Africa · MR / MRT
Flag of Mauritania
The Mauritania flag is green with a golden crescent and star in the center, and since 2017 it also has a red stripe along the top and bottom edges. The red stripes recall those who died resisting French colonial rule.
What the flag of Mauritania looks like
The flag of Mauritania has a green field, with a red band running along the upper edge and a matching red band along the lower edge. In the center, a golden-yellow crescent opens upward, and a golden five-pointed star sits in the curve of the crescent. Mauritania's flag is 2:3 in proportion.
Until 2017 the flag was plain green with only the crescent and star. The red bands are the only difference between the old and new designs; each is one fifth of the flag's width. The flag is also used in small form as the Mauritania flag emoji.
Mauritania flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#00A95CRGB
0, 169, 92CMYK
100, 0, 46, 34HEX
#D01C1FRGB
208, 28, 31CMYK
0, 87, 85, 18HEX
#FFD700RGB
255, 215, 0CMYK
0, 16, 100, 0Mauritania flag meaning and symbolism
Green and the crescent and star are the traditional symbols of Islam. The country's official name is the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and Islam is the state religion, so the green field and the crescent express the national identity.
The green, yellow and red together are also pan-African colors, which fits Mauritania's place between North and sub-Saharan Africa. The red stripes added in 2017 have a specific meaning: they represent the blood shed by Mauritanians who fought for the country's independence from France.
History of the Mauritania flag
Mauritania was part of French West Africa. The territory became an autonomous republic within the French Union on 28 November 1958, and on 1 April 1959 it adopted its first national flag, a green flag with a golden crescent and star. When Mauritania became independent from France on 28 November 1960, the flag was retained as the national flag. It was the only flag of the country for nearly 60 years.
In August 2017, a constitutional referendum approved a package of changes that included abolishing the Senate and changing the flag and the national anthem. The referendum was held on 5 August 2017, and over 86% of voters backed changing the flag. The change was put into law by Decree No. 2017-467 on 25 October 2017, and the new flag was first raised on 28 November 2017, the anniversary of independence. Government graphic guidelines standardizing the design followed in May 2020. Critics of the referendum, including opposition politicians, objected to the process, but the new flag has been used since. Mauritania's neighbors include Senegal, Mali and Algeria.
Mauritania flag facts
| Country | Mauritania |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | October 25, 2017 |
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Colors | #00A95C, #D01C1F, #FFD700 |
| Symbols | five-pointed star, crescent, star and crescent |
| Flag emoji | 🇲🇷 |
| Country code | MR, MRT (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Nouakchott |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population | 4,736,139 |
| Area | 1,030,700 km² |
| Currency | Mauritanian ouguiya |
| National anthem | National anthem of Mauritania |
Mauritania flag: frequently asked questions
Why did Mauritania change its flag in 2017?
A constitutional referendum in August 2017 approved adding two red stripes, said to represent the blood shed by those who fought for independence from France, along with other changes such as the abolition of the Senate.
What does the Mauritania flag look like now?
It is green with a golden crescent and star in the middle and a red stripe on the top and bottom edges.
Is Mauritania an Arab country?
Mauritania is a member of the Arab League, and Arabic is its official language, but its population includes Arab-Berber Moors, Haratin and several sub-Saharan ethnic groups. It is both an Arab and an African country.
Are Mauritanians Muslims?
Yes. Nearly the whole population is Muslim, and Islam is the state religion. The crescent, the star and the green field on the flag reflect this.
What country did Mauritania used to be?
It was a French colony and part of French West Africa until independence on 28 November 1960. See more flags of Africa.
