Flag of Albania

Meaning and history of the flag of Albania

The flag of Albania shows a deep red field with a black double-headed eagle at its center. It is one of the most recognizable and long-standing designs in Europe: the two-headed eagle has been a symbol of the Albanian people since the Middle Ages, associated with the national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, who flew it on his standard during the resistance against the Ottoman Empire in the fifteenth century.

The red field stands for the courage, strength, and blood shed by the Albanian people in the cause of freedom, while the black double-headed eagle represents the country's sovereignty and independence. The flag was officially adopted on November 28, 1912, when Albania declared independence from the Ottoman Empire, though the design has undergone minor changes over the years, including the addition and later removal of stars and other elements during the communist era.

It is one of the few national flags in the world to feature a double-headed eagle, a heraldic symbol that also appears on the coats of arms of Russia, Serbia, and Montenegro, though none of those uses it in the same way on a red field. Its restrained two-color palette makes it easy to identify at a glance.

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