Flag of Madagascar
The Madagascar flag has a white vertical band at the hoist and two horizontal bands, red above green, on the right. It was adopted on 21 October 1958 and kept after independence in 1960.
What the flag of Madagascar looks like
The flag of Madagascar is made of three blocks. A white vertical band takes up about a third of the width on the hoist side, next to the flagpole. The remaining space on the right is split into two equal horizontal bands, red on top and green below. The proportions are 2:3. There is no emblem or other symbol.
The layout is unusual because only a few national flags combine one vertical band with two horizontal ones. The flag of Benin is the closest relative, but it has a green vertical band with yellow and red stripes. For the emoji version, see the Madagascar flag emoji.
Madagascar flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#F9423ARGB
249, 66, 58CMYK
0, 73, 77, 2 HEX
#00843DRGB
0, 132, 61CMYK
100, 0, 54, 48 HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0 Madagascar flag meaning and symbolism
The colors link the flag to the history of the island's peoples. White is commonly said to stand for purity. Red is said to stand for sovereignty, and green is said to stand for hope. A second reading ties the colors to groups of people. Red and white were the colors of the Merina Kingdom, which unified much of the island in the 19th century and had a capital at Antananarivo. Green is said to have been added for the coastal peoples, so that the flag would speak for the whole population.
As with many national flags, the exact meanings are taught in school but are not fixed in a detailed legal explanation, so you may see slightly different versions.
History of the Madagascar flag
Before French rule, the Kingdom of Madagascar flew flags in red and white. Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 and used the French tricolor. In 1958, when the island became an autonomous republic within the French Community, it adopted the red, white and green flag. This was before full independence, which came on 26 June 1960, and the flag was kept as the national flag.
The flag has stayed in use since then through several changes of government. Madagascar, an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa, is an African country and a member of the African Union.
Madagascar flag facts
| Country | Madagascar |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | October 14, 1958 |
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Colors | #F9423A, #00843D, #FFFFFF |
| Symbols | field, flanche |
| Flag emoji | π²π¬ |
| Country code | MG, MDG (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Antananarivo |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population | 31,964,956 |
| Area | 587,295 kmΒ² |
| Currency | ariary |
| National anthem | Ry Tanindrazanay malala Γ΄! |
Madagascar flag: frequently asked questions
What does the Madagascar flag symbolize?
White stands for purity, red for sovereignty and green for hope. The red and white also recall the old Merina Kingdom, and the green represents the coastal peoples.
Did Madagascar change its flag?
The red, white and green flag was adopted in 1958 and has been used since, including after independence in 1960. Earlier, the island used royal flags and the French tricolor.
Is Madagascar an African country?
Yes. Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the southeast coast of Africa, and it is a member of the African Union. It separated from the African mainland tens of millions of years ago.
What flag is similar to Madagascar's?
The flag of Benin has the same layout of one vertical band and two horizontal bands. Benin's has a green vertical band with yellow and red, and Madagascar's has white with red and green.
What country is π²π¬?
The flag emoji π²π¬ shows the flag of Madagascar, with Antananarivo as its capital.
