Flag of Mauritius

Meaning and history of the flag of Mauritius

The flag of Mauritius, known as the "Four Bands," is made up of four equal horizontal stripes: red on top, followed by blue, yellow, and green at the bottom. It was adopted on March 12, 1968, the day the country gained independence from the United Kingdom. The design was created by a herald at the College of Arms in London.

Red represents the struggle for freedom and independence, blue symbolizes the Indian Ocean surrounding the island, yellow evokes the golden light of the sun and the new dawn of independence, and green represents Mauritius's lush tropical vegetation. The four colors also reflect the country's multiethnic diversity.

The flag of Mauritius is unique for its four horizontal stripes in four entirely distinct colors, an uncommon format in world vexillology. No other national flag uses exactly this color combination in stripe form. The array of colors mirrors the multicultural character of the nation, home to communities of Indian, African, Chinese, and European descent living together in one of the world's most diverse societies.

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