Flag of Antigua and Barbuda

Meaning and history of the flag of Antigua and Barbuda

The flag of Antigua and Barbuda features a striking triangular design: on a red field, an inverted isosceles triangle contains, from top to bottom, stripes of black, blue, and white, with a golden rising sun of seven rays set in the black stripe. The left and right edges of the red field form two triangles that frame the central design.

The golden rising sun symbolizes the dawn of a new era for the country following independence. Its seven rays represent Antigua's six parishes plus the island of Barbuda. Black evokes the African heritage of most of the population, blue stands for the Caribbean Sea, white represents the sandy beaches, and red embodies the energy and vitality of the people. Viewed as a whole, the design forms a victory 'V'.

The design was chosen through a national competition in 1967 and was won by Reginald Samuel, a local artist and teacher. The flag was officially adopted on February 27, 1967, when the country became an associated state, and it was kept after full independence on November 1, 1981. It is one of the most original flags in the Caribbean for its unusual geometric composition, which clearly sets it apart from those of neighboring countries.

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