Flag of Guyana
countryThe flag of Guyana was adopted on May 26, 1966 to a design by Whitney Smith. Green field with a golden arrowhead and a red triangle, both fimbriated. It uses 5 colours: green, white, gold, black and red. The official proportions are 3:5.
Hoist
Ratio 3:5
Fly
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Guyana |
|---|---|
| Country | Guyana |
| Official Country Name | Co-operative Republic of Guyana |
| Capital | Georgetown |
| Continent | Americas |
| Region | South America |
| ISO Country Code | GY / GUY |
| Internet Domain | .gy |
| Calling Code | +592 |
| Currency | Guyanese dollar (GYD) |
| National Language(s) | English |
| Demonym | Guyanese |
| Area | 214,969 km² |
| Population | 0.83 million (2025 est.) |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Guyana |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | May 26, 1966 |
| First Used | 1966 |
| Current Version Adopted | May 26, 1966 |
| Flag Proportion | 3:5 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 5 |
| Main Colors | Green, White, Gold, Black, Red |
| Designer | Whitney Smith |
| Design Type | Green field with a golden arrowhead and a red triangle, both fimbriated |
| Official Status | Official National Flag |
| Government Authority | Government of Guyana |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | #009E49 | 0, 158, 73 | 100, 0, 54, 38 | |
| White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 | |
| Gold | #FCD116 | 252, 209, 22 | 0, 17, 91, 1 | |
| Black | #000000 | 0, 0, 0 | 0, 0, 0, 100 | |
| Red | #CE1126 | 206, 17, 38 | 0, 92, 82, 19 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| Green colour | Represents the forests and agriculture |
|---|---|
| White colour | Represents the rivers and waters |
| Gold colour | Represents the mineral wealth |
| Black colour | Represents the endurance of the people |
| Red colour | Represents the zeal and dynamism of nation-building |
| Golden Arrowhead | The name of the flag, and the country’s forward drive — designed by an American vexillologist, the only national flag designed by a professional flag scholar |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1966 | The design was first used |
| 1966-05-26 | 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 | 3:5 |
|---|---|
| Width | 3 units (hoist) |
| Length | 5 units (fly) |
Guyana 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 Guyana
| 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 | 60 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | May 26, 1966 |
| Oldest Version | 1966 |
| Designer | Whitney Smith |
| Most Common Color | Green |
| Similar Flags | Saint Lucia, Timor-Leste |
| Unique Feature | Green field with a golden arrowhead and a red triangle, both fimbriated |
Other interlocking triangles flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of Guyana
- The design is known as the Golden Arrowhead, and it was created by Whitney Smith — the American scholar who coined the word vexillology.
- The two fimbriated triangles make it one of the more geometrically complex national flags, with five colours meeting at a single point on the hoist edge.
- The green field stands for agriculture and forest, which cover the great majority of the country's land area.
- The flag of Guyana was officially adopted on May 26, 1966. It was designed by Whitney Smith.
- The flag in its present form is 60 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Green field with a golden arrowhead and a red triangle, both fimbriated.
- The official proportions are 3:5. It shares that ratio with 19 national flags.
- The flag uses 5 colours: green, white, gold, black and red.
- The green on the flag stands for the forests and agriculture.
- The white on the flag stands for the rivers and waters.
- The gold on the flag stands for the mineral wealth.
- Golden Arrowhead: The name of the flag, and the country’s forward drive — designed by an American vexillologist, the only national flag designed by a professional flag scholar.
- The design belongs to the "Interlocking triangles" family, shared with 2 other flags in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Saint Lucia and Timor-Leste.
- Guyana became independent on 26 May 1966 from the United Kingdom.
- Cricket is the national sport.
- The national animal is the hoatzin, the canje pheasant, with the jaguar on the coat of arms.
- The national anthem is "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains".
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of Guyana
When was the flag of Guyana adopted?
The flag of Guyana was officially adopted on May 26, 1966.
What do the colours of the flag of Guyana mean?
Green for the forests and agriculture, white for the rivers and waters, gold for the mineral wealth, black for the endurance of the people and red for the zeal and dynamism of nation-building.
When did Guyana gain independence?
Guyana became independent on 26 May 1966 from the United Kingdom.
What is the national sport of Guyana?
Cricket is the national sport.
What do the symbols on the flag of Guyana represent?
Golden Arrowhead — The name of the flag, and the country’s forward drive — designed by an American vexillologist, the only national flag designed by a professional flag scholar.
Who designed the flag of Guyana?
The flag was designed by Whitney Smith.
What are the proportions of the flag of Guyana?
The official ratio is 3:5, which makes the flag rectangular. It shares those proportions with 19 national flags.
What is the national anthem of Guyana?
The national anthem is "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains".
When is the national day of Guyana?
It falls on 26 May, Independence Day, and the flag is flown across the country.
What is the national animal of Guyana?
The national animal is the hoatzin, the canje pheasant, with the jaguar on the coat of arms.