Introduction
The flag of French Guiana is a distinctive banner featuring a yellow five-pointed star centered on a field divided diagonally. The upper left triangle is green, while the lower right triangle is red. This design is the official flag used by the Departmental Council of French Guiana and is widely recognized as the territory's emblem.
Unlike the flags of sovereign nations, this flag represents a French overseas department and region. It is flown alongside the national French Tricolore, which holds official status as the flag of the French Republic. The flag's simple yet bold geometry makes it easily identifiable from a distance.
The design is a relatively modern creation, adopted in the latter half of the 20th century to provide a unique visual identity for the territory. Its green, yellow, and red color scheme is common in the region and carries specific local symbolism. The flag is a common sight at cultural events and government buildings within French Guiana.
Meaning & Symbolism
The green triangle represents the vast and dense Amazonian rainforest that covers much of the territory's interior. The red triangle symbolizes the blood, courage, and effort of the people who have shaped the region's history and development. These two fields are separated by a narrow, sinuous yellow band.
The yellow five-pointed star positioned at the center signifies the mineral wealth of the land, particularly gold, and serves as a guiding light toward a hopeful future. The yellow band connecting the two triangles represents the numerous rivers, most importantly the Maroni and the Oyapock, which are vital transportation routes and borders.
History of the French Guiana Flag
The flag was officially adopted by the General Council (now the Departmental Council) of French Guiana on January 29, 2010. This adoption formalized a design that had been in unofficial use for several decades prior, with its first known public appearance dating back to 1967. The 2010 resolution gave it legal standing as the flag of the local government.
Prior to this flag, French Guiana, as an integral part of France, used only the national French Tricolore. The creation of a distinct flag was part of a broader movement to assert a regional identity within the French Republic. The design is sometimes referred to as the flag of the UGTG (General Union of Guianese Workers), a major trade union that also uses it, though the council's adoption is its official basis.
Curiosities
- The flag is sometimes nicknamed 'Lojang' or 'L'étendard de la Guyane' (The Standard of Guiana).
- Despite its official status for the department, the European Parliament's database of flags lists it under the category of 'Flags of territories, regions, and provinces', not sovereign states.
- The diagonal division and color scheme bear a notable resemblance to the flag of neighboring Suriname, though the symbolism and star placement are distinct.
Download Flag
Download the flag of French Guiana in high-quality SVG vector format or PNG raster images. SVG files can be scaled to any size without losing quality.
Construction Sheet
The flag's proportions are a standard 2:3 ratio. The field is divided by a yellow diagonal band running from the upper hoist to the lower fly. This band's width is not strictly standardized but is typically depicted as roughly 1/20th of the flag's width. The five-pointed star is centered on this band, with its size typically being 1/3 the height of the flag. The two resulting triangles are green at the hoist-top and red at the fly-bottom.
Flags Similar to French Guiana Flag
Common Misidentifications
Sometimes confused at a glance with the flag of Suriname due to the shared diagonal green and red fields and yellow elements.