Flag of Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone flag is a horizontal tricolor of light green, white and blue, in three bands of equal size. It was first raised on 27 April 1961, the day the country became independent from Britain.
What the flag of Sierra Leone looks like
The flag of Sierra Leone has three horizontal bands of equal height: light green at the top, white in the middle and blue at the bottom. The ratio is 2:3. There is no emblem on the national flag, and the design relies on the three flat colors alone.
The coat of arms of Sierra Leone, with its two lions and a palm tree, is used separately on documents and official seals. See the Sierra Leone flag emoji and the download page for ready-to-use images.
Sierra Leone flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#1EB53ARGB
30, 181, 58CMYK
83, 0, 68, 29 HEX
#0072C6RGB
0, 114, 198CMYK
100, 42, 0, 22 HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0 Sierra Leone flag meaning and colors
The usual explanation is as follows:
- Green stands for agriculture, the country's natural resources and its mountains.
- White stands for unity and justice.
- Blue evokes the natural harbor of Freetown, the capital, and the hope of contributing to world peace.
The design is simple: three bands that are easy to see from a distance and to reproduce.
History of the Sierra Leone flag
The name Sierra Leone comes from the Portuguese explorers who sailed along this coast in the 15th century and named it after the hills near present-day Freetown, which they likened to a lion's mountains. In 1787 British abolitionists founded Freetown as a settlement for freed and formerly enslaved people, and in 1808 it became a British Crown colony. Under British rule the territory flew the Blue Ensign defaced with the arms of the colony.
The green, white and blue tricolor was designed in 1960 with the College of Arms, in anticipation of independence, and was first hoisted at midnight on 27 April 1961, the day of independence. When Sierra Leone became a republic in 1971, it kept the same flag. The design has not changed since.
Flags that look like Sierra Leone's flag
Among national flags, few combine green, white and blue horizontal bands in this way; the flag of Ecuador's Galapagos Province is almost identical, with slightly different shades. Gabon has green, yellow and blue, and the neighboring Guinea and Liberia use quite different designs. For other African flags see the Africa flags page.
Sierra Leone flag facts
| Country | Sierra Leone |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | April 27, 1961 |
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Colors | #1EB53A, #0072C6, #FFFFFF |
| Flag emoji | 🇸🇱 |
| Country code | SL, SLE (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Freetown |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population | 7,557,212 |
| Area | 71,740 km² |
| Currency | leone |
| National anthem | High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free |
Sierra Leone flag: frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of the Sierra Leone flag?
Green stands for agriculture, mountains and natural resources, white for unity and justice, and blue for Freetown's natural harbor and hope for world peace.
When was the Sierra Leone flag adopted?
It was first hoisted at midnight on 27 April 1961, when Sierra Leone gained independence from the United Kingdom, and it has not changed since.
What did Sierra Leone used to be called?
The name comes from the Portuguese Serra Leoa, meaning roughly Lion Mountains. In the colonial period the territory was known as the Colony and Protectorate of Sierra Leone.
Which country is Sierra Leone from?
Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa on the Atlantic coast. It borders Guinea to the north and east and Liberia to the southeast, and its capital is Freetown.
What language do they speak in Sierra Leone?
English is the official language, and Krio, an English-based creole, is the most widely spoken language. Mende and Temne are the largest local languages.
