Flag of Paraguay

Meaning and history of the flag of Paraguay

Paraguay's flag is unique in the world for having different emblems on each of its two faces. It consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue. On the obverse, the central white stripe bears the national coat of arms, showing a five-pointed yellow star surrounded by a wreath of palm and olive branches with the inscription "República del Paraguay." On the reverse appears the seal of the Treasury, depicting a lion guarding the Phrygian cap of liberty beneath the motto "Paz y Justicia" ("Peace and Justice").

This two-sided design makes Paraguay's the only national flag in the world with this feature. The colors red, white, and blue were inspired by the French tricolor and represent, respectively, patriotism and courage, peace and unity, and liberty and generosity. The flag was adopted in 1842 under the government of Carlos Antonio López. Its stripes share the same colors as the flags of the Netherlands and France, though in a different order, and its tricolor design reflects the influence of French Revolutionary ideals on South American independence movements.

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