Flag of Eritrea
countryThe flag of Eritrea was adopted on December 5, 1995. Red hoist triangle over green and blue with a wreath emblem. It uses 4 colours: red, green, blue and yellow. The official proportions are 1:2.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Eritrea |
|---|---|
| Country | Eritrea |
| Official Country Name | State of Eritrea |
| Capital | Asmara |
| Continent | Africa |
| Region | Eastern Africa |
| ISO Country Code | ER / ERI |
| Internet Domain | .er |
| Calling Code | +291 |
| Currency | Eritrean nakfa (ERN) |
| National Language(s) | Arabic, English, Tigrinya |
| Demonym | Eritrean |
| Area | 117,600 km² |
| Population | 3.7 million (2025 est.) |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Eritrea |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | December 5, 1995 |
| First Used | 1993 |
| Current Version Adopted | December 5, 1995 |
| Flag Proportion | 1:2 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 4 |
| Main Colors | Red, Green, Blue, Yellow |
| Design Type | Red hoist triangle over green and blue with a wreath emblem |
| Official Status | Official National Flag |
| Government Authority | Government of Eritrea |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red | #EA0437 | 234, 4, 55 | 0, 98, 76, 8 | |
| Green | #12AD2B | 18, 173, 43 | 90, 0, 75, 32 | |
| Blue | #4189DD | 65, 137, 221 | 71, 38, 0, 13 | |
| Yellow | #FFC726 | 255, 199, 38 | 0, 22, 85, 0 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| Red colour | Represents the blood shed in the war of independence |
|---|---|
| Green colour | Represents the fertility of the land |
| Blue colour | Represents the wealth of the Red Sea |
| Yellow colour | Represents the country’s mineral wealth |
| Olive wreath and branch | Peace, taken from the flag of the independence movement; the thirty leaves recall the thirty-year liberation war |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1993 | The design was first used |
| 1995-12-05 | 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) |
Eritrea 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 Eritrea
| 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 | 31 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | December 5, 1995 |
| Oldest Version | 1993 |
| Most Common Color | Red |
| Similar Flags | Antigua and Barbuda |
| Unique Feature | Red hoist triangle over green and blue with a wreath emblem |
Other triangle over horizontal bands flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of Eritrea
- The red triangle takes up the full height of the hoist and reaches the fly edge, an unusual construction that gives the flag its distinctive shape.
- The olive wreath and upright branch replaced a gold star in 1995 and is taken from the emblem used by the United Nations administration in the 1950s.
- The flag of Eritrea was officially adopted on December 5, 1995.
- The design is older than its adoption. It was already in use in 1993, 2 years before it was formally made the flag of Eritrea.
- The flag in its present form is 31 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Red hoist triangle over green and blue with a wreath emblem.
- The official proportions are 1:2. It shares that ratio with 54 national flags.
- The flag uses 4 colours: red, green, blue and yellow.
- The red on the flag stands for the blood shed in the war of independence.
- The green on the flag stands for the fertility of the land.
- The blue on the flag stands for the wealth of the Red Sea.
- Olive wreath and branch: Peace, taken from the flag of the independence movement; the thirty leaves recall the thirty-year liberation war.
- The design belongs to the "Triangle over horizontal bands" family, shared with 1 other flag in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Antigua and Barbuda.
- Eritrea became independent on 24 May 1993 from Ethiopia.
- Independence followed a thirty-year war and a referendum in April 1993.
- Road cycling is the national sport, a legacy of the Italian colonial period.
- The national animal is the camel, which appears on the coat of arms.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of Eritrea
When was the flag of Eritrea adopted?
The flag of Eritrea was officially adopted on December 5, 1995, though the design had already been in use since 1993.
What do the colours of the flag of Eritrea mean?
Red for the blood shed in the war of independence, green for the fertility of the land, blue for the wealth of the Red Sea and yellow for the country’s mineral wealth.
When did Eritrea gain independence?
Eritrea became independent on 24 May 1993 from Ethiopia. Independence followed a thirty-year war and a referendum in April 1993.
What is the national sport of Eritrea?
Road cycling is the national sport, a legacy of the Italian colonial period.
What do the symbols on the flag of Eritrea represent?
Olive wreath and branch — Peace, taken from the flag of the independence movement; the thirty leaves recall the thirty-year liberation war.
What are the proportions of the flag of Eritrea?
The official ratio is 1:2, which makes the flag rectangular. It shares those proportions with 54 national flags.
What is the national anthem of Eritrea?
The national anthem is "Ertra, Ertra, Ertra".
When is the national day of Eritrea?
It falls on 24 May, Independence Day, and the flag is flown across the country.
What is the national animal of Eritrea?
The national animal is the camel, which appears on the coat of arms.
What is the capital of Eritrea?
The capital is Asmara. The currency is the Eritrean nakfa (ERN) and the language spoken is Arabic, English, Tigrinya.