Europe · MC / MCO
Flag of Monaco
The Monaco flag consists of two equal horizontal bands, red above white. Its colors have been the heraldic colors of the House of Grimaldi, who have ruled the principality since the Middle Ages, since at least 1339. It looks almost the same as the flag of Indonesia.
What the flag of Monaco looks like
The flag of Monaco is a bicolor made of two horizontal bands of equal height: red at the top, white at the bottom. It has no emblem. Its proportions are 4:5, which makes it narrower than most national flags, which usually have a ratio of 2:3.
The flag is simple to draw and to recognize at a distance, and it is flown on public buildings and ships and at national celebrations. The Monaco flag emoji shows only the two bands.
Monaco flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#CE1126RGB
206, 17, 38CMYK
0, 92, 82, 19HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0Monaco flag meaning and colors
Red and white have been the heraldic colors of the House of Grimaldi, the ruling family of Monaco, since at least 1339. They appear in the banner of the state arms, which shows red and white diamond shapes (lozenges). The flag therefore has a dynastic origin.
History of the Monaco flag
The Grimaldi family took control of the Rock of Monaco in 1297, and has kept power in the principality, with some breaks, ever since. Monaco's earlier flag was similar to the princely flag and bore an older version of the coat of arms. The present simpler red and white bicolor was adopted as the national flag on 4 April 1881 under Prince Charles III. France recognized Monaco's sovereignty in the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1861, and the country has kept its own flag, anthem and prince since then.
Monaco's national day is 19 November, when the flag is flown across the principality.
Monaco flag vs Indonesia and Poland
The flag of Indonesia is also red over white, and the two are so close that they are often mixed up. The main difference is the shape: Indonesia's flag has a ratio of 2:3 and is longer, while Monaco's is 4:5. The flag of Singapore has a similar design and color, with a crescent and five stars at the upper left. The shades of red also differ slightly. The two flags have unrelated origins: Indonesia's colors are taken from the Majapahit empire, and Monaco's from the Grimaldi arms. The present Monaco design dates from 1881.
The flag of Poland has the same colors with the order reversed, white over red, and a ratio of 5:8. Remember that in Monaco the red is above, and in Poland it is below.
Monaco flag facts
| Country | Monaco |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | April 4, 1881 |
| Proportions | 4:5 |
| Colors | #CE1126, #FFFFFF |
| Flag emoji | 🇲🇨 |
| Country code | MC, MCO (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Monaco |
| Continent | Europe |
| Population | 38,857 |
| Area | 2 km² |
| National anthem | Hymne monégasque |
Monaco flag: frequently asked questions
Why is Monaco's flag the same as Indonesia's?
The designs developed separately, and they differ slightly in shade. Monaco's red and white come from the Grimaldi coat of arms, while Indonesia's from its own history. The flags differ in proportion, 4:5 for Monaco and 2:3 for Indonesia.
What is the difference between the Monaco and Poland flags?
Monaco's flag is red over white and nearly square, with a ratio of 4:5. Poland's is white over red with a ratio of 5:8.
Why does Monaco have a separate flag?
Monaco is a sovereign principality, independent of France since the treaty of 1861, and it has its own head of state, Prince Albert II, and a flag based on the Grimaldi colors.
What was Monaco before it was a country?
It was a fortified rock held by the Grimaldi family from 1297 and later fell under the protection of other powers, among them Spain, France and the Kingdom of Sardinia, before its sovereignty was confirmed.
What flag is 🇲🇨?
The 🇲🇨 emoji is the flag of Monaco. It is built from the two regional indicator letters M and C, and phones show a red-over-white flag, while some Windows systems show the letters MC instead.
What shape is the Monaco flag?
Monaco's flag is a red-over-white bicolour with a ratio of 4:5, so it is close to square. The flag of Indonesia has the same stripes but is longer, at 2:3.
