How Many Stars Are on the U.S. Flag? The 50 States Represented

The American flag—Old Glory, the Stars and Stripes—is one of the world's most recognized symbols. Its design tells the nation's story: 50 stars for 50 states, 13 stripes for the original colonies.

The Stars: One per State

Each of the 50 white stars on the blue canton represents a U.S. state. The current 50-star design has been official since July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959. Stars are arranged in nine offset horizontal rows (six stars in the top row, five in the next, alternating).

The Stripes: The Original 13

The 13 alternating red and white stripes honor the thirteen British colonies that declared independence in 1776: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.

A Living Design

The flag has changed 27 times since 1777 as new states joined. The 13-stripe count was fixed in 1818; only the star field grows. If a 51st state is admitted, a new star will be added the following July 4th.

So, count the stars: 50. Count the stripes: 13. Together, they map the nation's past and present.