Uzbekistan’s flag (18 November 1991) is a horizontal tricolour—blue, white, green—separated by thin red fimbriations, with a white crescent and twelve white stars at the hoist. Blue recalls water and sky; white peace and purity; green nature and renewal; red life and vitality. The crescent signifies independence and heritage; twelve stars order and aspiration. Law fixes a 1:2 ratio, precise star/crescent geometry, colour standards, and protocol for respectful display, half‑masting, and dignified retirement.
Uzbekistan adopted its national flag on 18 November 1991, weeks after proclaiming independence from the Soviet Union. The design—a blue, white, and green tricolour divided by slender red lines and charged with a crescent and twelve stars—condenses geography, ecology, and cultural memory into a strictly specified composition.
Adoption
in 1991 Soon after the 31 August 1991 declaration of independence, the Supreme Council organised a rapid but deliberative process to create state symbols discontinuous with Soviet iconography yet intelligible to citizens and legible abroad. On 18 November 1991 the present flag was approved by law, alongside statutes for the coat of arms and anthem.
Composition and Geometry The flag’s ratio is 1:2. Three horizontal bands—blue (top), white (middle), green (bottom)—are separated by narrow red fimbriations. In the canton, near the hoist on the blue field, a white crescent opens toward the fly, with twelve white five‑pointed stars arranged in three rows (3‑4‑5) according to an official grid. Government drawings specify star diameter, spacing, and offsets from the hoist and top edge, as well as the crescent’s radii and chord so licensed manufacturers can reproduce the design without drift.
Symbolism Blue is widely read as water and sky, and as a nod to the Timurid past; white connotes peace, purity, and moral clarity; green signifies nature, agriculture, and renewal; red fimbriations represent life force and the bonds between the strata of society. The crescent marks independence and cultural heritage; twelve stars, beyond astronomical associations, express order, aspiration, and the calendaric rhythm of civic life. Popular and official explanations converge on harmony between nature and nation.
Protocol
and Usage Statutes regulate respectful handling: the flag is raised briskly at sunrise and lowered at sunset unless illuminated; it must not touch the ground; worn flags are retired with dignity. Precedence with foreign flags, placement on vehicles, and display indoors (behind lecterns, in assemblies, at courts) are governed by diagrams. Half‑masting is ordered by decree during mourning. School curricula and civic initiatives teach geometry and etiquette to ensure accurate reproduction and proper respect.
Continuity Since 1991 the design has remained stable, anchoring Independence Day ceremonies, diplomatic missions, and international sport. Ministries issue colour references for textile and print; enforcement discourages incorrect star counts or distorted crescents. The flag’s calm palette and clear geometry have facilitated consistent use on digital interfaces and modern architectural settings, complementing the national arms on seals and signage.
In sum, the Uzbek flag is a carefully engineered symbol that balances environmental references, historical continuity, and legal precision—an emblem of statehood designed for clarity at masthead height and pixel scale alike.