Introduction

The national flag of Equatorial Guinea is a distinctive horizontal tricolor featuring three equal bands of green, white, and red. A unique blue isosceles triangle extends from the hoist side, pointing toward the center of the flag. At the center of the white band lies the national coat of arms, a complex emblem featuring a silk-cotton tree, six yellow six-pointed stars, and a scroll with the national motto.

The flag's design is notable for its symmetrical layout and the prominent placement of the coat of arms, which is a key identifier. The vibrant green and striking red bands frame the central white, creating a bold visual contrast that is easily recognizable from a distance.

This flag represents the only nation in continental Africa whose official language is Spanish, a historical fact subtly reflected in its heraldic elements. The combination of the triangular canton and the central emblem makes it one of the more intricate national flags in its region.

Meaning & Symbolism

The colors of the flag carry symbolic weight: green represents the country's natural resources and lush vegetation, white symbolizes peace, and red stands for the blood shed in the struggle for independence. The blue triangle signifies the sea, connecting the mainland region of Río Muni with the island of Bioko.

The central coat of arms is rich with symbolism. The silk-cotton tree (or "God tree") depicted is historically significant under which treaties were signed. The six yellow stars represent the country's mainland and five main islands. The scroll bears the national motto, "Unidad, Paz, Justicia" (Unity, Peace, Justice).

History of the Equatorial Guinea Flag

The current flag was first adopted upon gaining independence from Spain on October 12, 1968. The design was created and selected in a national contest, with the winning entry submitted by Luis Evita. It was officially hoisted for the first time on Independence Day, marking the birth of the Republic.

During the regime of Francisco Macías Nguema (1973-1979), a different version of the coat of arms was used on the flag. The original design, including the coat of arms, was restored on August 21, 1979, following his overthrow, and has remained unchanged since.

Curiosities

  • Equatorial Guinea's flag is one of only two national flags (alongside Nicaragua's) to prominently feature the color purple, which appears in the ribbon on the coat of arms.
  • The flag's design was reportedly inspired by the flag of the former Spanish territory of Río Muni, which also used green, white, and red.
  • The six-pointed stars on the coat of arms are a relatively uncommon star shape in national vexillology, differing from the more frequent five-pointed stars.

Download Flag

Download the flag of Equatorial Guinea in high-quality SVG vector format or PNG raster images. SVG files can be scaled to any size without losing quality.

SVG Vector PNG 1024px PNG 512px WebP

Construction Sheet

The flag's official proportions are 2:3 (width to length). The three horizontal bands—green, white, and red—are of equal height, each occupying one-third of the flag's width. The blue isosceles triangle has its base along the entire hoist side, with its apex reaching the exact center of the flag where it meets the coat of arms.

Flags Similar to Equatorial Guinea Flag

Nicaragua Flag Nicaragua central coat of arms on tricolor El Salvador Flag El Salvador central coat of arms on triband Honduras Flag Honduras central emblem on triband Mali Flag Mali green/yellow/red vertical), Senegal (green/yellow/red vertical with star Lithuania Flag Lithuania yellow/green/red horizontal

Common Misidentifications

Often confused from a distance with other green-white-red horizontal tricolors like Bulgaria or Hungary, but the blue triangle and central emblem are key differentiators.