Flag of Malawi

Meaning and history of the flag of Malawi

Malawi's flag has three equal horizontal stripes: black on top, red in the middle, and green at the bottom. Over the black stripe sits a red rising sun with 31 rays. This design was restored in 2012, after a brief period from 2010 to 2012 when a version with a full white sun on a central red stripe was used instead.

Black represents the African people of the continent, red symbolizes the blood shed in the struggle for independence, and green evokes the country's lush landscape. The rising sun with its 31 rays represents hope and the promise of freedom for the African continent, symbolizing a new dawn.

Malawi's flag colors are the pan-African colors, shared with several nations across the continent. The tricolor layout resembles that of Afghanistan's flag, though the colors and symbols differ. What makes Malawi unique is that rising sun, only partly visible above the horizon of the black stripe, which conveys a powerful message of hope.

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