Flag of Gibraltar

Territory or dependency

Flag of Gibraltar uses white over red field with a red castle and gold key. Ratio 1:2 and current adoption November 8, 1982.

Hoist Ratio 1:2 Fly

Flag Reference

Flag	Flag of Gibraltar
Entity Type	Territory or dependency
Identifier	GI / GIB
Region	Southern Europe

Flag Specifications

Current Adoption	November 8, 1982
First Documented Use	1502
Proportion	1:2
Shape	Rectangle
Colours	White, Red, Gold
Construction	White over red field with a red castle and gold key

Documented Colour Values

Colour	HEX	RGB	CMYK
White	#FFFFFF	255, 255, 255	0, 0, 0, 0
Red	#DA000C	218, 0, 12	0, 100, 94, 15
Gold	#FFD100	255, 209, 0	0, 18, 100, 0

Design and Symbolism

White	the upper band.
Red	the lower band and the castle.
Gold	the key.
Castle and key	From the arms granted by Spain in 1502 — Gibraltar as the key to the Mediterranean.

Proportions

Ratio	1:2
Hoist	1 units
Fly	2 units

About the Flag of Gibraltar

White over red field with a red castle and gold key The recorded proportion is 1:2. Within this library it is grouped with bicolour with an emblem designs.

Colours and construction

The reference palette stored for Gibraltar is White (#FFFFFF), Red (#DA000C) and Gold (#FFD100). The colour table above is intended for digital reference; where an issuing authority publishes a different colour standard, that specification takes precedence.

Symbols and recorded meaning

Castle and key: From the arms granted by Spain in 1502 — Gibraltar as the key to the Mediterranean.

History and adoption record

The design record traces first use to 1502. The adoption field for the present record is November 8, 1982.

Entity status

Gibraltar is classified here as territory or dependency. That label describes the entity represented by the flag and prevents a territory, state or constituent area from being presented as a sovereign country.

Additional flag context

The flag is a banner of Gibraltar's coat of arms, granted by Spain in 1502, and the key hanging from the castle represents Gibraltar as the key to the Mediterranean.

It is one of only two British Overseas Territory flags that is not an ensign, the design being a heraldic banner instead.

How to identify this flag

For quick identification, look for White over red field with a red castle and gold key, a 1:2 proportion and the visible castle and key. Use the comparison and design-family links on this page when another flag has a similar palette or layout.

Verification sources

Flags of the World — Gibraltar — Specialist vexillological reference

Other bicolour with an emblem flags

See all

Facts about the Flag of Gibraltar

Gibraltar is recorded as white over red field with a red castle and gold key.
The reference proportion for the flag of Gibraltar is 1:2.
The stored palette for Gibraltar contains White, Red and Gold.
The adoption field for this territory or dependency flag record is November 8, 1982.
The design record traces first use to 1502.
Its construction is grouped with the bicolour with an emblem design family in this library.
Castle and key: From the arms granted by Spain in 1502 — Gibraltar as the key to the Mediterranean.
The flag is a banner of Gibraltar's coat of arms, granted by Spain in 1502, and the key hanging from the castle represents Gibraltar as the key to the Mediterranean.
It is one of only two British Overseas Territory flags that is not an ensign, the design being a heraldic banner instead.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of Gibraltar

What does the flag of Gibraltar look like?

White over red field with a red castle and gold key, with a recorded proportion of 1:2.

What proportion is recorded for the flag of Gibraltar?

The reference proportion stored for this flag is 1:2.

Which colours are recorded for the flag of Gibraltar?

The reference palette lists White #FFFFFF, Red #DA000C and Gold #FFD100.

What do the symbols on the flag of Gibraltar represent?

Castle and key — From the arms granted by Spain in 1502 — Gibraltar as the key to the Mediterranean.

When was the present flag record for Gibraltar adopted?

The adoption field in this record is November 8, 1982.

Which design family does the flag of Gibraltar belong to?

WorldFlags.online groups it with bicolour with an emblem designs for visual browsing; that classification describes construction, not necessarily historical ancestry.

Where can I verify information about the flag of Gibraltar?

The verification-source section on this page links to an official, governmental or specialist reference used to check the underlying record. Source wording is not copied into the article.