Asia · MV / MDV
Flag of the Maldives
The Maldives flag has a red field with a large green rectangle in the middle, and inside it a white crescent moon opening toward the fly. It took its current form in 1965, the year the Maldives gained independence from Britain.
What the flag of the Maldives looks like
The flag of the Maldives is a red rectangle with a green rectangle at its center, bordered on all sides by a red band. In the middle of the green panel is a white crescent, with its points facing the fly (the side away from the flagpole). The ratio is 2:3.
The design is plain: three colors and one symbol, with no stars, text or coat of arms. You can find image files on the Maldives flag download page, and the emoji version is shown at /maldives/emoji/.
Maldives flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#D21034RGB
210, 16, 52CMYK
0, 92, 75, 18HEX
#007E3ARGB
0, 126, 58CMYK
100, 0, 54, 51Maldives flag meaning and symbolism
The red border stands for the blood of the national heroes who sacrificed their lives defending their country. Red was also the color of the earliest Maldivian flag, which was a plain red field.
The green rectangle represents peace and prosperity. The white crescent symbolizes Islam, the state religion of the country. The closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side, so it opens toward the fly.
History of the Maldives flag
The earliest Maldivian flag was a plain red field. Later a black and white striped hoist, called the Dhandimathi, was added. Early in the 20th century, between 1926 and 1932, prime minister Abdul Majeed Didi added a crescent to the national flag, and a separate state flag was made with the crescent on a green rectangle. In 1953 the Maldives briefly became a republic and the crescent on the state flag was reversed to face the hoist; the sultanate was restored in 1954 without changing the flag back.
The Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887. When the Maldives became independent on 26 July 1965, the black and white hoist was removed, giving the flag its modern form (adopted 25 July 1965). The Maldives has kept the same flag through the change from sultanate to republic in 1968 and since.
Interesting facts about the flag
- The country covers around 1,190 islands grouped into atolls, spread over a large area of the Indian Ocean.
- Independence Day is celebrated on 26 July.
For other Asian flags see the Asia flags page.
Maldives flag facts
| Country | Maldives |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | July 25, 1965 |
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Colors | #D21034, #007E3A |
| Symbols | crescent |
| Flag emoji | 🇲🇻 |
| Country code | MV, MDV (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Malé |
| Continent | Asia |
| Population | 436,330 |
| Area | 298 km² |
| Currency | Maldivian rufiyaa |
| National anthem | Gaumiii salaaam |
Maldives flag: frequently asked questions
What does the Maldives flag mean?
Red stands for the blood of national heroes and their willingness to sacrifice for their country, green for peace and prosperity, and the white crescent for Islam, the state religion.
What was the original look of the Maldives flag?
The earliest flags used by the Maldivian sultans were plain red. Later a black and white striped hoist was added, and a crescent and green rectangle were introduced in the early 20th century. The black and white hoist was removed in 1965.
When was the Maldives flag adopted?
The current design was adopted on 25 July 1965, the day before the Maldives became fully independent from the United Kingdom on 26 July 1965.
Is the Maldives part of Asia or Africa?
The Maldives is in Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean southwest of India and Sri Lanka, and its capital is Malé.
Can you show me the flag of the Maldives?
The Maldives flag is a red rectangle with a large green rectangle in the middle and a white crescent inside the green. The crescent's closed side is on the hoist side, so it opens toward the fly. The ratio is 2:3, and the emoji version is on the Maldives flag emoji page.
What country do the Maldives belong to?
The Maldives belongs to no other country. It is an independent republic that was a British protectorate from 1887 and became independent on 26 July 1965. The sultanate became a republic in 1968, and the Maldives is not a US territory. The flag has stayed the same since 1965.
