Flag of Algeria

Meaning and history of the flag of Algeria

The flag of Algeria is split vertically into two equal halves: green on the hoist side and white on the outer side. At the center sits a red crescent enclosing a red five-pointed star. Green stands for Islam and nature, white represents peace and purity, and the crescent and star are traditional Islamic symbols found on numerous flags of Muslim-majority countries.

The design's roots go back to the nineteenth century, when Emir Abdelkader, leader of the resistance against French colonization, flew banners with similar elements. The modern version was adopted by the National Liberation Front (FLN) during the war of independence (1954-1962) and became the country's official flag on July 3, 1962, following independence from France.

The Algerian flag shares its colors and symbolism with other flags from North Africa and the wider Arab world, such as those of Tunisia, Mauritania, and Pakistan, all of which pair a crescent and star with green or white fields. Its vertical two-tone layout, however, sets it clearly apart. The red of the crescent and star commemorates the martyrs of the war of independence, one of the bloodiest conflicts of Africa's decolonization.

You can view the flag of Algeria in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Algeria profile, its map, or the current local time in Algiers.