Flag of New Caledonia
New Caledonia uses two flags side by side: the French tricolour and the Kanak flag, a horizontal triband of blue, red and green with a yellow disc. This arrangement has been official since 2010.
What the flag of New Caledonia looks like
The Kanak flag has three horizontal bands of equal height: blue at the top, red in the middle and green at the bottom. On the hoist side is a large yellow disc with a black outline, which overlaps the three bands. Inside the disc is a black flèche faîtière, a carved spire that stands on the roof of a traditional Kanak chief's house.
It is flown with the flag of France: three vertical bands of blue, white and red. The French flag is the national flag, and the Kanak flag is the flag of the territory's indigenous people. Both are raised together on official buildings. The flag is also shown as an emoji on the New Caledonia flag emoji page.
New Caledonia flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#0035ADRGB
0, 53, 173CMYK
100, 69, 0, 32 HEX
#009543RGB
0, 149, 67CMYK
100, 0, 55, 42 HEX
#ED4135RGB
237, 65, 53CMYK
0, 73, 78, 7 HEX
#FAE600RGB
250, 230, 0CMYK
0, 8, 100, 2 HEX
#010100RGB
1, 1, 0CMYK
0, 0, 100, 100 New Caledonia flag meaning and symbolism
The Kanak flag was designed to carry the colors and ideas of the independence movement. Blue stands for the sky and the sea, which surround the islands. Red is the color of the Kanak struggle and the blood shed, and it is also said to stand for unity. Green stands for the land and the forests. The yellow disc is the sun, which gives life to all people, and the black spire is the symbol of the Kanak identity and the chief's authority.
The French tricolour is a symbol of the French state, of which New Caledonia is part. Its meaning in the territory is different for different people, which is part of the reason for the use of two flags.
History of the flags of New Caledonia
France took possession of New Caledonia in 1853 and ran it first as a colony and a penal settlement. The French tricolour was the only flag for most of the next century and a half. In 1984 the FLNKS, the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front, adopted the flag now known as the Kanak flag as its banner for independence. For many years it was used only as a political flag, and its display was a matter of dispute.
The 1998 Nouméa Accord gave the territory more autonomy and allowed it to take its own symbols. After years of discussion, the territory's Congress agreed in 2010 that both flags would be flown together at public buildings. In three referendums (2018, 2020 and 2021) voters chose to remain part of France, but the question of the future status remains under discussion. New Caledonia also has provincial flags used by each of its three provinces. For more on the French flag, see the flag of France.
New Caledonia flag facts
| Country | New Caledonia |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | 2010 |
| Proportions | 1:2 |
| Colors | #0035AD, #009543, #ED4135, #FAE600, #010100 |
| Symbols | field |
| Flag emoji | 🇳🇨 |
| Country code | NC, NCL (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Nouméa |
| Continent | Oceania |
| Population | 278,500 |
| Area | 18,576 km² |
| Currency | CFP Franc |
| National anthem | Soyons unis, devenons frères |
New Caledonia flag: frequently asked questions
Does New Caledonia have two flags?
Yes. Since 2010 the French tricolour and the blue, red and green Kanak flag are flown together on official buildings. The first is the national flag, and the second is the flag of the Kanak people.
Why does New Caledonia have two flags?
New Caledonia is a French territory with a large indigenous Kanak population, and it has a long-running debate about autonomy and independence. Under the Nouméa Accord both flags were accepted as official symbols as a compromise.
Is New Caledonia a country?
It is not an independent country. It is a special collectivity of France with its own government and a high degree of autonomy. Voters rejected independence in referendums in 2018, 2020 and 2021.
What language is spoken in New Caledonia?
French is the official language. About 28 Kanak languages are also spoken, such as Drehu, Nengone and Paicî.
What do the colors of the Kanak flag mean?
Blue stands for the sky and sea, red for the Kanak struggle and unity, green for the land, and the yellow disc for the sun.
