Flag of Western Sahara
territoryThe flag of Western Sahara was adopted on February 27, 1976. Horizontal triband with red hoist triangle, crescent and star. It uses 4 colours: black, white, green and red. The official proportions are 1:2.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Western Sahara |
|---|---|
| Country | Western Sahara |
| Official Country Name | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic |
| Capital | El Aaiún |
| Continent | Africa |
| Region | Northern Africa |
| ISO Country Code | EH / ESH |
| Internet Domain | .eh |
| Calling Code | +2 (multiple: 125288, 125289) |
| Currency | Algerian dinar (DZD), Moroccan dirham (MAD), Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU) |
| National Language(s) | Berber, Hassaniya, Spanish |
| Demonym | Sahrawi |
| Area | 266,000 km² |
| Population | 652,271 (2018 est.) |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Western Sahara |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | February 27, 1976 |
| First Used | 1976 |
| Current Version Adopted | February 27, 1976 |
| Flag Proportion | 1:2 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 4 |
| Main Colors | Black, White, Green, Red |
| Design Type | Horizontal triband with red hoist triangle, crescent and star |
| Official Status | Official Territorial Flag |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | #000000 | 0, 0, 0 | 0, 0, 0, 100 | |
| White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 | |
| Green | #007A3D | 0, 122, 61 | 100, 0, 50, 52 | |
| Red | #C4111B | 196, 17, 27 | 0, 91, 86, 23 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| Black colour | Represents the darkness of colonial occupation |
|---|---|
| White colour | Represents peace |
| Green colour | Represents hope and Islam |
| Red colour | Represents the blood of resistance |
| Crescent and star | Islam |
| Pan-Arab colours | Solidarity with the wider Arab world |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1976 | The design was first used |
| 1976-02-27 | 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 | 1:2 |
|---|---|
| Width | 1 units (hoist) |
| Length | 2 units (fly) |
Western Sahara Flag Usage
| Government Buildings | Yes |
|---|---|
| Schools | Yes |
| Civil Use | Yes |
| Official Ceremonies | Yes |
| Sports Events | Yes |
Other Official Flags of Western Sahara
| 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 | 50 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | February 27, 1976 |
| Oldest Version | 1976 |
| Most Common Color | Black |
| Similar Flags | Equatorial Guinea, Jordan, Mozambique |
| Unique Feature | Horizontal triband with red hoist triangle, crescent and star |
Other horizontal tricolour with a hoist triangle flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of Western Sahara
- The flag combines the Pan-Arab colours with a red crescent and star, and its status is bound up with a territorial dispute that remains unresolved.
- It was adopted by the Polisario Front in 1976 and is used by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, whose recognition is contested.
- The flag of Western Sahara was officially adopted on February 27, 1976.
- The flag in its present form is 50 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Horizontal triband with red hoist triangle, crescent and star.
- The official proportions are 1:2. It shares that ratio with 55 national flags.
- The flag uses 4 colours: black, white, green and red.
- The black on the flag stands for the darkness of colonial occupation.
- The white on the flag stands for peace.
- The green on the flag stands for hope and Islam.
- Crescent and star: Islam.
- Pan-Arab colours: Solidarity with the wider Arab world.
- The design belongs to the "Horizontal tricolour with a hoist triangle" family, shared with 8 other flags in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Equatorial Guinea, Jordan and Mozambique.
- Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory listed by the United Nations, claimed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and largely administered by Morocco, administered by Morocco over most of the territory, with the Polisario Front controlling the remainder.
- The capital is El Aaiún. The currency is the Algerian dinar (DZD), Moroccan dirham (MAD), Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU).
- It covers 266,000 km² and has a population of about 652,271 (2018 est.).
- The ISO country codes are EH and ESH. The internet domain is .eh.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of Western Sahara
When was the flag of Western Sahara adopted?
The flag of Western Sahara was officially adopted on February 27, 1976.
What do the colours of the flag of Western Sahara mean?
Black for the darkness of colonial occupation, white for peace, green for hope and Islam and red for the blood of resistance.
Is Western Sahara an independent country?
Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory listed by the United Nations, claimed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and largely administered by Morocco, administered by Morocco over most of the territory, with the Polisario Front controlling the remainder, a status held since 27 February 1976, when the Sahrawi Republic was proclaimed.
What do the symbols on the flag of Western Sahara represent?
Crescent and star — Islam. Pan-Arab colours — Solidarity with the wider Arab world.
What are the proportions of the flag of Western Sahara?
The official ratio is 1:2, which makes the flag rectangular. It shares those proportions with 55 national flags.
What is the capital of Western Sahara?
The capital is El Aaiún. The currency is the Algerian dinar (DZD), Moroccan dirham (MAD), Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU) and the language spoken is Berber, Hassaniya, Spanish.
Which flags look similar to the flag of Western Sahara?
The closest matches are Equatorial Guinea, Jordan and Mozambique, which share both the construction and most of the colours.
How many colours are on the flag of Western Sahara?
It uses 4 colours: black, white, green and red.
Can I download the flag of Western Sahara for free?
Yes. This page offers the flag of Western Sahara in SVG, PNG, JPG and WebP at several sizes. The files are free to use for any purpose and no attribution is required.
How big is Western Sahara?
The population is about 652,271 (2018 est.) and the area is 266,000 km².