Africa ยท MG / MDG
Flag of Madagascar
The Madagascar flag has a white vertical band at the hoist and two horizontal bands, red above green, on the right. It was adopted on 21 October 1958 and kept after independence in 1960.
What the flag of Madagascar looks like
The flag of Madagascar is made of three blocks. A white vertical band takes up about a third of the width on the hoist side, next to the flagpole. The remaining space on the right is split into two equal horizontal bands, red on top and green below. The proportions are 2:3. There is no emblem or other symbol.
The layout is unusual because only a few national flags combine one vertical band with two horizontal ones. The flag of Benin is the closest relative, but it has a green vertical band with yellow and red stripes. For the emoji version, see the Madagascar flag emoji.
Madagascar flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#F9423ARGB
249, 66, 58CMYK
0, 73, 77, 2HEX
#00843DRGB
0, 132, 61CMYK
100, 0, 54, 48HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0Madagascar flag meaning and symbolism
The colors originally had no meaning. When the flag was adopted on 21 October 1958, Barinia Tsara of the Constituent National Assembly's bureau explained that white is purity, red is sovereignty and green is hope. The meanings have since changed: the office of the Malagasy president now describes red as national unity, green as hope, and white as freedom, security and cleanliness.
The colors are also tied to the island itself. Red was a symbol of the country's historical monarchies and is the color of the clay bricks used to build most Malagasy houses, green recalls the island's lush vegetation, and white is the color of rice and of the clothing traditionally worn by Malagasy women. Red and white were also the royal colors of the Merina Kingdom, which drew early criticism of the flag.
History of the Madagascar flag
Before French rule, the Kingdom of Madagascar flew flags in red and white. Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 and used the French tricolor. In 1958 the Malagasy Republic was proclaimed, on 14 October. A technical commission chose a design by Andrianome Ranaivosoa, an agent of the Malagasy National Geographic Institute, on 15 October, and the red, white and green flag was officially adopted on 21 October 1958. This was before full independence from France, which came on 26 June 1960, and the flag was kept as the national flag.
The flag has remained unaltered since then, despite multiple changes of government and constitution. Madagascar, an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa, is an African country and a member of the African Union.
Madagascar flag facts
| Country | Madagascar |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | October 21, 1958 |
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Colors | #F9423A, #00843D, #FFFFFF |
| Flag emoji | ๐ฒ๐ฌ |
| Country code | MG, MDG (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Antananarivo |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population | 31,964,956 |
| Area | 587,295 kmยฒ |
| Currency | ariary |
| National anthem | Ry Tanindrazanay malala รด! |
Madagascar flag: frequently asked questions
What does the Madagascar flag symbolize?
At adoption in 1958, white was described as purity, red as sovereignty and green as hope. The presidency now describes red as national unity, green as hope, and white as freedom, security and cleanliness.
Did Madagascar change its flag?
The red, white and green flag was adopted in 1958 and has remained unaltered since, including after independence in 1960. Earlier, the island used royal flags and the French tricolor.
Is Madagascar an African country?
Yes. Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the southeast coast of Africa, and it is a member of the African Union. It separated from the African mainland tens of millions of years ago.
What flag is similar to Madagascar's?
The flag of Benin has the same layout of one vertical band and two horizontal bands. Benin's has a green vertical band with yellow and red, and Madagascar's has white with red and green.
What country is ๐ฒ๐ฌ?
The flag emoji ๐ฒ๐ฌ shows the flag of Madagascar, with Antananarivo as its capital.
Can you show me the flag of Madagascar?
The Madagascar flag has a white vertical band at the hoist, with a red band above a green band on the right. All three blocks are equal in size, the ratio is 2:3, and there is no emblem. You can see the small emoji version on the Madagascar flag emoji page and a printable image on the download page.
Is Madagascar its own country?
Yes. Madagascar is an independent country that gained independence from France on 26 June 1960. The Malagasy Republic was proclaimed on 14 October 1958, and the red, white and green flag was adopted a week later, on 21 October 1958. That flag was kept after independence and has not changed since.
