Flag of North Macedonia

Meaning and history of the flag of North Macedonia

The flag of North Macedonia shows a red sun with eight rays extending to the edges of the field, on a solid golden-yellow background. This design, adopted in 1995, replaced the earlier Vergina Sun symbol following a dispute with Greece over the use of that Hellenic emblem. The eight rays represent the "new sun of liberty" mentioned in the Macedonian national anthem.

Red and yellow are historic colors in Macedonian heraldry, present in coats of arms from the region since the Middle Ages. The design is unique among the world's flags in the way its rays widen from the center outward to the edges, creating a dynamic, radiating visual effect found on no other national flag.

The current flag was the result of a diplomatic compromise. Greece strongly objected to the use of the Vergina Sun, a symbol associated with the dynasty of Alexander the Great, leading to the new design, which preserves the solar theme but with a completely different and original aesthetic.

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