Countries That Have Single-Colored Flags

Flags are a visual representation of heritage, culture, and history for people groups and nations worldwide. Today, most flags have detailed designs and important symbolic meanings, but in some cases, the national flag of a country is pretty simple! Today, we are going to take a look at some countries that have a single color as their flag. It isn’t a large number of countries, but incredibly, it isn’t zero, either! Let’s get started.

The Only Country to Have a Single Colored Flag

Colors always have intention and meaning when used on a flag, and using a single color just adds special meaning to that one color! Throughout history, there have been some interesting flags, but few have been represented as just a single piece of cloth with a single color.

In fact, there currently aren’t any countries with a single-colored flag as their national banner, although there was one only a few years ago! Libya is one of the only countries in recent history to have used a single color (green) as its national flag.

The Libyan Flag (1977-2011)

The flag of Libya from 1977 to 2011 was unique in the world. It featured a solid-green field with a 1:2 ratio and was the only single-colored flag in the world. This flag was used by the Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 1986 and later by the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya until 2011. The green color of the flag was said to represent the cultural and religious heritage of Libya, and the abundance of the country’s natural resources. Additionally, the flag was said to symbolize the unity of the Libyan people and their strength against outside forces.

This unique flag was heavily associated with the Gaddafi regime and was used to represent Libya in international forums. After the fall of Gaddafi in 2011, the flag was replaced by a new design. However, it will still remain a symbol of the country’s history and of the strength and unity of the Libyan people.

Other Single Colored Flags

Outside of Libya, there have been a few countries with singly colored national flags, but none of them were recent. In addition to national flags, however, there have been other things that have been represented by a singly colored flag, including Caliphates, certain regions within countries (like states, provinces, and cities), and more. We will also explore those.

Current Single Colored Flags

Adamawa, Nigeria

The flag of Adamawa, Nigeria, is a simple green flag with no designs or other colors. Adamawa is a state within the northeastern region of Nigeria on the border of Cameroon.

Zamfara, Nigeria

The flag of Zamfara, Nigeria, is similar to the flag of Adamawa in that it’s also green with no other adornment. The main difference between the two is the ratio, as the flag of Zamfara is much longer than it is tall. Zamfara is a state in the northwestern region of Nigeria.

Candelaria, Cuscatlán, El Salvador

Candelaria, El Salvador, is a municipality in El Salvador, located directly in the center of the country. The flag is singly green with no other adornment or designs.

Cochabamba, Bolivia

Cochabamba, Bolivia, is a city and municipality located in Bolivia in a valley region in the Andes Mountains. Known as the City of Eternal Spring, Cochabamba flies a singly colored light blue flag.

Oruro, Bolivia

Oruro, Bolivia, is a department and city within the country of Bolivia. There are a total of 16 provinces (departments), of which Oruro is the name of one that also has a city named Oruro within it. Their flag is a solid red with no designs or adornment.

A List of Other Single-Colored Flags

Outside of a few provides or cities that currently fly the flag, there have also been singly colored flags flown by past governments and people groups. Here are a few quick examples:

• Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258)
• Akkalkot, a state in India (1848–1947)
• Aundh, a state in India (1699–1948)
• Hammadi Dynasty (1014–1152)
• Hotak Dynasty (1709–1738)
• Korean People’s Association in Manchuria (1929–1931)
• Maguindanao, a region in the southern Philippines (1520–1905)
• Maldives (1796–1903)
• Slovak Soviet Republic (1919)

Conclusion

Single-colored flags are quite rare in comparison to flags with multiple colors and designs, but they are still seen today. These flags are used to represent a particular group, organization, or cause, and they can be powerful symbols of unity and identity, just like more ornate flag designs. While their rarity makes them stand out, they also serve as a reminder of the importance of a shared sense of identity.

Up Next:

• Examples of Cross Flags, With Photos
• Different Examples of Flags With Diamonds
• The Flag of Libya: History, Meaning, and Symbolism

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Derek Brumby/Shutterstock.com