Flag of Eswatini
countryThe flag of Eswatini was adopted on October 30, 1968. Horizontal bands with a central Nguni shield, spears and staff. It uses 5 colours: blue, yellow, crimson, black and white. The official proportions are 2:3.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Eswatini |
|---|---|
| Country | Eswatini |
| Official Country Name | Kingdom of Eswatini |
| Capital | Lobamba |
| Continent | Africa |
| Region | Southern Africa |
| ISO Country Code | SZ / SWZ |
| Internet Domain | .sz |
| Calling Code | +268 |
| Currency | Swazi lilangeni (SZL), South African rand (ZAR) |
| National Language(s) | English, Swazi |
| Demonym | Swazi |
| Area | 17,364 km² |
| Population | 1.2 million (2025 est.) |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Eswatini |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | October 30, 1968 |
| First Used | 1941 |
| Current Version Adopted | October 30, 1968 |
| Flag Proportion | 2:3 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 5 |
| Main Colors | Blue, Yellow, Crimson, Black, White |
| Design Type | Horizontal bands with a central Nguni shield, spears and staff |
| Official Status | Official National Flag |
| Government Authority | Government of Eswatini |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | #3E5EB9 | 62, 94, 185 | 66, 49, 0, 27 | |
| Yellow | #FFD900 | 255, 217, 0 | 0, 15, 100, 0 | |
| Crimson | #B10C0C | 177, 12, 12 | 0, 93, 93, 31 | |
| Black | #000000 | 0, 0, 0 | 0, 0, 0, 100 | |
| White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| Blue colour | Represents peace and stability |
|---|---|
| Yellow colour | Represents the mineral resources |
| Crimson colour | Represents past battles |
| Black colour | Represents the black population |
| White colour | Represents the white population |
| Nguni shield and two spears | Protection from the country’s enemies |
| Injobo tassels | Decoration carried by the king |
| Black and white shield | Peaceful coexistence of black and white citizens |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1941 | The design was first used |
| 1968-10-30 | 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) |
Eswatini 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 Eswatini
| 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 | 58 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | October 30, 1968 |
| Oldest Version | 1941 |
| Most Common Color | Blue |
| Similar Flags | North Korea, Rwanda, Uganda |
| Unique Feature | Horizontal bands with a central Nguni shield, spears and staff |
Other horizontal bands with a central emblem flags
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Facts about the Flag of Eswatini
- The Nguni shield is laid horizontally across the flag, which is rare — heraldic shields are almost always shown upright.
- The shield is shown in black and white to represent the peaceful coexistence of the country's communities, and it is a real object: the shape follows the traditional emasotsha shield.
- The injobo tassels on the staff are made from widowbird and lourie feathers and are worn only by the king.
- The flag of Eswatini was officially adopted on October 30, 1968.
- The design is older than its adoption. It was already in use in 1941, 27 years before it was formally made the flag of Eswatini.
- The flag in its present form is 58 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Horizontal bands with a central Nguni shield, spears and staff.
- The official proportions are 2:3. It shares that ratio with 82 national flags.
- The flag uses 5 colours: blue, yellow, crimson, black and white.
- The blue on the flag stands for peace and stability.
- The yellow on the flag stands for the mineral resources.
- The crimson on the flag stands for past battles.
- Nguni shield and two spears: Protection from the country’s enemies.
- Injobo tassels: Decoration carried by the king.
- Black and white shield: Peaceful coexistence of black and white citizens.
- The design belongs to the "Horizontal bands with a central emblem" family, shared with 3 other flags in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: North Korea, Rwanda and Uganda.
- Eswatini became independent on 6 September 1968 from the United Kingdom.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of Eswatini
When was the flag of Eswatini adopted?
The flag of Eswatini was officially adopted on October 30, 1968, though the design had already been in use since 1941.
What do the colours of the flag of Eswatini mean?
Blue for peace and stability, yellow for the mineral resources, crimson for past battles, black for the black population and white for the white population.
When did Eswatini gain independence?
Eswatini became independent on 6 September 1968 from the United Kingdom. The country was renamed from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018.
What is the national sport of Eswatini?
Football is the most popular sport.
What do the symbols on the flag of Eswatini represent?
Nguni shield and two spears — Protection from the country’s enemies. Injobo tassels — Decoration carried by the king. Black and white shield — Peaceful coexistence of black and white citizens.
What are the proportions of the flag of Eswatini?
The official ratio is 2:3, which makes the flag rectangular. It shares those proportions with 82 national flags.
What is the national anthem of Eswatini?
The national anthem is "Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati".
When is the national day of Eswatini?
It falls on 6 September, Independence Day, and the flag is flown across the country.
What is the capital of Eswatini?
The capital is Lobamba. The currency is the Swazi lilangeni (SZL), South African rand (ZAR) and the language spoken is English, Swazi.
Which flags look similar to the flag of Eswatini?
The closest matches are North Korea, Rwanda and Uganda, which share both the construction and most of the colours.