10 Countries with Red, Yellow, and Blue Flags

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The meaning and history behind these deeply symbolic tricolor flags
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Wondering which countries have a red, yellow, and blue flag, and how to differentiate them? No problem—we’re here to help you put a name to every flag with this vibrant color scheme! In this article, we’ve compiled a list of countries that fly a red, yellow, and blue flag. We’ll explain what each flag looks like and the symbolism behind them all, so you can get to know a little more about each country’s history and culture. And, as a bonus, we’ll cover some smaller regions, cities, and states with the red, yellow, and blue color scheme, too!

Which countries have a red, yellow, and blue flag?

There are ten countries with red, yellow, and blue flags. They are: Andorra, Chad, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Eswatini, Moldova, Mongolia, Romania, and Venezuela.

Section 1 of 2:

10 Countries with Red, Yellow, & Blue Flags

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  1. Andorra’s national flag is simple: three vertical stripes of blue, yellow, and red, with the nation’s coat of arms in the central yellow stripe. The coat of arms features symbols of the Bishop of Urgell, the Count of Foix, the Principality of Catalonia, and the Viscounty of Béarn, highlighting Andorra’s deep historical ties to France and Spain (which border the tiny nation of Andorra to the north and south, respectively). [1]
    • Symbolism: The flag’s colors are a nod to the flags of France and Spain (France’s being red, blue, and white; Spain’s being red and yellow).
    • The coat of arms’ motto, “Virtus Unita Fortior,” translates to “United virtue is stronger.”
    • Adoption: Andorra’s current flag was officially adopted in 1993; however, the basic tricolor design with blue, yellow, and red stripes was actually adopted earlier, in 1866.
  2. Chad’s national flag features vertical stripes of blue (left), yellow (middle), and red (right). Its colors are a combination of the French flag—which is blue, white, and red—and the Pan-African colors of green, yellow, and red. Although Chad has dealt with a great deal of political unrest since gaining independence, its flag has persisted. [2]
    • Symbolism: The blue stripe symbolizes hope as well as the color of the sky. Yellow is meant to represent the sun and the Saharan desert. Red symbolizes the blood of Chad’s people shed in their fight for freedom.
    • Adoption: Chad’s national flag was adopted in 1959 and remained unchanged when the country officially gained independence in 1960 (as well as when its constitution was ratified in 1962).
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  3. Colombia’s national flag consists of three horizontal stripes: yellow (top), which takes up the entire top half of the flag, blue (middle), and red (bottom). It was originally designed by General Francisco de Miranda, a Venezuelan revolutionary who fought to liberate South America from the Spanish Empire (and is also credited with designing the Venezuelan flag). [3]
    • Symbolism: The flag’s yellow half is a symbol of Colombia’s bountiful resources and riches (including its gold, fertile soil, and agriculture), as well as the sun. Blue represents the sky above and the surrounding seas. Red represents the blood spilled to achieve independence.
    • Adoption: The Congresses of Gran Colombia adopted these colors in December of 1819; the flag’s official layout and design was then adopted in November of 1861.
  4. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a flag with a vibrant sky blue background, a diagonal red stripe running across it, and smaller yellow stripes bordering the red. The flag also features a yellow star in its upper left canton. Although adopted in the 2000s, this flag was designed to look similar to a former flag that flew between 1966 and 1971. [4]
    • Symbolism: The flag’s sky blue background represents peace, while the yellow star is a symbol of hope and the Congo’s wealth.
    • Adoption: The current flag was adopted in February 2006, following the ratification of a new constitution in December 2005.
  5. Ecuador’s flag consists of three horizontal stripes: yellow (top), taking up the top half of the flag, blue (middle), and red (bottom). The Ecuadorian coat of arms is featured at the center of the flag, with an Andean condor flying above the country’s emblem. However, Ecuador’s civil flag (the one used by citizens) doesn’t have the coat of arms, just the stripes. [5]
    • Symbolism: Yellow represents Ecuador’s plentiful natural resources and fertile soil. The blue symbolizes the skies above Ecuador and the ocean meeting its shores, as well as freedom. Red represents the bloodshed during Ecuador’s fight for independence.
    • The Andean condor is a symbol of strength and power, and its position over the coat of arms symbolizes the protection of Ecuador’s dignity.
    • Adoption: Ecuador adopted its national flag in September 1860; its colors were standardized in November 2009.
    • Ecuador’s flag shares colors with the Colombian and Venezuelan flags because all three countries were formerly part of Gran Colombia, a postcolonial nation in the 19th century.
  6. Technically, Eswatini’s flag features a couple of extra colors (black and white), but the majority of it remains blue, yellow, and red. The flag itself features a field of blue with a central red stripe and yellow stripes bordering the red. In the middle of the red stripe is a black and white shield, a staff, and two spears (both yellow). [6]
    • Symbolism: The blue field represents peace and stability, while the red stands for bloodshed during past battles, and the yellow represents Eswatini’s abundant resources.
    • The traditional Nguni shield and spears symbolize protection from Eswatini’s enemies, and the shield’s black and white design is a symbol of peaceful coexistence between white and black people in Eswatini.
    • Adoption: This flag was adopted in October 1968; it was based on the military flag that King Sobhuza II gave the Swazi Pioneer Corps in 1941.
  7. Moldova’s flag features a tricolor of vertical stripes: blue (left), yellow (middle), and red (right). Within the yellow stripe is the nation’s coat of arms, featuring an eagle holding an olive branch, scepter, and cross. A shield is emblazoned across the eagle’s chest, and pictured on it are an aurochs, a rose, a crescent, and a star (all yellow). [7]
    • Symbolism: The blue stripe is a symbol of liberty; the yellow symbolizes Moldova’s fertile agricultural land; the red symbolizes Moldova’s fight for independence.
    • The coat of arms’ cross, olive branch, and scepter are symbols of sovereignty and peace. The images on the shield (the aurochs, rose, crescent, and star) are all traditional symbols of Moldova.
    • Adoption: Moldova adopted this national flag in November 1990, following its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union.
  8. Mongolia’s national flag is a vertical triband (consisting of vertical stripes): red (left), blue (middle), and red again (right). Additionally, a yellow Mongolian Soyombo symbol is featured on the leftmost red stripe—it’s a special character in the Soyombo script, and serves as a traditional symbol of Mongolia (as well as Buryatia and Kalmykia). [8]
    • Symbolism: The two red bands symbolize Mongolia thriving forever, while the central blue represents the eternal blue sky above Mongolia. Additionally, the Soyombo symbol consists of geometric abstractions representing fire, sun, moon, earth, and water.
    • The Soyombo also contains a symbol representing two fish, which in turn symbolize the ideal that the spirit of the Mongolian people never sleeps.
    • Adoption: Mongolia’s current flag was adopted in January 1992, and the flag’s colors were officially standardized in July 2011. An original version of the flag, featuring a star, existed beforehand (adopted in June 1945).
  9. Romania’s national flag consists of three equal vertical stripes: one blue (left), one yellow (middle), and one red (right). Its design is strikingly similar to the national flag of Chad, although Romania’s was adopted earlier (and Chad’s colors tend to vary more than Romania’s). While the Chadian government expressed concern over this similarity in 2004, Romania declined to change its flag, as the tricolor has significant meaning to both countries. [9]
    • Symbolism: The blue band symbolizes the sky; the yellow band signifies the sun, prosperity, and Romania’s many wheat fields; finally, the red symbolizes Romania’s fight for independence, and the courage of its freedom fighters.
    • Adoption: The current Romanian flag was adopted in December 1989 after the Romanian Revolution, and later standardized in 1995 (and again updated in 2023); however, the tricolor has been used in previous iterations of the flag as well, going back as far as 1848.
  10. Venezuela’s flag—also designed by the Latin American freedom fighter General Francisco de Miranda, as mentioned above—features a horizontal tricolor with yellow (top), blue (middle), and red (bottom) stripes. The blue band also features an arch made up of eight white stars. The state and war flag of Venezuela also features its coat of arms in the upper-left corner. [10]
    • Symbolism: The yellow band represents Venezuela’s riches, fertile soil, gold, and agriculture, as well as the sun. Blue represents Venezuela’s beaches and the Caribbean Sea surrounding it. Red represents the Venezuelan blood spilled in its fight for independence.
    • Additionally, the eight stars each represent one of the original provinces that took part in
    • Venezuela’s push for independence.
    • Adoption: While Venezuela’s current national flag was adopted in March 2006, the horizontal tricolor of yellow, blue, and red dates all the way back to the Venezuelan War of Independence in 1811.
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Section 2 of 2:

Other Red, Yellow, & Blue Flags

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  1. 1
    Åland, Finland Åland is an autonomous, demilitarized region in Finland, and the smallest region of Finland in terms of area and population. Its flag is designed to be reminiscent of both the Finnish and Swedish flags; it features a blue background with a yellow Nordic cross, with a red cross inside the yellow. This is meant to represent the Swedish flag (with its yellow cross) being defaced by the red (symbolizing Finland). [11]
    • Åland’s flag is a reference to Finland declaring its freedom from Sweden. It was adopted in 1954.
  2. 2
    Falcón state, Venezuela Falcón is one of Venezuela’s 23 states. Its flag features a blue background, a red stripe on top with the words “MUERA LA TIRANIA VIVA LA LIBERTAD” written, and a sun and moon on the blue background. The writing on the stripe translates to “Death to Tyranny, Long Live Liberty.” Meanwhile, the sun and moon represent the rising Venezuelan liberty and declining Spanish empire.
    • This flag was adopted in 2006, alongside the bicentennial celebration of Francisco de Miranda's landing in La Vela de Coro in 1806.
  3. 3
    Birmingham, England The city of Birmingham, England, has a flag featuring a red background with blue and golden vertical zig-zags on the leftmost side and a yellow bull’s head in the center. When viewed on its side, the zig-zags form the Roman numeral “M” (for 1,000), symbolizing Birmingham’s moniker as the “City of a Thousand Trades.” Its colors are reminiscent of Birmingham’s coat of arms. [12]
    • The flag was adopted in 2015, after the design was submitted in a public competition.
  4. 4
    North Holland, Netherlands North Holland is a province of the Netherlands, located in the northwestern part of the country and bordered by the North Sea. Its flag is a simple horizontal tricolor with a yellow (top), red (middle), and blue (bottom) stripe, with the colors taken from North Holland’s coat of arms. Yellow and red are related to Holland, while blue symbolizes the cultural region of West Friesland.
    • This flag was adopted by North Holland’s Provincial Council in October 1958.
  5. 5
    Mecklenburg, Germany Mecklenburg is a historical region located in northern Germany. Its original 1813 flag was actually the flag of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; its current flag, adopted in 1996, is the official symbol of the historical region within Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The flag is a horizontal tricolor with blue (top), yellow (middle), and red (bottom) stripes.
    • Blue represents the historical Lordship of Rostock, yellow represents Mecklenburg itself, and red represents the historical County of Schwerin.
  6. 6
    Orkney, Scotland Scotland’s Orkney Islands are an archipelago off the north coast of the mainland. Though part of Scotland, the Orkneys have their own flag: it consists of a red background with a yellow cross and a blue cross over it. The red and yellow colors come from the Scottish and Norwegian coats of arms, while the blue comes from the flag of Scotland (and also represents the sea and the islands’ maritime culture). [13]
    • The flag of Orkney was adopted in 2007, after the people of Orkney were asked to choose their favorite design out of 5 options.
  7. 7
    Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA Saint Paul is the capital city of Minnesota, and its municipal flag features a yellow background with a blue horizontal band across the middle and a red shield containing symbols of the city’s history and industry. A red ribbon reading “Saint Paul” stretches across the bottom of the flag.
    • The blue represents the Mississippi River, which runs through the city; the shield’s symbols consist of a log cabin and dome, representing Lucien Gautier Chapel and the city’s importance as Minnesota’s capital, respectively.
    • The winged wheel at the bottom of the shield represents Saint Paul’s position as a transportation hub. The shield itself represents the spirit of Saint Paul and its people.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Andorra
      2. ↑ https://www.fotw.info/flags/td.html
      3. ↑ https://as.vanderbilt.edu/clas/wp-content/uploads/sites/99/2016/07/Colombia-Culture-Box.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.ambacongo-us.org/en/about-congo/national-symbols
      5. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Ecuador
      6. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Swaziland
      7. ↑ https://presedinte.md/eng/flag
      8. ↑ https://www.worldatlas.com/flags/mongolia
      9. ↑ https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/romania/flag
      1. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Venezuela
      2. ↑ https://www.norden.org/en/information/aland-flag
      3. ↑ https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/bully-birmingham-peoples-flag-competition-9712395
      4. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004036/http://www.orkney.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=6645&tt=orkneyv2

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