Andorra’s tricolor (blue‑yellow‑red) dates to 1866, when a blue stripe was added to the earlier Spanish‑style yellow‑red to reflect French influence. The coat of arms in the center unites the co‑princes (Bishop of Urgell and Count of Foix) with Catalonia and Béarn; the motto ‘Virtus Unita Fortior’ (‘United virtue is stronger’) appears below. Stripe proportions are 8:9:8 with a 10:7 flag ratio. The 1993 constitution confirmed the flag and arms, mirroring the microstate’s dual heritage between France and Spain.
The flag of Andorra is a vertical tricolor of blue, yellow, and red with the national coat of arms placed centrally on the yellow band. Its design and symbolism reflect the principality’s unique political history and constitutional structure, blending French and Spanish influences with local traditions in a compact, mountainous state.
The modern tricolor originated in 1866, replacing an earlier bicolor of red and yellow that had been used since 1806. The earlier banner emphasized ties to Iberian heraldry, especially the colors of neighboring regions under Spanish influence. Moving to a tricolor added a blue stripe at the hoist, a widely interpreted nod to France. In doing so, the new design visually expressed Andorra’s dual allegiance to co‑princes—one French and one Spanish—while also asserting a distinct identity.
Nineteenth‑century use was not entirely standardized. Both horizontal and vertical formats appeared, and private displays often omitted the coat of arms. Over time, the vertical tricolor with arms emerged as the emblem for official contexts, especially in ceremonies and when distinguishing Andorra from other states. As the country modernized, common practice gradually consolidated around the now‑familiar form.
Central to the flag’s identity is the national coat of arms. The shield is quartered to represent key authorities and regions historically connected to the principality. The first quarter shows the miter and crosier of the Bishop of Urgell, the Spanish co‑prince. The second quarter features the three red vertical pales on gold of the Counts of Foix, the historical line of French co‑princes. The third quarter contains the four red horizontal bars of Catalonia, symbolizing regional ties. The fourth quarter shows two red cows with bells on gold, representing Béarn in what is now southwestern France. Beneath the shield is the motto Virtus Unita Fortior—“Strength united is stronger”—a statement of the principality’s reliance on unity.
Andorra’s proportions distinguish its flag from visually similar tricolors. The blue, yellow, and red stripes follow an 8:9:8 ratio rather than equal thirds, giving slightly more width to the center band to balance the placement of the arms. The overall flag ratio, fixed at 10:7, further sets Andorra apart from countries such as Romania or Chad, whose national flags share color palettes but not the same band widths or heraldic centerpiece.
Legal codification followed modern constitutional developments. Although the tricolor had been widely recognized for over a century, it was only in 1971 that the blue‑yellow‑red arrangement with the coat of arms received formal recognition by decree. Firm constitutional grounding arrived in 1993, when Andorra adopted its first written constitution. The document enshrined national sovereignty, reaffirmed the co‑princes—the Bishop of Urgell and the President of France—and established national symbols. With this, design specifics such as color shades, proportions, and the precise rendering of the arms were standardized and published to ensure reliable reproduction.
Protocol
requires the vertical tricolor with the arms to be displayed for official purposes: on government buildings, during state ceremonies, and at Andorra’s diplomatic missions abroad. The flag is also flown at border posts and in international venues where Andorra participates as a sovereign state. Where the flag appears alongside those of France and Spain, care is taken to maintain parity and correct ordering according to international custom. Civilian display without the arms, while historically common, is now rare and primarily decorative.
The colors carry layered meanings. Blue and red connect with France, while red and yellow link to Spain and the Catalan sphere. Taken together, the palette reflects the principality’s legal framework—co‑princes drawn from both sides of the Pyrenees—and a social reality of cultural exchange. The coat of arms mirrors this duality while acknowledging local autonomy, encapsulating Andorra’s balancing act between neighbors.
In modern civic life, the flag is visible on public holidays and in cultural settings, reinforcing a sense of shared identity that was formalized through the 1993 constitution and Andorra’s entry into international organizations such as the United Nations the same year. By carefully differentiating its design through proportions and heraldry, Andorra maintains a recognizable national symbol despite using a common European color scheme. The flag thus operates as both a diplomatic signature and a domestic emblem of unity and continuity.
In sum, the Andorran flag is the product of a century and a half of evolution toward legal clarity and visual distinctiveness. Its tricolor honors the principality’s bilateral guardianship and its own political traditions, while the coat of arms and motto affirm the principle that Andorra’s strength lies in the unity of its institutions and communities.