Flag of Colombia

What the flag means

The Colombian government gives these meanings: yellow for the country's wealth, soil and gold, as well as sovereignty and justice; blue for the sky, the seas on its coasts and its rivers; and red for the blood shed for independence.

History

The colours go back to Francisco de Miranda, who first flew a yellow, blue and red flag in 1806. Gran Colombia used them from 1819. After it broke up, the Republic of New Granada changed in 1834 to vertical bands of red, blue and yellow. A law of 26 November 1861 brought back horizontal bands, with yellow twice the height of the others. Decree 861 of 1924 and Decree 62 of 1934 later regulated the flag's use.

Earlier flags of Colombia

1. 1834–1861New Granada: vertical bands of red, blue and yellow

Flags that look like this one

ColombiaEcuadorVenezuela

All three are yellow, blue and red. Colombia's yellow stripe fills the top half. Ecuador uses the same layout with its coat of arms in the centre. Venezuela has three equal stripes and an arc of eight white stars.

Flags of Colombia's neighbours

• Brazil
• Ecuador
• Panama
• Peru
• Venezuela