Myanmar’s flag (21 October 2010) is a horizontal tricolour—yellow, green, red—with a large white five‑pointed star centred. Yellow stands for solidarity; green peace and plenty; red courage and determination; the star the union. It replaced the 1974 socialist flag. Laws set a 2:3 ratio, star geometry, colour specs, and protocol for display, half‑masting, and dignified retirement. Earlier colonial and independence‑era flags used different emblems.
Myanmar (Burma) adopted a new flag on 21 October 2010 during constitutional transition, replacing the 1974 socialist‑era banner. The design—a yellow, green, and red tricolour with a large white star centred—draws on long‑standing Southeast Asian colour symbolism and presents a simplified, legible emblem for a diverse union.
From Colonial Insignia to Socialist Arms Under British rule, ensigns bore colonial badges; after independence in 1948, the Union of Burma flew a blue canton with a rice stalk and gear within a circlet of stars on a red field. The 1974 socialist constitution introduced a red field with a blue canton containing a large white cog‑wheel and paddy ears encircling a star, referencing workers and peasants.
2010 Tricolour Adoption The 2008 Constitution paved the way for a new flag, formally raised in 2010: equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green (middle), and red (bottom), charged at centre with a large white five‑pointed star. Official diagrams set the star’s diameter and centring, band equality, and the 2:3 proportion. Colour references are specified for textile and print to ensure consistency nationwide.
Symbolism Government explanations give yellow as solidarity, green as peace and plenty, red as courage and determination; the white star is the union of the country’s national races. Civil society readings often trace the palette to regional associations found in neighbouring flags while emphasising the simplified civic message.
Protocol
and Usage Regulations prescribe respectful handling, sunrise‑to‑sunset display unless illuminated, half‑masting by order, and dignified retirement of damaged flags. Precedence rules cover display with foreign flags, on vehicles, and in chambers. Ministries provide geometry sheets to schools and agencies to prevent misshapen stars or incorrect band ratios.
Continuity Since 2010 the design has remained unchanged and ubiquitous at state institutions and in international sport. As a straightforward tricolour with a single centred star, the flag reproduces well across cloth, print, and digital media, supporting the state’s representational needs at home and abroad.