United Nations Flag

The flag of the United Nations is a globally recognized symbol of international peace and cooperation. Its design features a light blue field, a color specifically chosen for its visual distinction from national flags, upon which is centered the organization's official emblem. The emblem consists of a stylized azimuthal equidistant projection of the world map, viewed from the North Pole and encircled by two olive branches, traditional symbols of peace.

The map projection is designed to be inclusive, showing all continents except Antarctica, and is centered on the North Pole to avoid highlighting any single nation. The entire emblem is rendered in white, creating a stark and dignified contrast against the blue background. This simple yet profound design communicates the organization's universal scope and its foundational mission.

The central world map symbolizes the global scope and universal membership of the United Nations, representing all peoples and nations. The olive branches encircling the map are a classic and ancient symbol of peace, directly referencing the organization's primary purpose to maintain international security and prevent conflict. Together, these elements visually articulate the UN Charter's opening words: "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war."

The choice of light blue for the field is not explicitly defined in the Charter but is widely understood to represent peace, in contrast to the warlike connotations of red. The color, officially known as UN Blue, has become synonymous with the organization's identity. The white of the emblem signifies purity and clarity of purpose.

The United Nations flag was officially adopted on October 20, 1947, following a design process initiated by the UN Secretariat. The emblem itself was originally designed for the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco in 1945 and was later adapted for the flag. The specific azimuthal equidistant projection was prepared by a team led by Donal McLaughlin, a member of the US Office of Strategic Services.

A key consideration was creating a map that was balanced and did not favor any particular country, leading to the choice of a North Pole perspective. The flag was first hoisted at the UN's temporary headquarters at Lake Success, New York, and later at the permanent Headquarters in New York City upon its completion.