Flag of Singapore

Two equal horizontal bands, red over white. In the upper hoist is a white crescent beside five white stars arranged in a pentagon.

What the flag means

The meanings are official and now set out in the National Symbols Act: red for universal brotherhood and equality, white for lasting purity and virtue, the crescent for a young nation on the rise, and the five stars for democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.

History

A committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye designed the flag in about two months, after early ideas were rejected as too close to communist flags. The State Arms and Flag and National Anthem Ordinance was passed on 30 November 1959, and the flag was unveiled on 3 December 1959, when Yusof Ishak was installed as Yang di-Pertuan Negara. It was kept as the national flag at independence on 9 August 1965. The National Symbols Act replaced the 1959 law on 1 August 2023.

Toh Chin Chye said the design first had three stars, and two more were added later.

Earlier flags of Singapore

1946–1959British Blue Ensign with the badge of the Crown Colony of Singapore

Sources

Wikipedia: Flag of Singapore
Flags of the World: Singapore

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