Flag of Monaco
The Monaco flag consists of two equal horizontal bands, red above white. Its colors come from the coat of arms of the Grimaldi family, who have ruled the principality since the Middle Ages. It looks almost the same as the flag of Indonesia.
What the flag of Monaco looks like
The flag of Monaco is a bicolor made of two horizontal bands of equal height: red at the top, white at the bottom. It has no emblem. Its proportions are 4:5, which makes it narrower than most national flags, which usually have a ratio of 2:3.
The flag is simple to draw and to recognize at a distance, and it is flown on public buildings and ships and at national celebrations. The Monaco flag emoji shows only the two bands.
Monaco flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#CE1126RGB
206, 17, 38CMYK
0, 92, 82, 19 HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0 Monaco flag meaning and colors
Red and white are the colors of the House of Grimaldi, the ruling family of Monaco since the late 13th century. They appear in the family's arms, which show a field of red and white diamond shapes (lozenges). The flag therefore has a personal, dynastic origin and not the more common symbolism of blood and purity, although those meanings are sometimes given to red and white in general.
History of the Monaco flag
The Grimaldi family took control of the Rock of Monaco in 1297, and has kept power in the principality, with some breaks, ever since. The colors of the family arms were used on banners for centuries. The red and white bicolor was formally adopted as the national flag on 4 April 1881 under Prince Charles III. France recognized Monaco's sovereignty in the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1861, and the country has kept its own flag, anthem and prince since then.
Monaco's national day is 19 November, when the flag is flown across the principality.
Monaco flag vs Indonesia and Poland
The flag of Indonesia is also red over white, and the two are so close that they are often mixed up. The main difference is the shape: Indonesia's flag has a ratio of 2:3 and is longer, while Monaco's is 4:5. The two flags have unrelated origins: Indonesia's colors are taken from the Majapahit empire, and Monaco's from the Grimaldi arms. Monaco's flag was in use well before Indonesia became independent in 1945.
The flag of Poland has the same colors with the order reversed, white over red, and a ratio of 5:8. Remember that in Monaco the red is above, and in Poland it is below.
Monaco flag facts
| Country | Monaco |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | April 4, 1881 |
| Proportions | 4:5 |
| Colors | #CE1126, #FFFFFF |
| Symbols | field |
| Flag emoji | 🇲🇨 |
| Country code | MC, MCO (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Monaco |
| Continent | Europe |
| Population | 38,857 |
| Area | 2 km² |
| National anthem | Hymne monégasque |
Monaco flag: frequently asked questions
Why is Monaco's flag the same as Indonesia's?
The designs developed separately. Monaco's red and white come from the Grimaldi coat of arms, while Indonesia's come from its historical heritage. The flags differ in proportion, 4:5 for Monaco and 2:3 for Indonesia.
What is the difference between the Monaco and Poland flags?
Monaco's flag is red over white and nearly square, with a ratio of 4:5. Poland's is white over red with a ratio of 5:8.
Why does Monaco have a separate flag?
Monaco is a sovereign principality, independent of France since the treaty of 1861, and it has its own head of state, Prince Albert II, and a flag based on the Grimaldi colors.
What was Monaco before it was a country?
It was a fortified rock held by the Grimaldi family from 1297 and later fell under the protection of other powers, among them Spain, France and the Kingdom of Sardinia, before its sovereignty was confirmed.
