Africa · GM / GMB
Flag of The Gambia
The Gambia flag has three wide horizontal bands of red, blue and green, with the blue band separated from the others by thin white stripes. The blue represents the Gambia River, which runs through the middle of the country.
What the flag of The Gambia looks like
The national flag of the Gambia has five horizontal stripes. Red is at the top, then a thin white stripe, a blue band, another thin white stripe and green at the bottom. In proportion the stripes are 6:1:4:1:6, so red and green are the widest, blue is about two-thirds of that, and the white stripes are narrow dividers. The flag is 2:3.
There is no emblem or text on it. The colors of the flag are the same as those on the coat of arms of the Gambia. See also the Gambia flag emoji.
Gambia 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, 19HEX
#3A7728RGB
58, 119, 40CMYK
51, 0, 66, 53HEX
#0C1C8CRGB
12, 28, 140CMYK
91, 80, 0, 45HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0Gambia flag meaning and symbolism
The meanings given for the colors are:
- Red for the sun and the savanna
- Blue for the Gambia River, the country's main waterway and the origin of its name.
- Green for forests and agriculture.
- White for peace and unity, the two stripes that keep the other colors apart.
The country is a narrow strip of land on both banks of the river, so the blue band running through the center of the flag echoes the nation's key geographical feature. Unlike many African flags, it does not use the colors of a political party; its design is said to have “no political basis”.
History of the Gambia flag
The British first arrived in 1661, when they conquered James Island, and gradually expanded their control upstream. The area became a protectorate in the 1820s under Sierra Leone and a separate crown colony in 1888. It then used a British Blue Ensign with a badge showing a circle with an elephant, a palm tree and hills, and the letter G.
The Gambia was granted self-governance in 1963 and became independent from the United Kingdom on 18 February 1965, and the present flag was first hoisted at midnight on that day. The winning design was created by Louis Thomasi, an accountant. The country became a republic within the Commonwealth in 1970.
The flag stayed unchanged during the seven-year confederation with Senegal (1982 to 1989), survived the 1994 military coup led by Yahya Jammeh and 22 years of his rule, and it was kept after Adama Barrow won the 2016 presidential election.
Gambia flag facts
| Country | Republic of The Gambia |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | February 18, 1965 |
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Colors | #CE1126, #3A7728, #0C1C8C, #FFFFFF |
| Flag emoji | 🇬🇲 |
| Country code | GM, GMB (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Banjul |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population | 2,639,916 |
| Area | 11,300 km² |
| Currency | dalasi |
| National anthem | For The Gambia Our Homeland |
Gambia flag: frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of the Gambia flag?
Red stands for the sun and savanna, blue for the Gambia River, green for forests and farmland, and the white stripes for peace and unity.
What was Gambia called before?
It was a British colony and protectorate, the Gambia Colony and Protectorate, until independence in 1965. The name comes from the Gambia River.
Who designed the flag of The Gambia?
The winning design was created by Louis Thomasi, an accountant. It was first raised on 18 February 1965, the day the country became independent from the United Kingdom.
Is Gambia an African country?
Yes. The Gambia is in West Africa. It is the smallest country on mainland Africa and is almost entirely surrounded by Senegal. Browse flags of Africa.
What was the original Gambia flag before 1965?
Before independence the Gambia used the British Blue Ensign defaced with the arms of the Gambia Colony and Protectorate. Those arms showed an elephant, a palm tree and hills, plus the letter G. The new red, blue and green flag replaced it on 18 February 1965.
Did the Gambia flag change during the confederation with Senegal?
No. The Gambia and Senegal formed the Senegambia confederation in 1982, which lasted seven years until 1989. The Gambian flag stayed the same and kept flying throughout, so there is no separate flag from that period.
Are the Gambia flag colors taken from a political party?
No. It is one of the few African flags that does not use the colors of the leading party, because its design has no political basis. The red, blue, green and white match the national coat of arms instead.
