Flag of Greenland
territoryThe flag of Greenland was adopted on June 21, 1985 to a design by Thue Christiansen. Horizontal bicolour with an offset counterchanged disc. It uses 2 colours: white and red. The official proportions are 2:3.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Greenland |
|---|---|
| Country | Greenland |
| Official Country Name | Greenland |
| Capital | Nuuk |
| Continent | Americas |
| Region | North America |
| ISO Country Code | GL / GRL |
| Internet Domain | .gl |
| Calling Code | +299 |
| Currency | krone (DKK) |
| National Language(s) | Greenlandic |
| Demonym | Greenlandic |
| Area | 2,166,086 km² |
| Population | 56,025 (2018 est.) |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Greenland |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | June 21, 1985 |
| First Used | 1985 |
| Current Version Adopted | June 21, 1985 |
| Flag Proportion | 2:3 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 2 |
| Main Colors | White, Red |
| Designer | Thue Christiansen |
| Design Type | Horizontal bicolour with an offset counterchanged disc |
| Official Status | Official Territorial Flag |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 | |
| Red | #D00C33 | 208, 12, 51 | 0, 94, 75, 18 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| White colour | Represents the ice cap and the glaciers |
|---|---|
| Red colour | Represents the sun and the ocean |
| Counterchanged disc | The midnight sun half above and half below the horizon, and the ice floes on the sea — Erfalasorput, “our flag” |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1985 | The design was first used |
| 1985-06-21 | 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 | 2:3 |
|---|---|
| Width | 2 units (hoist) |
| Length | 3 units (fly) |
Greenland Flag Usage
| Government Buildings | Yes |
|---|---|
| Schools | Yes |
| Civil Use | Yes |
| Official Ceremonies | Yes |
| Sports Events | Yes |
Other Official Flags of Greenland
| 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 | 41 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | June 21, 1985 |
| Oldest Version | 1985 |
| Designer | Thue Christiansen |
| Most Common Color | White |
| Similar Flags | Gibraltar, Wales |
| Unique Feature | Horizontal bicolour with an offset counterchanged disc |
Other bicolour with an emblem flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of Greenland
- The counterchanged disc represents the midnight sun half above and half below the horizon, and the ice floes on the sea.
- The flag is called Erfalasorput — our flag — and was chosen in 1985 from more than five hundred proposals, narrowly beating a Nordic cross design.
- Thue Christiansen, who designed it, deliberately avoided a cross so the flag would not read as Scandinavian.
- The flag of Greenland was officially adopted on June 21, 1985. It was designed by Thue Christiansen.
- The flag in its present form is 41 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Horizontal bicolour with an offset counterchanged disc.
- The official proportions are 2:3. It shares that ratio with 83 national flags.
- The flag uses 2 colours: white and red.
- The white on the flag stands for the ice cap and the glaciers.
- The red on the flag stands for the sun and the ocean.
- Counterchanged disc: The midnight sun half above and half below the horizon, and the ice floes on the sea — Erfalasorput, “our flag”.
- The design belongs to the "Bicolour with an emblem" family, shared with 2 other flags in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Gibraltar and Wales.
- Greenland is an autonomous constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark, administered by Denmark.
- Handball is the national sport.
- The flag is flown everywhere on 21 June, National Day.
- The capital is Nuuk. The currency is the krone (DKK).
- It covers 2,166,086 km² and has a population of about 56,025 (2018 est.).
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of Greenland
When was the flag of Greenland adopted?
The flag of Greenland was officially adopted on June 21, 1985.
What do the colours of the flag of Greenland mean?
White for the ice cap and the glaciers and red for the sun and the ocean.
Is Greenland an independent country?
Greenland is an autonomous constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark, administered by Denmark, a status held since 21 June 2009, when self-government replaced the home rule granted in 1979.
What is the national sport of Greenland?
Handball is the national sport.
What do the symbols on the flag of Greenland represent?
Counterchanged disc — The midnight sun half above and half below the horizon, and the ice floes on the sea — Erfalasorput, “our flag”.
Who designed the flag of Greenland?
The flag was designed by Thue Christiansen.
What are the proportions of the flag of Greenland?
The official ratio is 2:3, which makes the flag rectangular. It shares those proportions with 83 national flags.
When is the national day of Greenland?
It falls on 21 June, National Day, and the flag is flown across the country.
What is the capital of Greenland?
The capital is Nuuk. The currency is the krone (DKK) and the language spoken is Greenlandic.
Which flags look similar to the flag of Greenland?
The closest matches are Gibraltar and Wales, which share both the construction and most of the colours.