Flag of Barbados
countryThe flag of Barbados was adopted on November 30, 1966 to a design by Grantley W. Prescod. Vertical triband with a broken trident head. It uses 3 colours: blue, gold and black. The official proportions are 2:3.
Hoist
Ratio 2:3
Fly
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Barbados |
|---|---|
| Country | Barbados |
| Official Country Name | Barbados |
| Capital | Bridgetown |
| Continent | Americas |
| Region | Caribbean |
| ISO Country Code | BB / BRB |
| Internet Domain | .bb |
| Calling Code | +1246 |
| Currency | Barbadian dollar (BBD) |
| National Language(s) | English |
| Demonym | Barbadian |
| Area | 430 km² |
| Population | 0.28 million (2025 est.) |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Barbados |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | November 30, 1966 |
| First Used | 1966 |
| Current Version Adopted | November 30, 1966 |
| Flag Proportion | 2:3 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 3 |
| Main Colors | Blue, Gold, Black |
| Designer | Grantley W. Prescod |
| Design Type | Vertical triband with a broken trident head |
| Official Status | Official National Flag |
| Government Authority | Government of Barbados |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | #00267F | 0, 38, 127 | 100, 70, 0, 50 | |
| Gold | #FFC726 | 255, 199, 38 | 0, 22, 85, 0 | |
| Black | #000000 | 0, 0, 0 | 0, 0, 0, 100 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| Blue colour | Represents the sea and the sky |
|---|---|
| Gold colour | Represents the golden sand of the beaches |
| Black colour | Represents the trident |
| Broken trident | The break with the colonial past — the trident of Britannia appeared on the colonial badge, and its broken shaft marks independence |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1966 | The design was first used |
| 1966-11-30 | The current flag was officially adopted |
| Present | The flag remains in official use |
| Present | The flag remains in official use |
Flag Dimensions and Construction
| Official Ratio | 2:3 |
|---|---|
| Width | 2 units (hoist) |
| Length | 3 units (fly) |
Barbados Flag Usage
| Government Buildings | Yes |
|---|---|
| Schools | Yes |
| Civil Use | Yes |
| Official Ceremonies | Yes |
| Sports Events | Yes |
| National Holidays | Yes |
| Military | Yes |
| Naval Use | Yes |
| Embassies | Yes |
| International Events | Yes |
Other Official Flags of Barbados
| Flag Type | Use | Link |
|---|---|---|
| National Flag | National representation | View flag |
| Civil Flag | Used by civilians | View flag |
| State Flag | Used by government | View flag |
| War Flag | Used during military operations | View flag |
| Naval Ensign | Used by the navy | View flag |
| Air Force Flag | Used by the air force | View flag |
| Presidential Standard | Used by the head of state | View flag |
| Royal Standard | Used by the monarch | View flag |
| Historical Flag | Previous national flag | View flag |
Quick Facts About the Flag
| Flag Age | 60 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | November 30, 1966 |
| Oldest Version | 1966 |
| Designer | Grantley W. Prescod |
| Most Common Color | Blue |
| Similar Flags | Mongolia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Unique Feature | Vertical triband with a broken trident head |
Other vertical tricolour with an emblem flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of Barbados
- The broken trident is one of the few flag charges whose meaning depends on damage. The colonial badge showed Britannia holding a complete trident; snapping the shaft was the point.
- Grantley Prescod, a schoolteacher, won the 1966 design competition against more than a thousand entries.
- Barbados removed the British monarch as head of state in 2021 and became a republic without changing its flag, which had been designed for an independent country from the start.
- The flag of Barbados was officially adopted on November 30, 1966. It was designed by Grantley W. Prescod.
- The flag in its present form is 60 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Vertical triband with a broken trident head.
- The official proportions are 2:3. It shares that ratio with 82 national flags.
- The flag uses 3 colours: blue, gold and black.
- The blue on the flag stands for the sea and the sky.
- The gold on the flag stands for the golden sand of the beaches.
- The black on the flag stands for the trident.
- Broken trident: The break with the colonial past — the trident of Britannia appeared on the colonial badge, and its broken shaft marks independence.
- The design belongs to the "Vertical tricolour with an emblem" family, shared with 4 other flags in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Mongolia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
- Barbados became independent on 30 November 1966 from the United Kingdom.
- Barbados became a republic on 30 November 2021, replacing the British monarch with a Barbadian head of state.
- Cricket is the national sport.
- The national animal is the brown pelican.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of Barbados
When was the flag of Barbados adopted?
The flag of Barbados was officially adopted on November 30, 1966.
What do the colours of the flag of Barbados mean?
Blue for the sea and the sky, gold for the golden sand of the beaches and black for the trident.
When did Barbados gain independence?
Barbados became independent on 30 November 1966 from the United Kingdom. Barbados became a republic on 30 November 2021, replacing the British monarch with a Barbadian head of state.
What is the national sport of Barbados?
Cricket is the national sport.
What do the symbols on the flag of Barbados represent?
Broken trident — The break with the colonial past — the trident of Britannia appeared on the colonial badge, and its broken shaft marks independence.
Who designed the flag of Barbados?
The flag was designed by Grantley W. Prescod.
What are the proportions of the flag of Barbados?
The official ratio is 2:3, which makes the flag rectangular. It shares those proportions with 82 national flags.
What is the national anthem of Barbados?
The national anthem is "In Plenty and In Time of Need".
When is the national day of Barbados?
It falls on 30 November, Independence Day, and the flag is flown across the country.
What is the national animal of Barbados?
The national animal is the brown pelican.