Flag of Central African Republic
countryThe flag of Central African Republic was adopted on December 1, 1958 to a design by Barthélemy Boganda. Four horizontal bands crossed by a vertical red band, with a star. It uses 5 colours: blue, white, green, yellow and red. The official proportions are 3:5.
Hoist
Ratio 3:5
Fly
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Central African Republic |
|---|---|
| Country | Central African Republic |
| Official Country Name | Central African Republic |
| Capital | Bangui |
| Continent | Africa |
| Region | Middle Africa |
| ISO Country Code | CF / CAF |
| Internet Domain | .cf |
| Calling Code | +236 |
| Currency | Central African CFA franc (XAF) |
| National Language(s) | French, Sango |
| Demonym | Central African |
| Area | 622,984 km² |
| Population | 5.6 million (2025 est.) |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Central African Republic |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | December 1, 1958 |
| First Used | 1958 |
| Current Version Adopted | December 1, 1958 |
| Flag Proportion | 3:5 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 5 |
| Main Colors | Blue, White, Green, Yellow, Red |
| Designer | Barthélemy Boganda |
| Design Type | Four horizontal bands crossed by a vertical red band, with a star |
| Official Status | Official National Flag |
| Government Authority | Government of Central African Republic |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | #003082 | 0, 48, 130 | 100, 63, 0, 49 | |
| White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 | |
| Green | #289728 | 40, 151, 40 | 74, 0, 74, 41 | |
| Yellow | #FFCE00 | 255, 206, 0 | 0, 19, 100, 0 | |
| Red | #D21034 | 210, 16, 52 | 0, 92, 75, 18 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| Blue colour | Represents the sky and freedom |
|---|---|
| White colour | Represents peace and dignity |
| Green colour | Represents hope and the forests |
| Yellow colour | Represents tolerance |
| Red colour | Represents the blood of the people |
| Vertical red band | The blood shared by Europe and Africa, binding the four horizontal colours together |
| Star | Independence and a bright future |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1958 | The design was first used |
| 1958-12-01 | 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 | 3:5 |
|---|---|
| Width | 3 units (hoist) |
| Length | 5 units (fly) |
Central African Republic 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 Central African Republic
| 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 | 68 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | December 1, 1958 |
| Oldest Version | 1958 |
| Designer | Barthélemy Boganda |
| Most Common Color | Blue |
| Similar Flags | Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar |
| Unique Feature | Four horizontal bands crossed by a vertical red band, with a star |
Other combined horizontal and vertical bands flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of Central African Republic
- This is one of the very few flags that deliberately combines two colour traditions: the blue, white and red of France with the green, yellow and red of Pan-Africanism, joined by a vertical red band.
- Barthélemy Boganda, who designed it, described the red band as the blood shared by all people, running across every other colour on the flag.
- The flag of Central African Republic was officially adopted on December 1, 1958. It was designed by Barthélemy Boganda.
- The flag in its present form is 68 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Four horizontal bands crossed by a vertical red band, with a star.
- The official proportions are 3:5. It shares that ratio with 19 national flags.
- The flag uses 5 colours: blue, white, green, yellow and red.
- The blue on the flag stands for the sky and freedom.
- The white on the flag stands for peace and dignity.
- The green on the flag stands for hope and the forests.
- Vertical red band: The blood shared by Europe and Africa, binding the four horizontal colours together.
- Star: Independence and a bright future.
- The design belongs to the "Combined horizontal and vertical bands" family, shared with 6 other flags in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Benin, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar.
- Central African Republic became independent on 13 August 1960 from France.
- Football and basketball are the most popular sports.
- The national anthem is "La Renaissance".
- The flag is flown everywhere on 1 December, Republic Day.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of Central African Republic
When was the flag of Central African Republic adopted?
The flag of Central African Republic was officially adopted on December 1, 1958.
What do the colours of the flag of Central African Republic mean?
Blue for the sky and freedom, white for peace and dignity, green for hope and the forests, yellow for tolerance and red for the blood of the people.
When did Central African Republic gain independence?
Central African Republic became independent on 13 August 1960 from France.
What is the national sport of Central African Republic?
Football and basketball are the most popular sports.
What do the symbols on the flag of Central African Republic represent?
Vertical red band — The blood shared by Europe and Africa, binding the four horizontal colours together. Star — Independence and a bright future.
Who designed the flag of Central African Republic?
The flag was designed by Barthélemy Boganda.
What are the proportions of the flag of Central African Republic?
The official ratio is 3:5, which makes the flag rectangular. It shares those proportions with 19 national flags.
What is the national anthem of Central African Republic?
The national anthem is "La Renaissance".
When is the national day of Central African Republic?
It falls on 1 December, Republic Day, and the flag is flown across the country.
What is the capital of Central African Republic?
The capital is Bangui. The currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF) and the language spoken is French, Sango.