Flag of Costa Rica

Five horizontal bands of blue, white, red, white and blue, with the red band twice as wide as each of the others. The government's version adds the national coat of arms.

What the flag means

Law 10178 of 2022 sets the meanings: blue is the sky of the country, white is peace, and red is the blood of those who fell for freedom. The same law says the seven stars on the coat of arms stand for the seven provinces.

History

Costa Rica's earlier flags followed the blue and white of the Central American federation. Pacífica Fernández Oreamuno, wife of President José María Castro Madriz, is credited with suggesting a red stripe through the middle, out of admiration for France. The new flag was decreed on 29 September 1848. Law 10178, signed by President Carlos Alvarado in April 2022, now regulates its design and use.

The layout matches Thailand's flag with the colours in reverse order: Thailand has red on the outside and blue in the centre.

Earlier flags of Costa Rica

1785–1821Flag of Spain, during Spanish colonial rule
1840–1842Horizontal white, blue and white stripes

Flags of Costa Rica's neighbours

Sources

Wikipedia: Flag of Costa Rica
Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones: Ley 10178: Ley que regula el uso del Pabellón, la Bandera y el Escudo nacionales

Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Read how we research flags in our editorial policy, or report a mistake.