U.S. state · GA
Flag of Georgia (U.S. State)
The Georgia state flag has three horizontal stripes of red, white and red, with a dark blue canton in the upper left. The canton holds the state coat of arms inside a circle of 13 white stars. It has been in use since 2003.
What the Georgia state flag looks like
The current flag of the U.S. state of Georgia has a blue canton at the upper left, next to the pole. The rest of the flag is made of three equal horizontal stripes: red at the top, white in the middle and red at the bottom.
Inside the canton, at the center, is the Georgia coat of arms, shown in gold. It is surrounded by a circle of 13 white stars. The coat of arms shows an arch supported by three pillars, with a soldier holding a drawn sword standing under it. The state motto, Wisdom, Justice and Moderation, is wrapped around the pillars, and the words In God We Trust, the U.S. national motto, appear below the coat of arms. The flag has a proportion of about 5:8.
This page is about the U.S. state. For the country in the Caucasus, see the flag of Georgia in our world flags collection.
Georgia flag meaning and symbolism
- The 13 stars represent Georgia as one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
- The coat of arms is the state's own emblem. The three pillars stand for the three branches of government: legislative, judicial and executive. The arch symbolizes the state constitution, and the drawn sword of the soldier in colonial dress represents the defense of that constitution.
- Red, white and red stripes are not given an official meaning in the law. Together with the blue canton, the colors are red, white and blue like the U.S. flag.
History of the Georgia flag
Georgia has had several state flags since the 19th century. In 2001, the legislature replaced the flag adopted in 1956 with a new flag designed by architect Cecil Alexander, which showed small versions of several earlier flags under the words "Georgia's History". This flag was widely unpopular, and in a 2001 survey by the North American Vexillological Association it was ranked the worst state or provincial flag in North America.
In 2003 (signed on 19 February), the legislature adopted the current design as a new state flag, with a referendum held on 2 March 2004 in which voters chose between it and the 2001 flag. The 2003 design won with 73.1% of the vote.
The flag has stayed the same since then. See other designs in our list of U.S. state flags or the flag of the United States.
Georgia flag colors
#BF0A30RGB
191, 10, 48CMYK
0, 95, 75, 25#00205BRGB
0, 32, 91CMYK
100, 65, 0, 64#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0Georgia flag facts
| Adopted | February 19, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 5:8 |
| State capital | Atlanta |
| State motto | Wisdom, Justice, Moderation |
| Population | 10,711,908 |
Georgia state flag FAQ
What does the Georgia state flag look like?
It has red, white and red horizontal stripes and a blue canton with the Georgia coat of arms inside a circle of 13 white stars.
When did Georgia change its state flag?
Georgia adopted the current flag in 2003. It replaced the 2001 flag, which in turn had replaced the earlier flag adopted in 1956.
Why does the Georgia flag have 13 stars?
The ring of 13 white stars shows Georgia as one of the original Thirteen Colonies. The stars encircle the gold coat of arms and the words In God We Trust on the blue canton of the red-white-red flag.
What do the words on the Georgia coat of arms mean?
The state motto, Wisdom, Justice and Moderation, is wrapped around the pillars, and the words In God We Trust appear below the coat of arms.
Is the Georgia state flag the same as the flag of the country Georgia?
No. The country of Georgia has a white flag with a large red cross and four smaller crosses. The U.S. state flag is red, white and blue with a coat of arms.
