Europe ยท GI / GIB
Flag of Gibraltar
The Gibraltar flag has two horizontal bands, a white one on top that is twice as wide as the red one below. A red castle with three towers stands in the center with a gold key hanging from its gate.
What the flag of Gibraltar looks like
The flag of Gibraltar has two horizontal bands: white on top, making up two-thirds of the height, and red below, making up one-third. The proportions are 1:2. In the middle of the white band is a red castle with three towers. A gold key hangs from the castle gate, centred in the red band.
The flag is an elongated banner of the coat of arms of Gibraltar, granted in 1502. It is the only flag of a British Overseas Territory that does not feature the Union Jack in any form. The castle is supposed to represent the fortress of Gibraltar, and the key reflects the idea of Gibraltar as the key to the Mediterranean. You can see a small version of the design in the Gibraltar flag emoji.
Gibraltar flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0HEX
#DA000CRGB
218, 0, 12CMYK
0, 100, 94, 15HEX
#850007RGB
133, 0, 7CMYK
0, 100, 95, 48Gibraltar flag meaning and symbolism
The castle is supposed to represent the fortress of Gibraltar, although it does not resemble any actual castle there. The key is said to symbolise the fortress's significance: Gibraltar was seen as the key to Spain by the Moors and the Spanish, and later as the key to the Mediterranean by the British.
The flag is flown throughout Gibraltar, sometimes officially alongside the Union Flag and the Commonwealth Flag, including at the frontier with Spain and on the Parliament Building. It is a popular sign of local identity, and on National Day, 10 September, many homes and offices hang it from their windows and balconies.
History of the Gibraltar flag
The design goes back to 1502, when Isabella I of Castile granted Gibraltar a coat of arms in a royal warrant. The warrant described a red castle on a white field with a gold key hanging below it on red, and the same arms are still the basis of the flag. Spain held Gibraltar until 1704, when it was captured by an Anglo-Dutch force during the War of the Spanish Succession. Spain ceded it to Great Britain in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.
The flag was regularised in its present form in 1982. Gibraltar also has separate government ensigns and governor's flags.
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory, and Spain maintains a claim to it. In referendums in 1967 and 2002, voters in Gibraltar chose by large majorities to stay under British sovereignty. See also the flag of Spain and the flag of the United Kingdom.
Gibraltar flag facts
| Country | Gibraltar |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | 1982 |
| Proportions | 1:2 |
| Colors | #FFFFFF, #DA000C, #850007 |
| Flag emoji | ๐ฌ๐ฎ |
| Country code | GI, GIB (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Gibraltar |
| Continent | Europe |
| Population | 34,003 |
| Area | 7 kmยฒ |
| Currency | Gibraltar pound |
| National anthem | God Save the King |
Gibraltar flag: frequently asked questions
What is on the Gibraltar flag?
It has a white band over a red band, with a red three-towered castle and a gold key hanging from the gate. The castle and key come from the coat of arms of Gibraltar.
Does Gibraltar have its own flag?
Yes. The castle and key flag was regularised in 1982, and it is sometimes flown officially alongside the Union Flag.
Is Gibraltar part of the UK or Spain?
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory. It has been under British sovereignty since 1713, but Spain claims it. It is not part of the United Kingdom itself.
Are Gibraltarians UK citizens?
Yes. Since the British Overseas Territories Act took effect on 21 May 2002, Gibraltarians are British citizens. They have their own identity, speak English, and many also speak Spanish.
What is ๐ฌ๐ฎ?
The emoji ๐ฌ๐ฎ shows the flag of Gibraltar, with the white and red bands and the castle and key.
Why did Spain give Gibraltar to Britain?
Spain ceded it in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, which ended Britain's part in the War of the Spanish Succession. An Anglo-Dutch fleet had captured the town in 1704. The treaty gave Gibraltar to Great Britain "in perpetuity".
Does the Gibraltar flag have the Union Jack on it?
No. Gibraltar is the only British Overseas Territory whose flag has no Union Jack in any form. The Union Flag is flown separately, sometimes officially next to the castle and key flag.
