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.
Following political reforms and a shift from a single‑party system, Cape Verde adopted a new national flag on 22 September 1992. The composition reflects an oceanic democracy: a dark‑blue field for the Atlantic surrounds a ring of ten yellow five‑pointed stars placed toward the hoist; below the field’s centre runs a narrow white stripe over a broader red stripe, both offset downward.
Symbolism
was explained at adoption: blue for the surrounding sea and the sky; white for peace; red for the effort and determination of the people. The ten stars represent the archipelago’s inhabited islands and their unity in one republic. Their circular arrangement implies cohesion and movement. The offset stripes and star ring create a modern, distinctive profile among world flags while avoiding partisan colours.
Specifications
fix a 2:3 ratio; the ring’s diameter, star size and spacing, and the widths and vertical offset of the stripes are codified to support consistent manufacture. Protocol governs precedence, half‑masting, nocturnal illumination, and respectful retirement. The previous flag—derived from PAICV colours—was retired, with the 1992 banner signalling a pluralist, internationally engaged state.
The design has remained unchanged since adoption. It appears on ministries and schools, aboard vessels under national registry, and at missions abroad; civic instruction highlights the unity of islands within the ring and the maritime horizon suggested by the stripes.