Flag of Ecuador

Meaning and history of the flag of Ecuador

Ecuador's flag consists of three horizontal stripes: the top yellow band takes up half the flag's height, while blue and red each occupy a quarter. This tricolor design traces back to the flag created by Francisco de Miranda for Gran Colombia, sharing a common origin with the flags of Colombia and Venezuela, countries with which Ecuador was once united.

Yellow symbolizes the country's wealth and abundance, both in natural resources and in the fertility of its land. Blue represents the sky and the Pacific Ocean along its coast, while red honors the blood shed by the heroes of independence. In its official use, the flag carries the national coat of arms at its center, which depicts Mount Chimborazo, a river, a steamship, and an Andean condor.

The flag was officially adopted on September 26, 1860. It is distinguished from the flags of Colombia and Venezuela by its stripe proportions and by the inclusion of the coat of arms. When flown without the coat of arms it is known as the civil flag; with the coat of arms it serves as the state and armed forces ensign.

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