Africa · LS / LSO
Flag of Lesotho
The Lesotho flag is a horizontal tricolor of blue, white and green with a black mokorotlo, the traditional Basotho straw hat, in the center. It was adopted in 2006, 40 years after independence.
What the flag of Lesotho looks like
The national flag of Lesotho has a ratio of 2:3 and three horizontal bands. Blue is on top, a wider white band is in the middle and green is at the bottom. In the center of the white band is a black mokorotlo, a cone-shaped hat made of straw with a pointed top.
The flag uses four colors: blue, white, green and black. The shape of the hat is simple and easy to recognize, even from a distance, and it makes the Lesotho flag different from other blue, white and green flags.
Lesotho 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
#001489RGB
0, 20, 137CMYK
100, 85, 0, 46HEX
#009A44RGB
0, 154, 68CMYK
100, 0, 56, 40HEX
#000000RGB
0, 0, 0CMYK
0, 0, 0, 100Lesotho flag meaning and symbolism
The flag's colors link to the national motto Khotso, Pula, Nala, which means "Peace, Rain, Prosperity". Blue stands for the sky and rain, which are precious in a mountainous, dry country. White stands for peace, and green for the land and prosperity. The black hat represents Lesotho as a black nation.
The hat is the best-known symbol of the Basotho. The mokorotlo is said to be modeled on Qiloane, a mountain with a conical shape near Thaba Bosiu, where the nation's founder Moshoeshoe I made his stronghold. The hat appears in many national symbols and logos, as well as on the flag.
History of the Lesotho flag
Lesotho, once called Basutoland, was a British protectorate until it became independent on 4 October 1966. The first national flag was introduced on that day and featured a prominent white mokorotlo. A different flag, designed by Sergeant Retšelisitsoe Matete, was adopted on 20 January 1987 after a military coup, with a shield, spear and club as its emblem.
The new flag was meant to reflect a state at peace internally and with its only neighbour, South Africa, replacing the flag with a military emblem. It was chosen from four proposed designs, and the hat, first planned in brown, was changed to black. The new design was adopted on 4 October 2006, on the 40th anniversary of independence. It put the national colors into three simple stripes, with the hat at the center.
The Lesotho flag is flown on public buildings and during the independence day on 4 October. To see how it compares with the neighbor, open the flag of South Africa page, and for other national flags see Africa.
Lesotho flag facts
| Country | Lesotho |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | October 4, 2006 |
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Colors | #FFFFFF, #001489, #009A44, #000000 |
| Symbols | mokorotlo |
| Flag emoji | 🇱🇸 |
| Country code | LS, LSO (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Maseru |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population | 2,007,201 |
| Area | 30,355 km² |
| Currency | rand, loti |
| National anthem | Lesotho Fatse La Bontata Rona |
Lesotho flag: frequently asked questions
Why did Lesotho change its flag?
The 1987 flag carried a military emblem of a shield, spear and club. In 2006, on the 40th anniversary of independence, the country adopted a new design meant to reflect a state at peace internally and with South Africa.
What does the Lesotho flag look like?
It has blue, white and green horizontal bands with a black Basotho hat (mokorotlo) in the center of the white band.
What country does Lesotho belong to?
Lesotho belongs to no other country. It is an independent kingdom, which is entirely surrounded by South Africa. It became independent from Britain in 1966.
What flag is 🇱🇸?
The flag emoji 🇱🇸 shows the flag of Lesotho, with its blue, white and green stripes and the black hat.
What does the hat on the Lesotho flag mean?
It is the mokorotlo, the traditional hat of the Basotho people, and a national symbol, said to be modeled on a mountain near Thaba Bosiu.
What did the Lesotho flag look like in 1987?
The 1987 flag, designed by Sergeant Retšelisitsoe Matete after a military coup, had a light brown Basotho shield with a lance and a club as its emblem. Its colors were arranged in diagonal fields, with a white triangle for peace, a blue strip for rain and a green triangle for prosperity.
What was the first Lesotho flag?
The first flag was introduced on 4 October 1966, the day of independence from the United Kingdom, and it featured a prominent white mokorotlo. Its blue stood for sky and rain, white for peace, green for land and red for faith. It was replaced in 1987.
What did Lesotho used to be called?
Lesotho was formerly called Basutoland and was a British protectorate until it became independent on 4 October 1966. Its flag from independence already showed the mokorotlo, the Basotho hat, which is still the main symbol on the current 2006 flag.
