Flag of Mauritius
The Mauritius flag, known locally as the Four Bands, has four equal horizontal stripes: red, blue, yellow and green from top to bottom. It was raised for the first time on independence day, 12 March 1968.
What the flag of Mauritius looks like
The national flag of Mauritius has a ratio of 2:3 and consists of four horizontal bands of the same height. From top to bottom they are red, blue, yellow and green. There is no emblem or other detail, which makes the flag one of the simplest in the world. In French the flag is called Les Quatre Bandes, and in English it is the "Four Bands".
The colors are bold and easy to tell apart at a distance.
Mauritius flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#D01C1FRGB
208, 28, 31CMYK
0, 87, 85, 18 HEX
#008658RGB
0, 134, 88CMYK
100, 0, 34, 47 HEX
#2D3359RGB
45, 51, 89CMYK
49, 43, 0, 65 HEX
#F7B718RGB
247, 183, 24CMYK
0, 26, 90, 3 Mauritius flag meaning and symbolism
Each of the colors has an official meaning:
- Red represents the struggle for freedom and independence.
- Blue stands for the Indian Ocean that surrounds the island.
- Yellow is the golden light of independence shining over the island.
- Green stands for the island's agriculture and its green vegetation, all year round.
History of the Mauritius flag
Dutch sailors visited the island in 1598 and named it Mauritius after Prince Maurice of Nassau. The Dutch left in 1710. France took control in 1715 and called it Isle de France, and the British captured the island in 1810 and it was confirmed as British territory in 1814. Under British rule the island flew a blue ensign with the Union Jack and a colonial badge on the right side.
When independence approached, a flag committee asked for designs that would reflect the island's own colors rather than the old colonial ones. The Four Bands flag was chosen and was raised at midnight on 11 to 12 March 1968, when Mauritius became independent. Mauritius became a republic within the Commonwealth in 1992, and the flag was kept without any change.
You can also see the Mauritius flag emoji or browse other flags of Africa.
Mauritius flag facts
| Country | Mauritius |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | March 12, 1968 |
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Colors | #D01C1F, #008658, #2D3359, #F7B718 |
| Symbols | field |
| Flag emoji | 🇲🇺 |
| Country code | MU, MUS (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Port Louis |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population | 1,264,613 |
| Area | 2,040 km² |
| Currency | Mauritian rupee |
| National anthem | Motherland |
Mauritius flag: frequently asked questions
What is the flag of Mauritius called?
It is called the Four Bands (Les Quatre Bandes in French). The name refers to the four equal horizontal stripes of red, blue, yellow and green.
What do the colors of the Mauritius flag mean?
Red stands for the struggle for freedom, blue for the Indian Ocean, yellow for the light of independence and green for agriculture and vegetation.
Was Mauritius a French or British colony?
Both. France held the island from 1715 to 1810 and the British ruled it from 1810 until independence in 1968. Both languages left their mark: English is the official language, French is widely spoken, and most people also use Mauritian Creole.
Which country is Mauritius in?
Mauritius is an independent island country in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. Its capital and largest city is Port Louis.
Why is Mauritius so Indian?
After slavery was abolished in the 1830s, the British brought a large number of workers from India to work on sugar plantations. Their descendants now form around two-thirds of the population.
