Antarctica · AQ / ATA
Flag of Antarctica
Antarctica has no official flag, because no government rules the continent. The design shown here is the one by Graham Bartram from 1996, an unofficial flag: a white map of the continent on a dark blue field.
What the Antarctica flag looks like
The flag shown on this page is a simple blue rectangle with a width-to-height ratio of 2:3. In the center is a white outline of Antarctica in a stylized form, drawn as a map seen from above the South Pole. Only two colors are used: dark blue for the background and white for the continent.
The design was created in 1996 by Graham Bartram, a British vexillologist (a person who studies flags) and chief vexillologist of the Flag Institute, modeled on the flag of the United Nations and inspired by the emblem of the Antarctic Treaty System. It is not the "True South" flag, a separate 2018 proposal by Evan Townsend with navy and white stripes. Bartram's design is the one shown for the Antarctica flag emoji (see the emoji page).
Antarctica flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#072B5FRGB
7, 43, 95CMYK
93, 55, 0, 63HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0Antarctica flag meaning and symbolism
The white map shows the continent as a single landmass, with no borders and no national symbols. This reflects the way Antarctica is governed: it belongs to no country, and is used for peaceful scientific research. Following the United Nations flag, the plain white map on blue is meant to symbolize neutrality. The blue can also be read as the Southern Ocean around the continent and the white as its ice.
Why Antarctica has no official flag
A flag is normally adopted by a state or a government. Antarctica has no permanent population and no government of its own. Seven countries have made territorial claims: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. Several claims overlap, and many other countries do not recognize any of them.
The Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 and in force since 1961, freezes these claims. It reserves the continent south of 60 degrees south for peaceful purposes and science, and it bans military activity. A later agreement, the Madrid Protocol, bans mining. The treaty system has its own emblem, which officially represents the Antarctic Treaty System and not the continent itself. Since there is no institution that can adopt a flag for the whole continent, every proposed flag is used unofficially.
Other Antarctic flags and proposals
- Other proposals. Vexillologists and enthusiasts have suggested many other designs, including Whitney Smith's 1978 orange flag with a white emblem and Evan Townsend's 2018 "True South" flag with navy and white stripes. None is official.
- Territorial flags. Some claimed areas have flags of their own, such as the British Antarctic Territory and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
- National flags at research stations. The flags seen on the continent are mostly those of the countries that operate research bases, flown at each station.
- Expedition flags. Explorers and tourists often carry their own flag to mark a visit or a record.
For more about flags that are used by territories and regions, browse flags of the world.
Antarctica flag facts
| Country | Antarctica |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Colors | #072B5F, #FFFFFF |
| Flag emoji | 🇦🇶 |
| Country code | AQ, ATA (ISO 3166) |
| Population | 5,000 |
| Area | 14,000,000 km² |
Antarctica flag: frequently asked questions
Does Antarctica have a flag?
Not an official one. Antarctica is not a country and no government can adopt a flag for it. The widely used unofficial design is by Graham Bartram, a white map on a blue field. Another proposal, "True South" by Evan Townsend, is also used.
Which 7 countries claim Antarctica?
Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. Claims by Argentina, Chile and the United Kingdom overlap, and the Antarctic Treaty suspends all claims.
What is the Antarctica flag emoji?
The emoji represents Antarctica and usually appears as a white outline of the continent on a blue background, based on Graham Bartram's unofficial design.
Are there any flags in Antarctica?
Yes. Research stations fly the flags of the countries that run them, and visitors often carry expedition flags. The continent itself has no official flag.
Which continent has zero human population?
Antarctica has no permanent residents. A few thousand scientists and support staff live at research stations, with the number higher in summer than in winter.
Has the Antarctica flag changed recently?
Graham Bartram updated his unofficial design in 2024, replacing the solid white map with multicolored dots resembling pieces of plastic, to raise awareness of microplastics. No flag is official; since 2015 his original white-on-blue design has been used for the emoji on most platforms.
Why isn't Antarctica on the UN flag?
The UN emblem is a map centered on the North Pole that extends only to 60 degrees south latitude, so Antarctica lies outside it. The Antarctica flag by Graham Bartram was modeled on the UN flag, with a plain white map on blue to symbolize neutrality.