Flag of Guatemala

Facts about the Flag of Guatemala

1. The vertical arrangement of the blue and white bands, rather than the horizontal arrangement used by the rest of Central America, was adopted in 1871 to distinguish Guatemala from its neighbours.
2. The resplendent quetzal in the coat of arms is a symbol of liberty because it is said not to survive in captivity; the bird also gives the currency its name.
3. The scroll beneath the quetzal carries the date of Central American independence — 15 September 1821 — rather than any date belonging to Guatemala alone.
4. The flag of Guatemala was officially adopted on August 17, 1871.
5. The flag in its present form is 155 years old as of 2026.
6. Design type: Vertical triband with the coat of arms.
7. The official proportions are 5:8. It shares that ratio with 3 national flags.
8. The flag uses 2 colours: sky blue and white.
9. The sky blue on the flag stands for the Pacific and Caribbean, and the sky.
10. The white on the flag stands for purity and peace.
11. Resplendent quetzal: The national bird, a symbol of liberty because it is said not to survive in captivity.
12. Crossed rifles and swords: The willingness to defend the country by force if necessary.
13. Scroll: The date of Central American independence, 15 September 1821.
14. The design belongs to the "Vertical tricolour" family, shared with 27 other flags in this reference.
15. Flags most often confused with it: Canary Islands, Clipperton Island and France.
16. Guatemala became independent on 15 September 1821 from Spain.
17. Football is the most popular sport.
18. The national animal is the resplendent quetzal, which also appears on the coat of arms.