According to the United Nations, there are a total of 193 recognized countries in the world. Each one has its own official flag. There are an infinite number of color combinations used to define the identity of a nation.
The choice of every particular color is not left to chance. They usually have hidden meanings that vary according to history, tradition and religion.
Red, blue and yellow are the primary colors and we can find this combination in at least 10 flags around the world. Keep on reading to find out what countries have a red, blue and yellow flag.
1. Romania’s Flag
This Eastern European flag has three vertical stripes of equal width. The colors red, yellow and blue appear in Romanian symbols since ancient times.
In fact, there is evidence dating back to the 6th century AD. Blue is associated with freedom and the sky. Yellow refers to justice and sown fields. Finally, red has to do with fraternity and the crimson color of blood.
2. Moldova’s Flag
As well as Romania, this country has a red, blue and yellow tricolor flag too. This is very common between countries that share historical and cultural ties. The Moldovan flag includes the national coat of arms in the middle of its yellow stripe.
This emblem depicts an eagle holding a shield with the image of a Uro, a star and a rose. This bird symbolizes power and strength. There’s also a cross and an olive branch that represent peace and prosperity.
3. Armenia’s Flag
Armenia has been using its current National Flag since 1990. It has three horizontal red, blue and yellow stripes of equal width.
According to their Constitution, the red color symbolizes the mountains. Also, their struggle for survival, the preservation of Christian faith, independence and freedom.
Blue stands for the hope of the people to live under peaceful skies. Yellow represents the creative talent and hard-working nature of the Armenians.
4. Andorra’s Flag
The current flag of Andorra presents three vertical colors: blue, yellow and red. The design of the flag is attributed to the French emperor Napoleon III, who reigned from 1852 to 1870. It is a synthesis of the combination of the blue of France, the yellow of Spain and the red of both countries.
The blue stripe represents the sky of Andorra. It’s also a testament to the work and effort of its people to achieve their freedom and independence. The yellow or golden color represents the richness of its valuable natural resources. Finally, the red stripe represents the blood spilled by the Andorran people.
5. Colombia’s Flag
Unlike European flags of the same color, the Colombian flag has three horizontal stripes. The yellow stripe is twice the size of the blue and red stripes. It represents the richness of its soil. It also stands for sovereignty, harmony and justice.
The blue symbolizes the immensity and beauty of he two oceans on which Colombia has coasts. The red represents the blood that feeds the heart and gives it movement and life. It stands for love, power, strength and progress.
6. Ecuador’s Flag
Like the flag of Colombia, the flag of Ecuador has three horizontal stripes. Yellow represents gold, wealth, agriculture, and its great natural resources. Blue stands for the Pacific Ocean and the clear and clean Ecuadorian sky. The red color represents blood shed throughout history in the liberation battles. The coat of arms in the center references Ecuadorian culture and geography. It displays typical symbols like the South American condor.
7. Venezuela’s Flag
The Venezuelan flag shares the same colors as Colombia and Ecuador. It’s due to the joint history of the three nations, which were part of the Great Colombia of the 19th century.
The stripes, positioned in the same order as the two previous flags, have the same width. The yellow stands for Venezuela’s wealth, gold and fertile lands.
The blue refers to the Caribbean, the sea that bathes its coasts. The red evokes the blood spilled in the struggles for Independence. On the blue stripe there are eight white five-pointed stars placed in an arc. They represent the provinces that signed the Act of Independence.
8. Chad’s Flag
The Chadian flag combines the colors of France and the colors of Pan-Africanism. The blue stripe represents the sky, agriculture, the waters in the south of Chad and hope. The yellow stripe symbolizes the desert in northern Chad and the sun. Finally, the red stripe stands for unity, progress and sacrifice.
9. The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Flag
The Democratic Republic of Congo has used up to 7 different flags throughout its history. The flag features a sky blue background with a five-pointed star in the top left corner. It also includes a diagonal red stripe edged with a slim yellow line.
The color blue symbolizes peace and the red stripe represents the blood of martyrs. Meanwhile, the yellow color hints at a bright future for the country.
10. Mongolia’s Flag
Mongolia’s current flag dates back to February 1992. It has two red vertical stripes and a blue one in the middle that represents the eternal blue sky. The red side stripes symbolize Mongolia’s ability to thrive in hostile environments.
Above the left red stripe is a yellow ideogram called Soyombo, an ancient Buddhist symbol. This emblem has three flames that refer to prosperity, wealth, and enlightenment. Below this flame, symbols of the sun and moon signify the eternal sky, a revered element in Mongolian culture symbolizing the universe’s eternity and the nation.
Downward-pointing triangles in the symbol express victory over enemies, emphasizing vigilance against threats. The two horizontal rectangles in the Soyombo stand for honesty and justice, reflecting core values in Mongolian society. At the center of the symbol, a circular figure akin to the Yin-Yang represents the balance between the internal and external worlds, symbolizing complementarity and interdependence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, red, blue and yellow are among the most used colors in national flags around the world. Each country’s flag has unique meanings but we can find some things in common.
Blue is often used to represent peace, freedom and will. Yellow stands for prosperity and wealth. Countries use red to represent the blood shed in the search for independence. Next time you travel abroad you’ll definitely look at flags with different eyes.
