The flag of Venezuela is an equal horizontal tricolour of yellow, blue, and red. In the centre of the blue stripe are eight white outward-facing five-pointed stars forming an upward arc. The state flag features the coat of arms of Venezuela on the upper hoist.
Symbolism[]
- Yellow: The riches of the country and the wealth of Venezuelan soil and gold. It also represents the sun, the source of light.
- Blue: Represents the Caribbean Sea that surrounds the country as well as the Venezuelan beaches.
- Red: The blood spilt in the battle for independence against Spain.
The stars represent the seven provinces that supported Venezuelan independence, and Simón Bolivar.[2] In 2006, an eight star was added to include the disputed Guyanese territory.[3]
History[]
1810-1812[]
The flag of the First Republic of Venezuela was a gold-blue-red tricolour with a picture of a Venezuelan native and alligator in the canton.
1813-1814[]
A flag for the Second Republic of Venezuela was introduced: a red background with a white lozenge containing a black square.
1817-1819[]
The flag for the Third Republic of Venezuela was a gold-blue-red tricolour with eight blue five-pointed stars on the golden stripe.
1830-1836[]
The flag of the State of Venezuela was a gold-blue red tricolour defaced with the emblem.
1836-1859[]
A gold-blue-red tricolour with the Venezuelan coat of arms on the golden stripe.
1859[]
A gold-blue-red tricolour with seven blue five-pointed stars.
1859-1863[]
Ditto, but with twenty stars instead of seven.
1863-1905[]
The flag of the United States of Venezuela was a gold-blue-red tricolour with seven white five-pointed stars on the blue stripe, arranged in a circle or hexagon with one star in the centre.
The state flag was identical but had the coat of arms on the golden stripe.
1905-1930[]
The design was like the 1863-1905 flag, but the stars were rearranged to be in a ring with a hollow middle.
1930-2006[]
The stars are now arranged in an arch instead of a full circle. From 1930, the horse on the coat of arms completely faced right and the ribbons were white. In 1954, the coat of arms was tweaked to have the horse turned to the left but still moving rightward, and the ribbons being in the national colours.
Today, this flag is still used by the Venezuelan opposition.
.svg "Venezuela (state).svg (239 KB)")
Other flags[]
[]
The naval jack of Venezuela is blue with a white anchor in the centre. Above the anchor are seven white five-pointed stars.
Venezuelan Army[]
The flag of the Venezuelan Army is blue with a red diagonal stripe (going from the top-left to the bottom-right). On the red stripe is the emblem of the Venezuelan Army.
Trivia[]
- The 1954 flag (with seven stars) is used by the Venezuelan opposition, since they view the current flag as illegitimate.
- A cap popularised by fellow opposition member Henrique Capriles features the iconic yellow, blue and red colours and stars.[4]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Venezuela at Flags of the World
- ↑ Venezuela's Flag at EnchantedLearning.com
- ↑ "New Venezuela flag divides nation". BBC News. 13 March 2006. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ Neuman, William (9 February 2013). "Venezuela, Despite Troubles, Proudly Seizes on a Hat". New York Times. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
South America
|
|---|
Nations Argentina |  Bolivia |  Brazil |  Chile |  Colombia |  Ecuador |  Guyana |  Panama |  Paraguay |  Peru |  Suriname |  Uruguay |  Venezuela
Territories |
