Flags by color · 13 flags
Red, White, Green and Black Flags
Only 8 flags use exactly red, white, green and black: the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Palestine, Sudan, Syria and Western Sahara.
Flags that are only red, white, green and black8
Flags with red, white, green and black and other colors5
Which countries have red, white, green and black flags?
Seven of the eight flags are from the Arab world, and they share one logic: bands of black, white and green or red, and most add a triangle or other shape on the hoist side.
- Jordan: black, white and green stripes with a red chevron holding a white seven-pointed star.
- Palestine: the same three stripes with a red triangle on the hoist.
- Western Sahara: also black, white and green stripes with a red triangle, plus a red crescent and star in the center.
- Sudan: red, white and black stripes with a green triangle.
- Syria: green, white and black stripes with three red stars.
- Kuwait: green, white and red stripes with a black trapezoid on the hoist.
- United Arab Emirates: a vertical red bar next to green, white and black horizontal stripes.
The odd one out is Kenya. Its black, red and green stripes are separated by white fimbriations, and a Maasai shield with two spears sits in the center. Zimbabwe, South Sudan, South Africa, Guyana and Dominica use these colors too, but with extra colors such as yellow, so they are not exact matches.
Why are red, white, green and black so common on Arab flags?
The four colors are known as the Pan-Arab colors. They come from the flag of the Arab Revolt of 1916 against Ottoman rule, which used black, white, green and red, and many later Arab states built their flags from the same palette. Each color is often linked to an Arab dynasty or era, and the triangle or chevron on the hoist is a direct echo of the Revolt flag.
Kenya's palette has a different story. Black stands for the people, red for the struggle for independence, green for the land and white for peace. Kenya shares the same four colors with the Arab flags, but the designs and their origins are unrelated.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has a red, white, green and black flag?
Eight flags match exactly: the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Palestine, Sudan, Syria and Western Sahara.
What is the black, white and green flag with a red triangle?
That is Palestine. Jordan is similar but has a red triangle with a white seven-pointed star, and Western Sahara adds a red crescent and star.
What are the Pan-Arab colors?
Red, white, green and black. They come from the 1916 Arab Revolt flag and appear on the flags of Jordan, Kuwait, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, the UAE and others.
Which flag has red, white and black stripes with a green triangle?
Sudan. Syria's flag has green, white and black stripes with three red stars instead.
Which red, white, green and black flags have extra colors?
Five of the thirteen flags add colors. Dominica, Guyana and Zimbabwe add yellow, South Sudan adds light blue, and South Africa adds yellow and blue. The other eight use only red, white, green and black. These five are counted on this page because they still contain all four basic colors.
What is the emblem on the Kenyan flag?
The center of the Kenyan flag shows a Maasai shield with crossed spears. The flag has black, red and green stripes, separated by thin white bands. See the flag of Kenya. The same white-separated band design appears on the South Sudan flag.