Flag of Guatemala
Three equal vertical bands of sky blue, white and sky blue. The coat of arms in the centre shows a resplendent quetzal on a scroll dated 15 September 1821, over crossed rifles and swords inside a laurel wreath.
What the flag means
Government sources differ. Congress, citing the flag decree, gives strength, justice, truth and loyalty for the blue, and purity, integrity, firmness and light for the white. The departmental government of Guatemala says the blue stripes are the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and the white is peace and purity. The date on the scroll is Central America's independence from Spain.
History
Guatemala used the blue and white of the Federal Republic of Central America until 1851, when a pro-Spanish faction added red and yellow. The liberal government of Miguel García Granados restored blue and white on 17 August 1871 and turned the stripes vertical to set the flag apart from others. The coat of arms was designed by Johann-Baptist Frener.
The crossed rifles are Remington rolling-block rifles. Guatemala's is one of four UN member states' flags with a firearm, with those of Bolivia, Haiti and Mozambique.
Earlier flags of Guatemala
- 1824–1838Blue, white and blue horizontal flag of the Federal Republic of Central America
- 1851–1871Versions adding red and yellow to the federal blue and white
Flags that look like this one
Blue, white, blue from the old Central American federation. Honduras has five blue stars. Nicaragua and El Salvador have different coats of arms in the centre. Guatemala's stripes are vertical and light blue.
Flags of Guatemala's neighbours
Sources
- Wikipedia: Flag of Guatemala
- Gobernación Departamental de Guatemala: Día Nacional de la Bandera: un homenaje a nuestra historia e identidad
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Read how we research flags in our editorial policy, or report a mistake.
