Symbolism
White represents purity, red represents sovereignty (and the blood of the Merina people), and green represents hope and the coastal people.
History
Adopted on October 14, 1958. The white and red colors were the traditional colors of the Merina Kingdom, while green was added to represent the coastal tribes.
Construction
A 2:3 ratio. A white vertical band on the hoist and two horizontal bands of red and green on the fly.
Color Meanings
white: Purity and the path of righteousness
red: Sovereignty, heroism, and the blood of ancestors
green: Hope and the fertility of the coastal regions
Country Facts
- Population
- 31.3M
2.0% of Africa
- Capital
- Antananarivo
- Languages
- French, Malagasy
- Continent
- Africa
- Subregion
- Southern Africa
- Landlocked
- Island state
- ISO 3166-1
- MG
Flag Identification
- Adopted
- October 14, 1958
- Proportions
2:3 (≈1.500)
- Total Colors
- 3
- Primary Layout
- Horizontal bands
Influences
Merina Kingdom colors and traditional identity
Related flags
Flag Protocol
- The vertical white band must be at the hoist side
- The red and green bands must be horizontal on the fly side
Practice
Think you know the flags of Africa? Test your recognition in a quick practice round.