Africa ยท NE / NER
Flag of Niger
The Niger flag is a horizontal tricolor of orange, white and green with an orange circle in the center of the white band. Its colors and layout resemble the flag of India, but the proportions are almost square and the symbol is a plain disc.
What the flag of Niger looks like
The flag of Niger has three horizontal bands of equal height: orange at the top, white in the middle and green at the bottom. In the middle of the white band is a solid orange circle.
The proportions are unusual. The flag is traditionally shown at 6:7, which means it is only slightly wider than it is tall and looks almost square. The meaning of this unusual ratio is unknown, and the constitution does not specify it, so it is not used consistently in print. The orange is a bright, reddish shade, and the green is a fresh, medium tone. You can see the flag in small form as the Niger flag emoji ๐ณ๐ช.
Niger flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#E05206RGB
224, 82, 6CMYK
0, 63, 97, 12HEX
#0DB02BRGB
13, 176, 43CMYK
93, 0, 76, 31HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0Niger flag meaning and symbolism
Official sources have not confirmed what the colors mean, but the common interpretation is geographic:
- Orange stands for the Sahara and the northern regions of the country.
- White represents the Sahelian zone in the middle of the country.
- Green stands for the fertile south, the Sudanian zone.
The orange circle in the center band is thought to stand for the sun.
History of the Niger flag
The area of today's Niger became part of French West Africa at the end of the 19th century, and the French tricolor flew over the colony. As France moved toward self-rule for its colonies in the 1950s, Niger became an autonomous republic inside the French Community. The orange, white and green flag was adopted on 23 November 1959, a few months before full independence on 3 August 1960.
The flag was retained at independence in 1960 and has remained unchanged since, including through the 2010 constitution.
Niger was one of several French colonies in West Africa that took new flags between 1958 and 1960. Ivory Coast, another former French colony, chose orange, white and green as well, but in vertical bands.
Niger flag vs India flag
The similarity to India's flag is a frequent question. Both are horizontal tricolors with a saffron or orange top band, a white middle band and a green bottom band, and both have a circle in the center. There are clear differences, though:
- India's circle is a dark blue 24-spoke wheel, the Ashoka Chakra, while Niger's is a solid orange disc.
- India's flag has a 2:3 ratio, and Niger's is 6:7.
- India's top color is saffron, which is a deeper orange-yellow, and Niger's orange is brighter.
The resemblance is a coincidence rather than a copy. India adopted its flag in 1947, Niger in 1959, and each country chose its colors for its own reasons. Niger is also not to be confused with Nigeria, a different country to the south whose flag is green and white in vertical bands. Both names come from the Niger River.
Niger flag facts
| Country | Niger |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | November 23, 1959 |
| Proportions | 6:7 |
| Colors | #E05206, #0DB02B, #FFFFFF |
| Symbols | Sun, roundel |
| Flag emoji | ๐ณ๐ช |
| Country code | NE, NER (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Niamey |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population | 21,477,348 |
| Area | 1,267,000 kmยฒ |
| Currency | West African CFA franc |
| National anthem | L'Honneur de la Patrie |
Niger flag: frequently asked questions
Why is the Niger flag similar to India's?
Both flags are orange (or saffron), white and green horizontal tricolors with a circle in the middle. India has a blue spoked wheel and a 2:3 shape, while Niger has an orange disc and a nearly square 6:7 shape.
What does the orange circle on the Niger flag mean?
The orange circle is thought to represent the sun. Official sources have not confirmed the symbolism of the flag.
Why are Niger and Nigeria different countries?
Both are named after the Niger River, but they are separate countries. Niger was a French colony and Nigeria a British one, and both became independent in 1960.
What flag is similar to Niger?
The flag of India is the closest in design. The flag of Ivory Coast uses the same three colors in vertical bands, and the flag of Ireland has green, white and orange vertical bands.
Which country is ๐ณ๐ช?
The emoji ๐ณ๐ช is the flag of Niger, a landlocked country in West Africa whose capital is Niamey.
What do the colors of the Niger flag mean?
Sources interpret the orange band as the Sahara in the north, the white band as the Sahel and the green band as fertile southern Niger. The orange circle is thought to be the sun. Official sources have not confirmed this symbolism.
When was the Niger flag adopted?
The flag was adopted on 23 November 1959, shortly before the Republic was proclaimed within the French Community on 18 December 1959. It was designed in 1958 and kept at independence in 1960.
What is the shape of the Niger flag?
Niger's flag is traditionally shown with an unusual 6:7 ratio, close to square. Its meaning is unknown, and the ratio is not specified in the constitution. India's similar flag is 2:3.
