Tunisia

3×5' nylon national flag of Tunisia.

Tunisia's flag is one of the oldest in the Arab world. It was introduced by the Bey of Tunis around 1831, after the Tunisian navy was lost at the Battle of Navarino and the Bey wanted a flag of his own.

Design

A red field with a white disc at the center bearing a red crescent and a red five-pointed star.

History & Symbolism

The design reflects Tunisia's historic ties to the Ottoman Empire, whose flag also used a crescent and star on red. It was kept at independence from France in 1956, confirmed in the constitution of 1959, and its exact dimensions were fixed by law on 30 June 1999. Red stands for the blood of the martyrs, white for peace, and the crescent and star for unity and Islam.

Flag Specifications

• Adopted: about 1831; standardized 30 June 1999
• Official proportions: 2:3
• Colors: red, white
• Emblem: crescent and star in a white disc

Vexillographer's Note

The crescent wraps closely around the star. Turkey's flag uses a similar pairing without the white disc.

Humphrys Flag Company · Old City Philadelphia · Est. 1864