Flag of Timor-Leste

Meaning and history of the flag of Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste's flag was officially adopted on May 20, 2002, the day the country achieved independence from Indonesia. It features a red field with two overlapping triangles at the hoist: a larger black one and a smaller yellow one inside it. A white five-pointed star sits atop the black triangle.

The red that dominates the flag symbolizes the struggle for national liberation and the blood shed during the long years of resistance to occupation. Black represents the darkness of colonialism that had to be overcome. Yellow evokes the traces colonialism left on the country's history as well as the wealth of its natural resources. The white star is the light guiding the Timorese people toward peace and serves as a symbol of hope for the future.

The flag's design originates from the flag of FRETILIN (the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor), the liberation movement that led the resistance. It is one of the youngest flags in the world, belonging to one of the 21st century's newest sovereign states. The arrangement of overlapping triangles gives it a distinctive look that clearly sets it apart from other Southeast Asian flags.

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