South America · GY / GUY
Flag of Guyana
The Guyana flag is known as the Golden Arrowhead: a green field with a long gold arrowhead pointing to the fly, edged in white, and a smaller red arrowhead edged in black. It was first raised when Guyana became independent on 26 May 1966.
What the flag of Guyana looks like
The flag of Guyana has a green field with two overlapping triangles that point from the hoist (the side nearest the pole) toward the fly. The larger triangle is gold and has a thin white border. On top of it sits a shorter red triangle with a black border. Together they form the arrowhead shape that gives the flag its nickname. The proportions are 3:5.
The triangles meet the hoist edge along the full height of the flag, and the gold one reaches the fly edge at its middle point, so the green is left in two wedges above and below the arrow. Few national flags use this arrowhead layout, so Guyana's is easy to recognize. Do not confuse it with the flag of French Guiana, an overseas department of France that uses the French tricolor. You can also see the flag as the Guyana flag emoji.
Guyana flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#2A936ARGB
42, 147, 106CMYK
71, 0, 28, 42HEX
#BE1E2DRGB
190, 30, 45CMYK
0, 84, 76, 25HEX
#FFC20ERGB
255, 194, 14CMYK
0, 24, 95, 0HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0HEX
#010000RGB
1, 0, 0CMYK
0, 100, 100, 100Guyana flag meaning and symbolism
The official explanation gives each color its own meaning:
- Green stands for agriculture and forests.
- White stands for rivers and water. Guyana's name is usually said to mean "land of many waters".
- Gold stands for mineral wealth.
- Black stands for endurance.
- Red stands for zeal and dynamism.
History of the Guyana flag
Before independence Guyana was the British colony of British Guiana, which flew the British Blue Ensign with the colony's badge, a sailing ship, on the fly. The first colonial flag was introduced in 1875 and was slightly changed in 1906 and 1955.
As independence approached, the flag was designed by the American vexillologist Whitney Smith. His original design had no white and black borders; they were added later on the suggestion of the College of Arms in the United Kingdom. The new flag was raised on 26 May 1966, the day Guyana became independent from the United Kingdom, and it has not changed since. Four years later, in 1970, Guyana became a republic, but the flag stayed the same.
Flag facts and use
Guyana's Independence Day on 26 May and Republic Day on 23 February are the main days when the flag is flown in large numbers. See other flags of South America for comparison.
Guyana flag facts
| Country | Guyana |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | May 26, 1966 |
| Proportions | 3:5 |
| Colors | #2A936A, #BE1E2D, #FFC20E, #FFFFFF, #010000 |
| Symbols | equilateral triangle |
| Flag emoji | 🇬🇾 |
| Country code | GY, GUY (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Georgetown |
| Continent | South America |
| Population | 878,674 |
| Area | 214,970 km² |
| Currency | Guyanese dollar |
| National anthem | National anthem of Guyana |
Guyana flag: frequently asked questions
What does the Guyana flag symbolize?
Green is for agriculture and forests, white for rivers and water, gold for mineral wealth, black for endurance and red for zeal and dynamism.
Who designed the Guyana flag?
The design was made by the American vexillologist Whitney Smith. His original design had no black and white borders; they were added later on the suggestion of the College of Arms in the United Kingdom.
Is Guyana the same as British Guiana?
Yes. Guyana is the former colony of British Guiana, which became independent from the United Kingdom on 26 May 1966. The colony flew a British Blue Ensign instead of the Golden Arrowhead.
Is the French Guiana flag the same as the Guyana flag?
No. French Guiana is part of France and uses the French tricolor of blue, white and red. Guyana and Suriname are separate sovereign countries next to it.
Does Guyana have a new flag?
No. The Golden Arrowhead has been the national flag since 1966, and there has been no official change since.
Is Guyana Dutch or British?
Both, in turn. The Dutch founded the first colonies from the 1580s onward. Britain took control in 1796, and the Dutch formally ceded the territory in 1814. It became British Guiana and gained independence on 26 May 1966.
Is Guyana a part of Africa?
No. Guyana is on the northern coast of South America, though it is closely linked to the Caribbean and hosts the CARICOM headquarters.
