Flag of the Dominican Republic

Meaning and history of the flag of the Dominican Republic

The flag of the Dominican Republic features a white cross dividing it into four rectangles: the upper left and lower right are blue, while the upper right and lower left are red. At the center of the cross sits the national coat of arms, which includes an open Bible, a gold cross, laurel and palm branches, and the motto Dios, Patria y Libertad (God, Homeland, and Liberty).

It was designed by Juan Pablo Duarte, father of Dominican independence, and adopted on November 6, 1844. It is the only national flag in the world to feature an open Bible, reflecting the country's deep Christian tradition. Blue represents liberty, red the blood of the nation's heroes, and the white of the cross symbolizes the salvation of the people. Its design is based on the Haitian flag, from which the country broke away, but with the addition of the white cross and the colors of the quarters reversed. The arrangement of alternating colored quarters makes it unique among Latin American flags.

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