Eritrea

3×5' nylon national flag of Eritrea.

Eritrea's flag carries a count of years. The golden olive wreath at the hoist has 30 leaves, one for each year of the war of independence, fought from 1961 to 1991.

Design

A red isosceles triangle stretches from the full height of the hoist to a point at the center of the fly, dividing a green triangle above from a blue triangle below. In the red, near the hoist, is a vertical gold olive branch encircled by a gold olive wreath.

History & Symbolism

The flag is based on the banner of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, with the olive emblem taken from Eritrea's flag of the 1950s, when it was federated with Ethiopia under UN arrangements. It was first raised at independence on 24 May 1993 and adjusted to its current proportions on 5 December 1995. Green stands for agriculture, blue for the Red Sea coast, and red for the blood of the liberation struggle.

Flag Specifications

• Adopted: 24 May 1993; current form 5 December 1995
• Official proportions: 1:2
• Colors: red, green, blue, gold
• Emblem: olive branch in a wreath of 30 leaves

Vexillographer's Note

The wreath must stand upright in the red triangle near the hoist, not centered on the flag.

Humphrys Flag Company · Old City Philadelphia · Est. 1864