Every country gives utmost respect and cares for its national flag. A flag holds supreme importance for every individual in their respective country. Every flag is designed to represent its own nation.
Each flag is made up of different colors. While some flags contain colors like white, blue, saffron, or even red, there are others that contain a mix of green, yellow, and red.
Each individual color is said to have its own meaning and significance. For instance, the ‘white’ color on a flag usually signifies peace and purity, whereas the ‘red’ color on a flag stands for power and blood. In China, the color ‘red’ is associated with good fortune.
In this article, we will check out a list of countries having green, yellow and red colors in their flags. We will also go through those flags that contain a ‘star’ symbol, or those with blue, and black colors along with green, yellow, and red.
Countries That Have Green Yellow Red Flags
Many African nations use this color combination in their flags. Hence, these colors are also known as Pan-African colors.
Green Yellow Red Flag Meaning
This beautiful color combination was inspired by the Ethiopian national flag. Sometime during 1896, Ethiopia emerged victorious by defeating Italy and saving itself from Italian rule.
It was then that Emperor Menelik II gave permission to create a flag with green, yellow, and red colors. Soon, many other newly formed African nations followed suit.
Let us have a look at the list of countries whose flags contain these Pan-African colors.
1. Mali
Description
The national flag of Mali has green, yellow, and red colors lined vertically across its length.
About
Mali or the Republic of Mali, as it is officially called, is a country in West Africa. Spread across an area of about 12,40,000 sq km, it is the eighth-largest country in Africa.
The political region of Mali is divided into eight regions, with its northern borders stretching almost to the central area of the Sahara desert. The southern part of Mali is within the Sudanian Savanna.
Mali’s economy depends on agriculture and mining. It is the third-largest gold producer in Africa. Even salt is largely found here and the country is known to export salt.
Population
Statistics state that the present-day population of Mali is about 20.25 million. Going by data projections, the population is expected to go over 50 million by 2058 and it could touch about 80 million by 2099, which is approximately four times the current population.
Why is Mali reporting a rapid increase in its population? It records a high fertility rate of 5.92 births every woman. As per this data, one can deduce that most of the country’s population is quite young, with an average age of about 16.5 years. Now this explains Mali’s population explosion.
Brief History
The above flag of Mali came into existence on March 1, 1961.
Each of the colors in the flag – green, yellow, and red has its own significance. Green symbolizes land fertility, yellow signifies purity coupled with the richness of minerals within the country, and red means blood – this correlates to the bloodshed during the country’s freedom struggle against the French.
2. Guinea
Description
The colors red, yellow, and green are lined vertically across the length of the flag. If you observe closely, the Guinea flag is a mirror image of the Mali flag.
About
Guinea, officially known as the Republic of Guinea, falls within the coastal regions of West Africa. It shares its borders with the Atlantic Ocean, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Guinea is also referred to as Guinea-Conakry.
This name comes from its capital city Conakry. This is usually done to avoid any sort of confusion between this region and other regions having similar names like Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
Guinea is spread across an area of 245,857 square kilometers.
Population
Presently, about 14,022,553 people reside in this country. It is equivalent to about 0.17% of the total world population. Muslims form a majority in this country.
Brief History
The Guinea flag has taken its colors from the Ghanaian national flag. Ghana adopted its flag sometime in 1957. The Guinean flag came into existence on 10th November 1958. Guinea decided to go along with the Pan-African colors, keeping in mind the sentiments of its other fellow nations that supported this movement.
The significance of each of the colors in the flag is as follows:
- Red: The red color signifies the blood of all freedom fighters who struggled to attain freedom from the French. It also represents the amount of effort put in by the labor class group and the country’s progress rate.
- Yellow: Yellow symbolizes the richness of gold within the country. It is also derived from the sun which distributes uniform light and energy amongst all masses. Hence one can say that this color reflects the qualities of equality and justice.
- Green: Green signifies the nation’s rich heritage that comes from its natural resources. It also represents the abundant greenery within the country and finally, this color highlights the struggles encountered by fellow countrymen residing in the countryside.
To summarize, the colors of the Guinean national flag reflect the mottos of the nation, namely – Travail, Justice, and Solidarite. In simple terms, these are Work, Justice, and Solidarity.
3. Benin
Description
Benin, or the Republic of Benin, is another country to have adopted the Pan-African colors in its flag. While the green color is vertical at the hoist, the yellow and red bands are placed horizontally across it.
About
Like Mali and Guinea-Conakry, Benin is also a nation in West Africa. Its neighboring countries are Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The total area of this country is approximately 114,763 sq. km.
Benin is the largest cotton producer on the African continent. Interestingly, French is the official language of this country.
Population
The present population of this country presently stands at 13.7 million. Most of the population resides in the southern coastal area of the Bight of Benin.
Brief History
The colors within the flag have cultural, political, and regional implications. While the green color aspires for a new democracy, the yellow denotes the nation’s wealth, and the red color shows the struggles encountered by forefathers.
The present flag came into existence on November 16, 1959. At that time, the country was officially known as Dahomey. During this time, Dahomey was still under French colonization.
The flag did not change even when Dahomey attained freedom from the French on August 1, 1960. However, when the People’s Republic of Benin was established in 1975, a new flag came into existence. This flag was completely green with a red star on its top-left corner.
The above flag remained in use until August 1, 1990, when the country restored its original flag following the setup of a multi-party democratic system.
4. Bolivia
Description
The Bolivian national flag is made up of red, yellow, and green bands lined horizontally with the Bolivian coat of arms centered right in the middle.
About
Bolivia, officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is located in Western-Central South America. It is bordered by countries such as Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. It is the fifth-largest country in South America spanning an area of 1,098,581 square kilometers.
Population
Presently, the population of Bolivia is around 1.2 crores. It represents about 0.15% of the total world population.
Brief History
The present Bolivian flag came into existence on 31 October 1851, almost 171 years ago. The flag is divided into red, yellow, and green bands in equal proportions. Like other national flags, every color band on this flag has some significance. Let us check them.
- Red: The red color signifies the martyred blood while attaining and protecting the Republic.
- Yellow: The yellow color represents the beauty of the country’s assets.
- Green: Green color symbolizes the abundance of nature within the country. It also represents values like hope.
5. Lithuania
Description
Just like Bolivia, the national flag of Lithuania has yellow, green, and red bands lined horizontally across the length of the flag.
About
The Republic of Lithuania lies in the Baltic region of Europe. It is a part of the Baltic states and is along the eastern coast of the Baltic sea. The country is bordered by Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and Russia. Lithuania figures in the list of highly developed countries.
Population
Lithuania’s population is about 28 lakhs.
Brief History
The Lithuanian flag was initially adopted on 25 April 1918. Once it was taken over by the Soviet Union, the flag was no longer in use for about 45-50 years. During this period, other flags authorized by the Soviets took charge.
Finally, on 18 November 1988, the original flag was restored once Lithuania gained freedom from Soviet rule. Each of the colors in the flag has its own significance.
- Yellow: The yellow band on the flag denotes the sun and the country’s well-being.
- Green: The green band represents the rich greenery of the country. It also signifies the country’s sovereignty and ambitions.
- Red: The red band represents the blood of those freedom fighters who laid their lives for the liberation of Lithuania.
6. Republic of the Congo
Description
Of all the flags that we have seen till now, the flag belonging to the Republic of the Congo is a little different, although it carries the same set of green, yellow and red colors.
This flag has the green, yellow and red colors laid out diagonally, with the green and red colors occupying equal space and shaped into right-angled triangles. The yellow-colored band occupies lesser space in comparison to the other two colors.
About
The Republic of the Congo is a country situated on the western coastline of Central Africa. It comes alongside the western banks of the Congo river and is surrounded by countries like Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is also partially bordered by the Atlantic ocean.
Population
This country has an approximate population of about 58.6 lakhs, comprising mainly of the urban population. About 0.07% of the world’s population lives in this nation.
Brief History
The Republic of the Congo was officially adopted on 15 September 1959. However, in 1968, when the People’s Republic of the Congo took over, even the flag underwent a change.
This flag was totally different, though it had the colors of green, red, and yellow, with majorly red color occupying the complete flag.
Finally, the original flag re-emerged again on 10 June 1991 after the downfall of the People’s Republic of the Congo.
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Green Yellow Red Flag With Star In Middle
In the above section, we came across flags having plain bands of red, yellow, and green. Now let us check out those countries whose flags have the same color combination along with a star in the middle.
1. Burkina Faso
Description
The Burkina Faso flag has red and green bands distributed equally along with a yellow star right at the center.
About
Burkina Faso is a country in West Africa, surrounded by Mali, Niger, Ghana, Benin, and Ivory Coast. Earlier, Burkina Faso was called the ‘Republic of Upper Volta’. The name of the country changed during the rule of President Thomas Sankara.
Population
Presently, the population of Burkina Faso stands at 2.23 crores. The urban population within the country accounts for about 30.6%.
Brief History
The flag of Burkina Faso also follows the Pan-African colors. This flag is in use since August 4, 1984. There was a coup in 1983 following which, President Thomas Sankara came into power and ultimately designed and authorized this flag.
Significance of flag colors:
- Red: The red color stands for progress and revolution.
- Green: The green color in the flag refers to the natural riches and the abundance of green wealth within the country.
- Yellow: The yellow star in the middle is like a source of inspiration for the country to progress and succeed.
2. Cameroon
Description
The Cameroon flag is divided into equal stripes of green, red, and yellow with a yellow-colored star in the center.
About
Cameroon is a country situated in West-Central Africa. Its neighboring countries are Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo.
Population
Cameroon is a densely populated nation having a count of around 2.83 crore people. The inhabitants of this nation are known to speak at least 250 local languages. The urban population accounts for about 56.3% of the total country’s population.
Brief History
The present national flag of Cameroon has been in use since the 20th of May, 1975. Cameroon was the second country to opt for the Pan-African colors in its flag.
Significance of flag colors:
- Green: The green color refers to the lush green forest spread in South Cameroon.
- Red: The red color within the flag is described as the “color of unity”.
- Yellow: The yellow color symbolizes the color of the sun. It also refers to the vast spread of woodlands and grasslands in North Cameroon.
- Yellow Star: The yellow star in the flag is called “the star of unity”.
3. Grenada
Description
Of all the flags that we have seen till now, this flag is the one having some designs in the form of stars and a nutmeg symbol.
The flag consists of two yellow-colored and green-colored triangles that are bordered by a red rectangle. This red border contains a total of six yellow stars – three at the top and three at the bottom.
Furthermore, another yellow star sits in the center of the flag within a red disc. And finally, a nutmeg symbol sits on the green triangle present at the hoist.
About
Grenada is an island country in the West Indies. It is one of the Caribbean islands. Two other islands that are a part of Grenada include Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Grenada is close to Trinidad and Tobago. Its total area is about 348.5 square kilometers.
Population
Being a tiny island country, Grenada does not have a very huge population. Presently, the population count of this country stands at 113,827. Therefore, it hardly contributes to the total world population.
Brief History
Sometime in 1967, Grenada attained the status of an “Associate State” after the British granted it approval. Soon, planning began for designing a separate flag for Grenada.
The flag was designed by a Grenadian artist named Anthony C. George. The present Grenada flag is in use since 7 February 1974.
Let us have a look at what the colors and the stars within the Grenadian flag imply.
- The red color in the flag denotes harmony, unity, courage, and vitality.
- The green color in the flag reflects the lush greenery and vegetation within the island.
- Like in most other flags, the yellow color denoted the color of the sun. It also reveals the warm and wise nature of its countrymen.
- The yellow star embedded within the red disc in the center of the flag represents St.George’s, the capital of Grenada.
- The remaining six stars in-housed within the red border represent the six administrative departments of the country.
- Grenada is known for producing nutmeg. It is the second-largest producer of this amazing spice with Indonesia being the leading producer. This explains the nutmeg symbol present on the flag’s hoist.
4. Mauritania
Description
The flag of Mauritania consists of two red bands – one at the top and the other at the bottom. Most of the portion is occupied by a wide green band. The green band in-houses a yellow star and a crescent, right at the center
About
Mauritania or the Islamic Republic of Mauritania is situated in Northwest Africa. It is surrounded partially by the Atlantic Ocean and Western Sahara. Its neighboring countries include Algeria, Mali, and Senegal. A majority of Mauritania’s territory lies within the Sahara Desert, roughly about 90%. It is the 11th largest country on the African continent.
Population
The present-day population of Mauritania is around 49 lakhs. It is not very densely populated and accounts for about 0.06% of the total world population.
Brief History
The present flag of Mauritania came into existence barely 5 years ago, on August 15, 2017. Prior to this, the original flag was devoid of the two red stripes that are a part of the current flag.
It was a bare green field with a yellow-colored star and a crescent below it. The earlier flag was designed under the supervision of President Moktar Ould Daddah.
On 5 August 2017, President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz held a referendum in which he proposed a change to the national flag. The proposal was accepted and the latest flag was adopted. It included the two red bands – one at the top and one at the bottom respectively.
The green color has a special significance in Islam, hence it occupies most of the area within the flag. Even the star and the crescent hold religious significance in Islam which explains their presence on the flag. The red and yellow colors have been introduced keeping the Pan-African sentiments in mind.
- As stated above, the green color represents Islam.
- The yellow color signifies the golden sands of the Sahara Desert.
- The red color represents the sweat, blood, efforts, and sacrifices of the people who were responsible for protecting the territory of Mauritania.
5. Senegal
Description
The flag of Senegal consists of green, yellow, and red bands lined vertically with a green star situated right in between.
About
The Republic of Senegal is located in Western Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean coast. Its neighbors include Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. The country has a land area of about 197,000 square kilometers.
Population
Currently, the population of Senegal is about 1.8 crores. About 0.21% of the total world population resides in this country.
Brief History
Senegal did not have a flag of its own when it was under French colonization. However, on 4 April 1959, it was combined with the French colony of Sudan, thereby giving rise to the Mali Federation which got a new flag.
This flag was made up of green, yellow, and red bands spread out vertically across its length. A human stickman, or a Kanaga, occupied space within the yellow band, right at the center.
However, this joint federation did not last very long. On August 20, 1960, Senegal became totally independent and decided to adopt a new flag. Hence the present flag came into existence at that time. A green star replaced the Kanaga in the middle.
Significance of the flag colors:
- Green is a sacred color in both Islam and Christianity. Hence this explains the presence of the green star and a green band. On the other hand, Christians view this color as a sign of hope.
- Yellow is recognized as a symbol of wealth, art, literature, and intellect.
- Red being the color of blood, recognizes the sacrifices of its countrymen.
There is also a political significance here. Historically, each of these three colors represents a political party.
- Green – Represents the Senegalese Democratic Bloc
- Yellow – Represents the Senegalese Popular Movement
- Red – Represents the Senegalese Party of Socialist Action
Green Yellow Red Flag With a Star Within a Blue Disc
Ethiopia is the only country in the world to have a green-yellow-red flag with a star embedded within a blue disc in between. To be more precise, the national emblem of Ethiopia is in the middle of the flag.
About
Ethiopia is located in the Somali Peninsula or the Horn of Africa. It is surrounded by countries like Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, and Sudan. Its total area is around 1,100,100 square kilometers.
Population
Ethiopia is a densely populated nation. Presently, the population of the country is around 12.2 crores. It is the 12th most populated country in the world and ranks 2nd in the list of most populated countries in Africa, trailing only behind Nigeria. Ethiopia contributes to about 1.47% of the total world population.
Brief History
- Ethiopia has mainly adopted the colors green, yellow, and red in its flags. The present flag containing the Ethiopian emblem has been in use since 2009.
- Starting from the late 19th century until now, Ethiopian flags have featured pennants, the first symbol of Emperor Menelik, the Lion of Judah, and green-yellow-red tricolor designs with varying symbols in the center. Check out these flags below.
1. Ethiopian Flag With Pennants
This flag contains pennants in red, yellow, and green colors respectively.
2. Ethiopian Flag With Emperor Menelik’s Symbol In the Center
Emperor Menelik authorized this flag after Ethiopia emerged victorious against Italy during the Battle of Adwa.This flag contains the first Ethiopian letter of his name inscribed in the center as shown above.
3. Green Yellow and Red flag with a Lion in the Center
This was the Ethiopian flag from 1974-1975.
4. Ethiopian Derg Flag
The Derg, or the Provisional Military Administrative Council (PMAC) ruled over the country from 1975-1987. During this period, the official flag was a blank tricolor of green, yellow, and red.
5. People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
The People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia flag was in use from 1987-1991. Check the flag displayed below.
6. Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
This is quite similar to the present Ethiopian flag, with a variation in the blue shade. The flag of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was used from 1996 to 2009.
Significance of flag colors:
- Green – Symbolises the rich fertile land
- Yellow – Symbolises qualities like hope
- Red – Symbolises the various sacrifices made by ancestors in protecting Ethiopia
- The yellow star reflects the dazzling future of Ethiopia
Green Yellow Red Flag With Black Star
Some flags have a combination of green, yellow and red colors with black stars. Let us check out which countries have such flags:
1. Ghana
Description
The flag of Ghana is divided into horizontal bands of red, yellow, and green with a black star in the middle. This sits exactly within the width of the yellow band.
About
The Republic of Ghana is a country situated in the western part of the African continent. Its neighboring countries are Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Togo. The total area of this country is about 238,535 sq. km.
Population
The population of Ghana is about 3.27 crores. About 0.4% of the total world population resides in Ghana
Brief History
The present flag of Ghana is in use since 1957. When the Dominion of Ghana achieved independence from European powers, Theodosia Salome Okoh designed the national flag.
The colors of the flag throw light on the nation’s struggle to achieve independence and also reflect its rich natural heritage.
- Like in most other flags, the red color depicts the struggles faced by the heroes of the nation in achieving freedom from European colonization.
- The yellow or gold color occupies the flag’s midsection. Gold is an important mineral found in a few sections of the nation, and this color is used to represent the same. Other important minerals found in the country include diamond, bauxite, and manganese.
- The green color represents the greenery present in the country in the form of forests and natural wealth.
- The black star is displayed to show Africa’s unity and resilience against imperialism.
2. Guinea-Bissau
Description
The flag of Guinea-Bissau contains a red band standing vertically at the hoist. The yellow and green bands are placed horizontally beside the red band. A black star sits within the red band at the hoist.
About
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is located in West Africa. It is surrounded by countries like Senegal and Guinea. It covers a total area of 36, 125 square kilometers.
Population
Presently, the population of Guinea-Bissau is around 20.9 lakhs. Since it is a small country, it is not very densely populated. Guinea-Bissau is home to about 0.03% of the total world population. There is a decent urban population within the nation.
Brief History
The present flag of Guinea-Bissau was born on September 24 1973 when the country freed itself from the Portugal rule.
The flag follows the principles of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), the main political party that helped the country in attaining independence. The national flag of Ghana was a big inspiration for this party to adopt this flag. The colors are not only Pan-African, but they also exhibit similar principles reflected by the Ghanian flag.
- The red color refers to the blood shared by freedom fighters to achieve independence.
- The yellow color signifies mineral wealth, i.e, gold.
- The green color represents the natural greenery and vegetation of the country.
3. Sao Tome and Principe
Description
The national flag of Sao Tome and Principe consists of a red triangle at the hoist, two green bands at the top, and the bottom with a yellow band occupying the central section. Two black stars sit within the yellow band.
About
Sao Tome and Principe is an island country in the Gulf of Guinea. It is located alongside the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. These islands came up owing to volcanic activity in deep waters around the area.
Population
The present population of this country stands at 2.29 lakhs. Being an island country, it is quite thinly populated. It hardly contributes to the world population.
Brief History
The flag of Sao Tome and Principe was designed by Manuel Pinto Da Costa, who was the then President and head of a political party called Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Príncipe (MLSTP).
This party was the driving force to liberate the country from the Portuguese. This design was approved after various proposals, all of which included the Pan-African colors.The present flag has been in use since 12 July 1975.
Significance of flag colors:
- The green color refers to the vegetation spread within the country.
- The yellow color symbolizes the sun and cocoa, which is the main agricultural crop in the region.
- The red color represents the sacrifices and struggles of the forefathers of the nation, who helped in achieving freedom.
- The two black stars represent the two islands that form this country.
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Conclusion
Well, we hope that by going through the above article, you have a very good idea about the countries having green, yellow and red flags.
We also hope that you have a lot of clarity on how and when these flags originated in their respective countries. We sincerely believe that we have added to your knowledge and learning regarding countries owning Pan-African flags.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Red Yellow Green Flags
What is the green red and yellow flag?
The green, red and yellow flag is called the Pan-African flag.
Which countries have green and red flags?
The flag of Morocco is completely red with a 5-pointer green star in between.
What flags are green yellow and blue?
The national flag of Gabon is a tricolor of green, yellow and blue bands.
What are green and red flags in a relationship?
In a relationship, a green flag means one is good to proceed ahead, whereas a red flag signals warning or danger signs.
Who started the green yellow red flag?
The Pan-African nations started the custom of having green, yellow, and red flags.