Flag of South Africa
countryThe flag of South Africa was adopted on April 27, 1994 to a design by Frederick Brownell. Horizontal bands with a green horizontal Y and a black hoist triangle. It uses 6 colours: red, white, blue, green, yellow and black. The official proportions are 2:3.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of South Africa |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Official Country Name | Republic of South Africa |
| Capital | Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town |
| Continent | Africa |
| Region | Southern Africa |
| ISO Country Code | ZA / ZAF |
| Internet Domain | .za |
| Calling Code | +27 |
| Currency | South African rand (ZAR) |
| National Language(s) | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Demonym | South African |
| Area | 1,221,037 km² |
| Population | 64 million (2025 est.) |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of South Africa |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | April 27, 1994 |
| First Used | 1994 |
| Current Version Adopted | April 27, 1994 |
| Flag Proportion | 2:3 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 6 |
| Main Colors | Red, White, Blue, Green, Yellow, Black |
| Designer | Frederick Brownell |
| Design Type | Horizontal bands with a green horizontal Y and a black hoist triangle |
| Official Status | Official National Flag |
| Government Authority | Government of South Africa |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red | #DE3831 | 222, 56, 49 | 0, 75, 78, 13 | |
| White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 | |
| Blue | #002395 | 0, 35, 149 | 100, 77, 0, 42 | |
| Green | #007A4D | 0, 122, 77 | 100, 0, 37, 52 | |
| Yellow | #FFB612 | 255, 182, 18 | 0, 29, 93, 0 | |
| Black | #000000 | 0, 0, 0 | 0, 0, 0, 100 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| Red colour | Represents bloodshed in the country’s history |
|---|---|
| White colour | Represents peace and European heritage |
| Blue colour | Represents the open sky |
| Green colour | Represents the fertility of the land |
| Yellow colour | Represents the mineral wealth |
| Black colour | Represents the people of South Africa |
| Converging Y | The convergence of diverse elements of society taking the road ahead in unity — designed in a week and first flown at the 1994 election |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1994 | The design was first used |
| 1994-04-27 | 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) |
South Africa 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 South Africa
| 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 | 32 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | April 27, 1994 |
| Oldest Version | 1994 |
| Flag Nickname | The Rainbow Flag |
| Designer | Frederick Brownell |
| Most Common Color | Red |
| Similar Flags | Vanuatu |
| Unique Feature | Horizontal bands with a green horizontal Y and a black hoist triangle |
Other y-shaped pall flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of South Africa
- The six colours make this the most colourful national flag in the world.
- It was designed by State Herald Frederick Brownell in early 1994, after a public competition and a national symbols commission had both failed to produce anything, and was intended to be temporary.
- The horizontal Y is officially described as the convergence of diverse elements taking the road ahead in unity, and no colour is given an official individual meaning.
- The 1996 constitution confirmed the interim flag permanently, and it is now one of the most widely recognised flags of the post-colonial era.
- The flag of South Africa was officially adopted on April 27, 1994. It was designed by Frederick Brownell.
- The flag in its present form is 32 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Horizontal bands with a green horizontal Y and a black hoist triangle.
- The flag is known as The Rainbow Flag, a name used far more often than the formal "flag of South Africa".
- The official proportions are 2:3. It shares that ratio with 82 national flags.
- The flag uses 6 colours: red, white, blue, green, yellow and black.
- The red on the flag stands for bloodshed in the country’s history.
- The white on the flag stands for peace and European heritage.
- The blue on the flag stands for the open sky.
- Converging Y: The convergence of diverse elements of society taking the road ahead in unity — designed in a week and first flown at the 1994 election.
- The design belongs to the "Y-shaped pall" family, shared with 1 other flag in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Vanuatu.
- South Africa became independent on 31 May 1910 from the United Kingdom.
- The Union of South Africa was formed in 1910 and became fully sovereign in 1931, but the date South Africa celebrates is 27 April 1994, the first election open to all its citizens.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of South Africa
When was the flag of South Africa adopted?
The flag of South Africa was officially adopted on April 27, 1994.
What do the colours of the flag of South Africa mean?
Red for bloodshed in the country’s history, white for peace and European heritage, blue for the open sky, green for the fertility of the land, yellow for the mineral wealth and black for the people of South Africa.
When did South Africa gain independence?
South Africa became independent on 31 May 1910 from the United Kingdom. The Union of South Africa was formed in 1910 and became fully sovereign in 1931, but the date South Africa celebrates is 27 April 1994, the first election open to all its citizens.
What is the national sport of South Africa?
Rugby union, cricket and football all have a strong claim; there is no single official national sport.
What do the symbols on the flag of South Africa represent?
Converging Y — The convergence of diverse elements of society taking the road ahead in unity — designed in a week and first flown at the 1994 election.
Who designed the flag of South Africa?
The flag was designed by Frederick Brownell.
What are the proportions of the flag of South Africa?
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 South Africa?
The national anthem is "National anthem of South Africa, which combines Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and Die Stem".
When is the national day of South Africa?
It falls on 27 April, Freedom Day, and the flag is flown across the country.
What is the national animal of South Africa?
The national animal is the springbok, with the blue crane as national bird.