Explore the vibrant flags of Africa! Test your knowledge of 54 African country flags, from the Rainbow Nation's complex design to the simple elegance of Libya's flag.
Flag | Country | Flag history (≤150 words) |
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![]() | Algeria | Algeria’s flag presents two vertical bands of green (hoist) and white with a red crescent and five‑pointed star centred slightly toward the hoist. Legalised at independence in 1962, it draws on nationalist flags used since the 1920s. Green and white evoke Islam and purity; red the blood of martyrs; the crescent and star are long‑standing Maghrebi emblems. Ordinances fix a 2:3 ratio, precise crescent geometry, and protocol for display across state organs and missions. Read more |
![]() | Angola | Angola’s flag, adopted at independence on 11 November 1975, is a red‑over‑black horizontal bicolour charged with a yellow emblem of half gear, machete, and star. Red commemorates sacrifices in liberation; black represents Africa; the gear denotes industry; the machete agricultural labour and armed struggle; the star progress and solidarity. A 2:3 ratio and emblem construction are standardised; proposed redesigns have not been enacted. Read more |
![]() | Benin | Benin’s flag—green vertical at the hoist with yellow over red at the fly—was adopted 16 November 1959 ahead of independence (1 August 1960). Green signifies hope and revival; yellow wealth and the northern savannas; red courage and sacrifice. Replaced in 1975 by a green field with a red star during the Marxist period, the original design was restored on 1 August 1990 with the return to multiparty democracy. Proportions are typically 2:3; statutes and guidance regulate colours, construction, and protocol for display on public buildings, missions, and national holidays. Read more |
![]() | Botswana | Botswana’s flag, adopted on 30 September 1966 at independence, is a light‑blue field crossed by a central black stripe edged in white. Blue represents rain and life (pula); black and white together symbolize racial harmony and the diversity of the nation. The design intentionally avoided partisan or pan‑African palettes to emphasize unity and pragmatism. Proportions are typically 2:3; law and protocol regulate construction, respectful handling, precedence, half‑masting, and illumination at night. The flag has remained unchanged since adoption and is taught widely in schools and civic ceremonies. Read more |
![]() | Burkina Faso | Burkina Faso’s flag (4 August 1984) bears red over green with a centred yellow star, replacing Upper Volta’s black‑white‑red tricolour. Red honours revolution and sacrifice; green agricultural wealth and hope; the yellow star the guiding light of progress. The change accompanied the country’s renaming under Thomas Sankara. Proportions 2:3 are typical; law fixes colours, star geometry, and protocol. Read more |
![]() | Burundi | Burundi’s flag (adopted 28 June 1967; proportions 3:5) features a white saltire dividing red (hoist and fly) and green (top and bottom) panels, with a central white disk bearing three red six‑pointed stars edged green. Red recalls struggle and sacrifice; green hope; white peace. The three stars represent the national motto—Unité, Travail, Progrès (Unity, Work, Progress)—and the three major communities. Statutes specify geometry, colours, and protocols for public display and half‑masting. Read more |
![]() | Cameroon | Cameroon’s flag is a vertical tricolour of green, red, and yellow with a centred yellow five‑pointed star. Adopted as a federation in 1961 with two stars (for East and West Cameroon), it was revised in 1975 to a single ‘star of unity’ when the state became unitary. Green represents the forested south; red national unity; yellow the savannas and sun. Statutes fix a 2:3 ratio, star geometry, and protocol across public institutions and missions. Read more |
![]() | Cape Verde | Cape Verde’s flag (22 September 1992) shows a dark‑blue field with a horizontal white‑over‑red band offset toward the base and a ring of ten yellow five‑pointed stars near the hoist. Blue denotes the Atlantic; white and red peace and effort; the stars the ten islands and national unity. The 1992 design replaced a PAICV‑inspired tricolour, signalling a pluralist, outward‑looking republic. Ratio 2:3 with standardised geometry. Read more |
![]() | Central African Republic | The Central African Republic’s flag (1 December 1958), designed by Barthélemy Boganda, combines four horizontal bands—blue, white, green, yellow—with a vertical red stripe through the centre and a yellow five‑pointed star in the upper hoist. The scheme symbolises the union of Africa and Europe and the blood that binds the nation. Ratio commonly 3:5; specifications and protocol are established by law. Read more |
![]() | Chad | Chad’s flag, adopted on 6 November 1959, is a vertical tricolour of blue, yellow, and red. Blue stands for sky and hope, yellow the sun and desert, red for sacrifice and unity. Often compared with Romania’s tricolour, Chad uses a darker (indigo) blue; both states maintain their historic designs. Ratio 2:3; law regulates colours, construction, and protocols for display and half‑masting. Read more |
![]() | Comoros | The Comoros flag (adopted 7 January 2002) has four horizontal bands—yellow, white, red, blue—representing the islands, with a green hoist triangle bearing a white crescent and four five‑pointed stars. The crescent and stars express Islam and the four main islands (Ngazidja, Ndzuani, Mwali, Maore). Ratio 3:5; law standardises colours and emblem geometry; earlier independence‑era variants differed. Read more |
![]() | Congo | The Republic of the Congo’s flag (adopted 18 August 1958; restored 10 June 1991) is a diagonal tricolour: a yellow band from lower hoist to upper fly, separating green (upper hoist) and red (lower fly). Green denotes forests and agriculture; yellow wealth and friendship; red courage and independence. A 1970–1991 emblematic red flag was replaced by the original. Ratio 2:3; geometry and colours are codified. Read more |
![]() | Côte d'Ivoire | Côte d’Ivoire’s flag, a vertical tricolour of orange, white, and green in 2:3 ratio, was adopted on 3 December 1959 and retained at independence (7 August 1960). Orange denotes savannas and national energy; white peace; green forests and hope. Its arrangement mirrors but inverts Ireland’s flag chromatically; protocol fixes proportions and respectful display. Read more |
![]() | Democratic Republic of the Congo | The DR Congo flag (restored 20 February 2006) is a sky‑blue field with a yellow five‑pointed star at the hoist and a red diagonal band edged yellow from lower hoist to upper fly. It reprises earlier Congolese designs: blue for peace and hope; red for the people’s blood; yellow for wealth; the star for a radiant future. Ratio commonly 3:5; geometry is standardised. Read more |
![]() | Egypt | Egypt’s flag is a horizontal tricolour of red, white, and black with the golden Eagle of Saladin centred in the white band. Adopted by law in 1984, it continues the pan‑Arab palette introduced after the 1952 Revolution. Red commemorates sacrifice and struggle; white evokes the revolution’s ‘bloodless’ success; black marks the end of oppression and colonial rule. Earlier variants reflected shifting unions and regimes—the green royal flag (1922–1953), the Arab Liberation Flag after 1953, and UAR stars (1958–1961). Protocol sets a 2:3 ratio, correct colours and emblem drawing, half‑masting rules, and respectful handling across ministries, armed forces, and diplomatic missions. Read more |
![]() | Equatorial Guinea | Equatorial Guinea’s flag (12 October 1968) features green‑white‑red horizontal bands with a blue hoist triangle and the national coat of arms (silk‑cotton tree and six stars) centred on the white band. Green represents forests; white peace; red the struggle; blue the sea uniting the mainland and islands. Ratio 2:3; usage with or without arms varies by context, with arms on state flags. Read more |
![]() | Eritrea | Eritrea’s flag (24 May 1993; updated emblem proportions 1995) displays a red isosceles triangle from hoist to fly base, separating a green upper triangle and a blue lower triangle. Within the red field at the hoist sits a gold olive wreath encircling an upright olive branch. Green represents agriculture; blue the sea; red sacrifice; the olive device peace and state continuity. Ratio 1:2 with codified emblem geometry. Read more |
![]() | Eswatini | Eswatini’s flag (re‑adopted 6 September 1968; name change from Swaziland in 2018) shows blue‑yellow‑red horizontal bands with a central Nguni shield and crossed staff and spear. Blue signifies peace; yellow mineral wealth; red past battles. The black‑and‑white shield expresses unity of black and white people. Ratio 2:3; emblem geometry and colours are standardised. Read more |
![]() | Ethiopia | Ethiopia’s flag is a horizontal tricolour of green, yellow, and red charged with a blue disc bearing a golden star and rays. Adopted on 6 February 1996, it updates the long‑standing Ethiopian tricolour that inspired pan‑African colours. Green denotes land and hope; yellow peace and justice; red sacrifice. The star symbolises unity and equality of peoples. Law prescribes display, respectful handling, and emblem drawing across federal institutions and missions. Read more |
![]() | Gabon | Gabon’s flag—three equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, and blue—was adopted on 9 August 1960 (preceded by a 1959 variant with a French stripe). Green depicts equatorial forests; yellow the equator and national wealth; blue the Atlantic Ocean. Ratio commonly 3:4; legislation and guidance standardize colour references and protocol for state display and half‑masting. Read more |
![]() | Gambia | The Gambia’s flag (18 February 1965) shows red, blue, and green horizontal bands separated by narrow white fimbriations. Red signifies the sun and savannas; blue the Gambia River; green forests and agriculture; white peace and unity. Proportions 2:3; statutes standardise colours and protocol; the design has remained unchanged since independence. Read more |
![]() | Ghana | Ghana’s flag—three horizontal bands of red, gold, and green with a black five‑pointed star centred in the gold—was designed by Theodosia Okoh and first raised on 6 March 1957 at independence. Red honours the blood of those who fought for freedom; gold signifies mineral wealth; green represents forests and agriculture; the black star stands for African freedom and unity. A brief 1964–1966 variant replaced the gold with white during the one‑party period; the original was restored after 1966 and remains in law. Protocol prescribes respectful handling, order of precedence, and daily display on state buildings and missions. Read more |
![]() | Guinea | Guinea’s vertical tricolour of red, yellow, and green (2:3) was adopted on 2 October 1958 at independence. Red honours martyrs and labour; yellow the sun and mineral wealth; green vegetation and hope. The design follows Pan‑African colours in a French‑style arrangement; protocol governs proportions, colours, and respectful use. Read more |
![]() | Guinea-Bissau | Guinea‑Bissau’s flag (24 September 1973) mirrors PAIGC symbolism: a red hoist band with a black star, and yellow over green at the fly. Red marks the liberation struggle; yellow resources and the sun; green land and hope; the black star African unity. Ratio 1:2; protocol and law govern display and colours. Read more |
![]() | Kenya | Kenya’s flag comprises horizontal black, red, and green bands separated by white fimbriations, charged at centre with a Maasai shield and crossed spears. Adopted on 12 December 1963 from the KANU tricolour, black represents the people, red the struggle for independence, green the land and agriculture, and white peace. The National Flag, Emblems and Names Act regulates authorised use, vehicle flags, respectful handling, and penalties for misuse. The design has remained unchanged since independence. Read more |
![]() | Lesotho | Lesotho’s current flag (4 October 2006) is a horizontal tricolour of blue, white, and green with a central black mokorotlo (Basotho hat) on the white band. Blue represents rain; white peace; green prosperity and the land. The 2006 design replaced a 1987 emblematic flag to emphasize civilian unity and tradition. Ratio 2:3; construction sheets standardize the hat’s geometry and placement. Read more |
![]() | Liberia | Liberia’s flag (24 August 1847) features eleven red‑and‑white stripes and a blue canton charged with a single white star. The stripes honour signatories of the Declaration of Independence and echo the American pattern; the lone star proclaims sovereignty—the “Lone Star Republic.” Ratios vary historically; modern usage commonly follows U.S.‑style proportions. Protocol and maritime law govern wide civil and naval use. Read more |
![]() | Libya | Libya’s current flag (restored 3 August 2011) is the 1951 tricolour of red, black (double width), and green with a white crescent and five‑pointed star centred on the black band. The colours reference pan‑Arab traditions; the crescent and star Islam and sovereignty. From 1977–2011 a plain green flag was used. Ratio 1:2; construction sheets standardise the crescent and star. Read more |
![]() | Madagascar | Madagascar’s flag—white vertical at the hoist, with red over green horizontal bands at the fly—was adopted on 14 October 1958 and retained at independence on 26 June 1960. White and red echo the Merina kingdom’s colours; green represents the coastal peoples and hope. A 2:3 ratio is standard; statutes regulate colour references and display protocol across the republic’s institutions. Read more |
![]() | Malawi | Malawi’s flag, first adopted on 6 July 1964, is a horizontal tricolour of black, red, and green bearing a rising red sun on the black band to mark the dawn of independence. In 2010 a redesigned flag with a full white sun and reordered colours (red‑black‑green) briefly replaced it; the original design was restored by Act in May 2012. Black stands for the people, red for sacrifice, green for the land. Ratio 2:3; law standardizes the sun and colours. Read more |
![]() | Mali | Mali’s flag is a vertical tricolour of green, yellow, and red in 2:3 ratio. Adopted on 1 March 1961 after the Mali Federation dissolved, it removed the Kanaga figure used on the federation’s 1959 flag. Green signifies the land and hope; yellow mineral wealth and labour; red the blood shed for freedom. Law standardises proportions, colours, and protocol. Read more |
![]() | Mauritania | Mauritania’s flag features a green field charged with a gold upward‑facing crescent and five‑pointed star, bordered at top and bottom by red stripes added in 2017. The original 1959 design lacked the red bands; a referendum introduced them to honour sacrifice and perseverance. Green and gold reflect Islam and the Sahara; red recalls the struggle. Ratio 2:3; law standardizes geometry and colours. Read more |
![]() | Mauritius | Mauritius’s flag (12 March 1968) consists of four equal horizontal bands: red, blue, yellow, green. Red denotes the struggle for freedom; blue the Indian Ocean; yellow the new light of independence; green agriculture and the island’s lush landscape. Ratio 2:3; statutes fix colours and protocol for state display. The design has remained unchanged since independence. Read more |
![]() | Morocco | Morocco’s flag is a plain red field charged with a centred green interlaced pentagram (Seal of Solomon). The red ‘Alawite colour dates to the seventeenth century; the green star was added by dahir in 1915 and retained at independence in 1956. Red evokes royal lineage and valour; green the nation’s Islamic identity and unity. Law fixes a 2:3 ratio and precise star geometry; protocol regulates display on state buildings, armed forces, and missions. Read more |
![]() | Mozambique | Mozambique’s flag (1 May 1983) pairs green‑black‑yellow horizontal bands, the black edged in white, with a red hoist triangle charged with a yellow five‑pointed star bearing a book, hoe, and AK‑47 with bayonet. Green denotes land; black Africa; yellow mineral wealth; white peace; red the liberation struggle. The emblem signifies education (book), agriculture (hoe), and defence/ vigilance (rifle). The design derives from FRELIMO symbolism and is fixed in statute, which standardises ratios, colours, and emblem geometry. Read more |
![]() | Namibia | Namibia’s flag was adopted on 21 March 1990 at independence. A red diagonal band edged in white runs from lower hoist to upper fly, dividing a blue upper hoist triangle (charged with a golden sun of twelve triangular rays) from a green lower fly triangle. Blue represents the sky, Atlantic, and water; red the people’s heroism and unity; green vegetation and land; white peace. Ratio 2:3; the construction sheet standardizes the sun and band geometry and colour references. Read more |
![]() | Niger | Niger’s flag, adopted on 23 November 1959 and retained at independence (3 August 1960), is orange‑white‑green with an orange disc centred in the white band. Orange denotes the Sahara and courage; white purity and honesty; green the Niger River, agriculture, and hope; the disc signifies the sun. Official drawings historically cite a 6:7 ratio though 2:3 variants appear in practice. Protocol governs respectful use across the republic. Read more |
![]() | Nigeria | Nigeria’s flag is a vertical tricolour of green, white, and green, designed by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi in 1959 and first raised on 1 October 1960. The green stripes symbolise agricultural wealth and natural resources; the white band signifies peace and unity. Law prescribes a 1:2 ratio, respectful handling, and authorised display on government buildings, embassies, and service flags. The design has remained unchanged through civil war, military rule, and democratic transitions, serving as a unifying emblem for a diverse federation. Read more |
![]() | Rwanda | Rwanda’s current flag (25 October 2001) replaced the 1962 green‑yellow‑red tricolour. It features sky‑blue, yellow, and green horizontal bands (2:1:1) with a golden sun of 24 rays in the fly‑side canton. Blue signifies peace and happiness; yellow economic development; green hope; the sun enlightenment. Law fixes a 2:3 ratio, precise sun geometry, and protocol. Read more |
![]() | São Tomé and Príncipe | São Tomé and Príncipe’s flag (adopted 5 November 1975) features green‑yellow‑green horizontal bands with a red hoist triangle and two centered black five‑pointed stars. Green denotes forests and agriculture; yellow cocoa and sunlight; red the struggle for independence; the twin stars represent the two main islands—São Tomé and Príncipe. Proportions are typically 1:2 with codified triangle geometry, star size and spacing, and colour references. Usage guidelines cover precedence, half‑masting, and respectful handling on state occasions and missions abroad. Read more |
![]() | Senegal | Senegal’s flag—three vertical bands of green, yellow, and red with a central green star—was adopted on 20 August 1960 after independence. The palette draws on pan‑African colours; green signifies Islam, hope, and agriculture; yellow prosperity and labour; red sacrifice in the liberation struggle. The five‑pointed green star symbolises unity and guidance. A brief predecessor in the Mali Federation bore a Kanaga figure; Senegal replaced it with the star on dissolution. Law fixes a 2:3 ratio and protocol for respectful display. Read more |
![]() | Seychelles | Seychelles’ flag (18 June 1996) radiates five oblique bands—blue, yellow, red, white, green—from the lower hoist corner toward the fly. Blue denotes sea and sky; yellow the sun; red the people and determination; white social justice and harmony; green land and nature. The dynamic composition symbolises forward motion. Ratio 1:2; colour angles and widths are codified. Read more |
![]() | Sierra Leone | Sierra Leone’s flag, adopted on 27 April 1961 at independence, consists of three equal horizontal bands of green, white, and blue in a 2:3 ratio. Green represents agriculture and the mountains; white stands for unity and justice; blue symbolizes the natural harbour of Freetown and the sea. Statutes regulate proportions and respectful display across state institutions and missions abroad. Read more |
![]() | Somalia | Somalia’s flag (12 October 1954) is a light‑blue field with a central white five‑pointed star. Blue recalls the United Nations’ role and the sky/sea; the star originally represented five Somali regions. Ratio 2:3; geometry and colours are standardised. The design has remained unchanged through political transitions and is among the world’s simplest flags. Read more |
![]() | South Africa | South Africa’s flag, adopted on 27 April 1994, displays a horizontal green ‘Y’ that converges from the hoist and divides red (top) and blue (bottom) fields, bordered by narrow white and yellow stripes with a black hoist triangle. Designed by Frederick Brownell, it symbolises convergence and unity in diversity after apartheid. Constitutional and statutory provisions regulate respectful display, co‑display, and ceremonial handling; no specific meanings are assigned to individual colours by law. Read more |
![]() | South Sudan | South Sudan’s flag (9 July 2011) has black‑red‑green horizontal bands separated by white fimbriations and a blue hoist triangle charged with a gold five‑pointed star. Black represents the people; red the blood shed; green the land; white peace; blue the Nile; gold unity and hope. Ratio 1:2; geometry and colours are codified. Read more |
![]() | Sudan | Sudan’s flag (20 May 1970) is a horizontal tricolour of red, white, and black with a green hoist triangle, aligning with pan‑Arab colours. It replaced the 1956 blue‑yellow‑green flag of independence. Red symbolises struggle; white peace; black the ‘land of the blacks’ and identity; green Islam and agriculture. Law standardises a 1:2 ratio, triangle geometry, and protocol. Read more |
![]() | Tanzania | Tanzania’s flag displays a black diagonal band bordered in yellow from lower hoist to upper fly, dividing a green upper triangle and blue lower triangle. Adopted in 1964 upon the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, it fuses Tanganyika’s green‑yellow‑black with Zanzibar’s black‑blue‑green. Green represents land and agriculture; blue the Indian Ocean and lakes; black the people; yellow the nation’s mineral wealth. Statutes fix proportions, colour values, and band geometry; protocol governs respectful use across the union’s institutions. Read more |
![]() | Togo | Togo’s flag (27 April 1960) has five equal green and yellow stripes with a red hoist canton bearing a white star. Green denotes agriculture and hope; yellow mineral wealth and work; red sacrifice and patriotism; the white star purity and unity. Designed by Paul Ahyi, it uniquely approximates golden‑ratio proportions. Protocol standardises use across state institutions. Read more |
![]() | Tunisia | Tunisia’s flag is a red field charged with a centred white disc bearing a red crescent and five‑pointed star. Originating as an Ottoman‑era naval ensign (1831), it was retained with minor refinements by the modern state and codified most recently in 1999. Red recalls resistance and Ottoman ties; white peace; the crescent and star are classic symbols of the Islamic world. Law fixes a 2:3 ratio, disc diameter, and crescent/star geometry; protocol governs display and dignified use. Read more |
![]() | Uganda | Uganda’s flag consists of six equal horizontal stripes—black, yellow, red repeated—charged with a white disc bearing a grey crowned crane facing the hoist. Adopted on 9 October 1962 at independence, the colours were proposed by the Uganda People’s Congress: black for the people; yellow for sunlight; red for fraternity. The crowned crane, a long‑standing military emblem, lifts one leg to signify forward movement. Law defines proportions, crane drawing, and protocol across state, military, and diplomatic use. Read more |
![]() | Zambia | Zambia’s flag (adopted 24 October 1964; shades adjusted 1996) is predominantly green with a tricolour block of red, black, and orange at the fly and an orange African fish eagle above. Green denotes vegetation; red the struggle; black the people; orange mineral wealth; the eagle liberty and rising aspiration. Ratio 2:3; construction and colours standardised by statute. Read more |
![]() | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe’s flag (adopted 18 April 1980) displays seven horizontal stripes green‑gold‑red‑black‑red‑gold‑green with a white hoist triangle bearing a red star and the Zimbabwe Bird. Green symbolises agriculture; gold mineral wealth; red the struggle; black the people. The red star denotes revolutionary history and hope; the Zimbabwe Bird anchors cultural heritage. Ratio 1:2 with codified triangle and emblem geometry. Read more |
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia
Often featuring Islamic symbols and Pan-Arab colors
Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso
Pan-African colors prevalent: red, gold, green
Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda
Rich in symbolism with shields, spears, and natural elements
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia
Complex designs reflecting diverse populations
Chad, Cameroon, CAR, DRC, Congo
French colonial influence visible in tricolor designs
Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Cape Verde
Unique designs reflecting island geography
South Africa's flag is one of the world's most complex, combining elements from multiple historical flags into a unified design representing the "Rainbow Nation."
Libya's current flag is one of the simplest in the world - just three horizontal stripes in red, black, and green with a white crescent and star.
Many African flags feature red, gold, and green - the Pan-African colors inspired by Ethiopia's flag, representing the blood of martyrs, mineral wealth, and fertile land.
Ethiopia's flag inspired many other African nations because Ethiopia was never fully colonized, making it a symbol of African independence.
Africa has 54 countries with incredible diversity in languages, cultures, and histories - all reflected in their unique flag designs.
African flags tell stories of independence movements, cultural heritage, and the ongoing journey of African nations.
African flags feature beautiful symbolism - from Kenya's shield and spears to Morocco's pentagram star.
African flags provide the perfect challenge for geography enthusiasts - distinctive yet numerous enough to test your skills.