. The specific shade is sometimes called 'UN blue' and was chosen to represent the sky and peace.
4. As of 2026, how many member states belong to the United Nations?
- 195
- 193
- 191
- 200
The UN has had 193 member states since South Sudan joined in July 2011 after gaining independence. The organization began in 1945 with just 51 founding members. Vatican City and the State of Palestine hold non-member observer status rather than full membership.
5. Which country's flag is a red field bearing a white cross, and is one of only two square national flags?
- Austria
- Norway
- Denmark
- Switzerland
Switzerland's flag is a bold white cross on a red square, one of only two square national flags in the world. The design dates back centuries and inspired the emblem of the Red Cross, which is the Swiss flag with its colors reversed. The Red Cross was founded in Geneva in 1863.
6. What is the capital city of Japan?
- Tokyo
- Osaka
- Kyoto
- Nagoya
Tokyo became Japan's capital in 1868 when the emperor moved there from Kyoto, the former imperial seat for over a thousand years. The name Tokyo means 'Eastern Capital.' Its greater metropolitan area is the most populous in the world, home to more than 37 million people.
7. Along with China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, which nation is a permanent member of the UN Security Council?
- United States
- India
- Germany
- Japan
The five permanent members of the Security Council, known as the P5, are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Each holds veto power over substantive resolutions. These were the principal victorious Allied powers of World War II.
8. A single red maple leaf is the central emblem on the national flag of which country?
- Portugal
- New Zealand
- Canada
- Lebanon
Canada adopted its iconic red-and-white maple leaf flag in 1965, replacing a previous ensign based on the British flag. The stylized maple leaf has eleven points, chosen for how it looked in tests rather than for any symbolic reason. The maple leaf had long been a national symbol before appearing on the flag.
9. Which country has the world's only national flag that is not a rectangle or square?
- Nepal
- Bhutan
- Sri Lanka
- Qatar
Nepal's flag is a unique double-pennon shape made of two stacked crimson triangles with a blue border. The two triangles are said to represent the Himalayan mountains as well as the country's two major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. The white moon and sun symbols express a hope that the nation will last as long as they do.
10. What is the capital city of Australia?
- Melbourne
- Perth
- Canberra
- Sydney
Canberra was purpose-built as Australia's capital as a compromise between rival cities Sydney and Melbourne, which both wanted the honor. Construction of the planned city began in 1913. Although Sydney and Melbourne are far larger and more famous, neither is the seat of government.
11. Who served as the first Secretary-General of the United Nations?
- Kurt Waldheim
- Dag Hammarskjöld
- Trygve Lie
- U Thant
Trygve Lie of Norway became the first UN Secretary-General in 1946 and served until 1952. He described the role as 'the most impossible job on earth' because of the pressures from competing world powers during the early Cold War. His successor, Sweden's Dag Hammarskjöld, died in a plane crash while in office.
12. Who is the Secretary-General of the United Nations as of 2026?
- Kofi Annan
- Boutros Boutros-Ghali
- António Guterres
- Ban Ki-moon
António Guterres of Portugal became UN Secretary-General in January 2017 and was re-elected to a second five-year term in 2021. Before leading the UN, he served as Portugal's prime minister and later as UN High Commissioner for Refugees. He has made climate change a signature priority of his tenure.
13. Which country's national flag famously features an AK-47 assault rifle?
- Mozambique
- Angola
- Guatemala
- Zimbabwe
Mozambique's flag is the only national flag in the world to depict a modern firearm, an AK-47 with a bayonet. The rifle sits alongside a hoe and an open book, symbols of defense, agriculture, and education. The design reflects the country's armed struggle for independence from Portugal, achieved in 1975.
14. In which city is the headquarters of UNESCO, the UN's education, science, and culture agency, located?
- Geneva
- Rome
- Paris
- Brussels
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has been headquartered in Paris since it was founded in 1945. The agency is best known for designating World Heritage Sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance. Its modernist headquarters building near the Eiffel Tower opened in 1958.
15. Besides Switzerland, which is the only other country whose national flag is square?
- Liechtenstein
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican City
Vatican City is one of only two countries with a square national flag, the other being Switzerland. Its flag is divided into gold and white vertical bands, with the papal tiara and the crossed keys of Saint Peter on the white half. Vatican City is also the world's smallest sovereign state by both area and population.