Asia ยท MO / MAC
Flag of Macau
The Macau flag is a green field with a white lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water, topped by an arc of five gold stars. It has been the flag of the Macao Special Administrative Region of China since the handover on 20 December 1999.
What the flag of Macau looks like
The flag of Macau has a plain green background with a ratio of 3:2. In the center is a white stylized lotus flower. Beneath the lotus is a white outline of the Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge, which links the Macau Peninsula with Taipa island, and below it white lines for water.
Above the lotus is an arc of five yellow (gold) five-pointed stars: one large star in the middle and two smaller stars on each side. The five five-pointed stars echo the design of the flag of the People's Republic of China. The flag was designed by Xiao Hong, a professor of arts and crafts at Henan University.
The flag is used together with the national flag of China on official occasions. Macau has no separate sovereignty, and the green flag is the regional flag of the Special Administrative Region. You can also see a smaller version as the Macau flag emoji.
Macau flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#0F7562RGB
15, 117, 98CMYK
87, 0, 16, 54HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0Macau flag meaning and symbolism
Each element has a commonly cited meaning:
- The lotus is the symbol of the region. It was chosen as the floral emblem of Macau and also appears on the regional emblem.
- The bridge and water The bridge is one of the best-known landmarks of the territory, linking the Macau Peninsula and Taipa. Together with the water it symbolises Macau's position as a port.
- The five stars show that Macau is part of China. They echo the flag of China and stand for the relationship between Macau and its sovereign state.
The Basic Law describes the flag as green with five stars, a lotus flower, a bridge and sea water; it does not assign meanings to the individual colors.
History of the Macau flag
Macau was administered by Portugal for more than four centuries, from the 16th century until 1999. During that time the territory officially used only the flag of Portugal. The colonial government also used a flag with the territory's coat of arms on a light blue field, and the Municipal Council had its own flag.
Under the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration of 1987, sovereignty over Macau passed to China on 20 December 1999, with the region keeping a high degree of autonomy under the principle of one country, two systems. Several designs were put forward in 1993, and the green lotus flag is written into the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region, which allows the region to use a regional flag alongside the national flag. The design was in use by the time of the handover on 20 December 1999.
It is often shown beside the flag of Hong Kong, another Special Administrative Region of China that uses a white flower on a red field.
Macao or Macau
Both spellings are used. Macau is the common English spelling, based on the Portuguese form, while Macao is the form used in the Basic Law and by the Chinese government in English. The flag is the same under either name. For other flags in Asia, see flags of Asia.
Macau flag facts
| Country | Macau |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | December 20, 1999 |
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Colors | #0F7562, #FFFFFF |
| Symbols | flower, water, Nelumbo nucifera, five-pointed star, Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge |
| Flag emoji | ๐ฒ๐ด |
| Country code | MO, MAC (ISO 3166) |
| Continent | Asia |
| Population | 682,100 |
| Area | 115 kmยฒ |
| Currency | Hong Kong dollar, Macanese pataca |
| National anthem | March of the Volunteers |
Macau flag: frequently asked questions
Is Macau a country or part of China?
Macau is a Special Administrative Region of China, not a sovereign country. It has its own flag, currency (the pataca), legal system and customs, but China is responsible for its defense and foreign affairs.
Why does Macau have a different flag?
Under the one country, two systems arrangement, Macau keeps a high degree of autonomy and uses its own regional flag. The green flag with a lotus is flown alongside the flag of China.
What was the flag of Macau before 1999?
Before the handover, Macau officially used only the flag of Portugal, since it was a Portuguese-administered territory. The current green flag has been the regional flag since 20 December 1999.
What does the lotus on the Macau flag mean?
The lotus is the emblem of the region. It was chosen as the floral emblem of Macau and sits above the bridge and water.
What flag is ๐ฒ๐ด?
The emoji ๐ฒ๐ด shows the flag of Macao SAR China, the green flag with a white lotus and five stars.
What is the difference between the Macau and Hong Kong flags?
The Macau flag is green with a white lotus, a bridge, water and an arc of five gold stars. The Hong Kong flag is red with a white flower. Both are regional flags of Special Administrative Regions of China, flown with the Chinese flag.
Who designed the Macau flag?
The flag was designed by Xiao Hong, a professor of arts and crafts at Henan University. Its description is set out in the Macau Basic Law, and Macau began using it before the handover to China on 20 December 1999.
Is it Macau or Macao?
Both spellings are used in English. Macao is the form used in the region's official English name, Macao Special Administrative Region, while Macau is the common spelling based on the Portuguese form. The flag is the same under either name.
