Flag of Estonia
countryThe flag of Estonia was adopted on November 21, 1918. Horizontal tricolour. It uses 3 colours: blue, black and white. The official proportions are 7:11.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Estonia |
|---|---|
| Country | Estonia |
| Official Country Name | Republic of Estonia |
| Capital | Tallinn |
| Continent | Europe |
| Region | Northern Europe |
| ISO Country Code | EE / EST |
| Internet Domain | .ee |
| Calling Code | +372 |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| National Language(s) | Estonian |
| Demonym | Estonian |
| Area | 45,227 km² |
| Population | 1.4 million (2025 est.) |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Estonia |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | November 21, 1918 |
| First Used | 1881 |
| Current Version Adopted | November 21, 1918 |
| Flag Proportion | 7:11 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 3 |
| Main Colors | Blue, Black, White |
| Design Type | Horizontal tricolour |
| Official Status | Official National Flag |
| Government Authority | Government of Estonia |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | #0072CE | 0, 114, 206 | 100, 45, 0, 19 | |
| Black | #000000 | 0, 0, 0 | 0, 0, 0, 100 | |
| White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| Blue colour | Represents the sky, the sea and the lakes, and loyalty |
|---|---|
| Black colour | Represents the soil of the homeland and the past suffering of the people |
| White colour | Represents the snow, and the hope for a brighter future |
| Origin | Adopted by an Estonian student society in 1881 and taken up as the national flag on independence |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1881 | The design was first used |
| 1918-11-21 | 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 | 7:11 |
|---|---|
| Width | 7 units (hoist) |
| Length | 11 units (fly) |
Estonia 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 Estonia
| 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 | 108 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | November 21, 1918 |
| Oldest Version | 1881 |
| Most Common Color | Blue |
| Similar Flags | Azerbaijan, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Botswana |
| Unique Feature | Horizontal tricolour |
Other horizontal tricolour flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of Estonia
- The blue, black and white were first used by a student fraternity at the University of Tartu in 1881, several decades before Estonian independence.
- The flag was banned throughout the Soviet period and raised again on the Tall Hermann tower in Tallinn in 1989, an event that is still commemorated annually.
- A swallow-tailed version serves as the naval and presidential standard.
- The flag of Estonia was officially adopted on November 21, 1918.
- The design is older than its adoption. It was already in use in 1881, 37 years before it was formally made the flag of Estonia.
- The flag in its present form is 108 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Horizontal tricolour.
- The official proportions are 7:11. No other national flag in the world uses it.
- The flag uses 3 colours: blue, black and white.
- The blue on the flag stands for the sky, the sea and the lakes, and loyalty.
- The black on the flag stands for the soil of the homeland and the past suffering of the people.
- The white on the flag stands for the snow, and the hope for a brighter future.
- Origin: Adopted by an Estonian student society in 1881 and taken up as the national flag on independence.
- The design belongs to the "Horizontal tricolour" family, shared with 32 other flags in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Azerbaijan, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba and Botswana.
- Estonia became independent on 20 August 1991 from the Soviet Union.
- Estonia first declared independence on 24 February 1918 and restored it in 1991 after fifty years of Soviet annexation.
- Basketball and athletics are the most popular sports.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of Estonia
When was the flag of Estonia adopted?
The flag of Estonia was officially adopted on November 21, 1918, though the design had already been in use since 1881.
What do the colours of the flag of Estonia mean?
Blue for the sky, the sea and the lakes, and loyalty, black for the soil of the homeland and the past suffering of the people and white for the snow, and the hope for a brighter future.
When did Estonia gain independence?
Estonia became independent on 20 August 1991 from the Soviet Union. Estonia first declared independence on 24 February 1918 and restored it in 1991 after fifty years of Soviet annexation.
What is the national sport of Estonia?
Basketball and athletics are the most popular sports.
What do the symbols on the flag of Estonia represent?
Origin — Adopted by an Estonian student society in 1881 and taken up as the national flag on independence.
What are the proportions of the flag of Estonia?
The official ratio is 7:11, which makes the flag rectangular.
What is the national anthem of Estonia?
The national anthem is "Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm".
When is the national day of Estonia?
It falls on 24 February, Independence Day, and the flag is flown across the country.
What is the national animal of Estonia?
The national animal is the grey wolf, with the barn swallow as national bird.
What is the capital of Estonia?
The capital is Tallinn. The currency is the Euro (EUR) and the language spoken is Estonian.