Introduction
The national flag of Suriname is a distinctive banner featuring five horizontal stripes of green, white, red, white, and green, with a large, five-pointed yellow star centered on the red band.
Adopted upon the nation's independence in 1975, it replaced the colonial flag and was the winning design from a national competition, symbolizing a definitive break from its past status.
The flag's symmetrical design and bold, contrasting colors make it highly recognizable, with the central red stripe and star serving as the focal point against the flanking green and white bands.
Meaning & Symbolism
The colors and symbols are rich with national symbolism: the green stripes represent the fertility of the nation's land and its hope for a prosperous future, while the white stripes signify justice, freedom, and peace.
The central red band stands for progress, love, and the drive for a better society. The large, five-pointed yellow star symbolizes the unity of all the diverse ethnic groups in Suriname, with its golden color representing a golden future achieved through sacrifice and dedication.
History of the Suriname Flag
The flag was officially adopted on November 25, 1975, the day Suriname gained full independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
It was selected from entries in a public competition, designed by Jacques Herman Pinas, and replaced the colonial flag which featured five stars on an elliptical white band. The adoption of the new flag marked a clear visual departure from the colonial era and the establishment of a new national identity.
Curiosities
- The flag's design was chosen from a pool of over 300 entries submitted to a national competition.
- Unlike many flags, the central red stripe is twice the height of each of the other four stripes (green and white).
- The five points of the yellow star represent the five major continents from which the people of Suriname originate: Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Australia.
Download Flag
Download the flag of Suriname 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 official proportions are 2:3. The five horizontal stripes are arranged in the ratio 1:1:2:1:1. This means the central red stripe is twice the height of each green and white stripe. The yellow star is centered on the red band, with its diameter equal to two-fifths of the flag's height.
Flags Similar to Suriname Flag
Ghana
Pan-African colors with star · red, yellow, green
Mongolia
tricolor with central emblem
Bolivia
red, yellow, green
Lithuania
horizontal yellow, green, red
Common Misidentifications
Occasionally confused with the flag of Ghana from a distance due to the shared use of red, yellow, and green Pan-African colors, though the designs are distinctly different.