Flag of the Bahamas

Meaning and history of the flag of the Bahamas

The flag of the Bahamas is made up of three horizontal stripes, aquamarine on top and bottom with gold in the middle, and a black equilateral triangle on the hoist side. Aquamarine represents the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean that surround the archipelago, gold stands for the country's sandy beaches, and the black triangle represents the strength, vigor, and unity of the Bahamian people.

The black triangle points toward the colored stripes to symbolize the determination and enterprise of the Bahamian people in developing and claiming the rich resources of their land and sea. The flag was adopted on July 10, 1973, the date of independence from the United Kingdom, and was chosen through a national design competition.

It is one of the few Caribbean flags that includes no European heraldic elements and no Union Jack, reflecting a deliberate effort to build a distinct national identity from the moment of independence. Its turquoise-and-gold palette is unique among the world's national flags and instantly evokes the archipelago's tropical landscape, making it one of the most evocative and visually harmonious flags in the Americas.

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