It seems that European flags containing three stripes, with no additional symbols, seals, lettering or designs are much more common in European countries, such as [France] (http://www.mapsofworld.com/images/world-countries-flags/france-flag.gif), [Latvia] (http://www.mapsofworld.com/images/world-countries-flags/latvia-flag.gif), [Netherlands] (http://www.enchantedlearning.com/europe/netherlands/flag/Flagbig.GIF), [Belgium] (http://www.mapsofworld.com/images/world-countries-flags/belgium-flag.gif), ect.

Meanwhile, flags in other parts of the world feature seals, additional designs, and sometimes lettering in 3 striped flags, such as [Ghana] (http://images.nationmaster.com/images/flags/gh-lgflag.gif), [Norfolk Islands] (http://images.nationmaster.com/images/flags/nf-lgflag.gif), [India] (http://images.nationmaster.com/images/flags/in-lgflag.gif), or [Ecuador] (http://images.nationmaster.com/images/flags/ec-lgflag.gif).

I am aware many African flags also feature the plain three striped design, however these countries were in large majority European Colonies at some point in their history or conquered by European countries in the past.