5 Countries with Green, White, and Red Flags in 2024

Written by Jennifer Gaeng
Updated: January 5, 2024
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We’ll be looking at five countries represented by the green, white, and red flags in this piece. Many flags around the world use these colors, but we’ll be looking specifically at flags where the green comes first, followed by white, and finally red. These tricolor flags may be read from left to right, top to bottom, or bottom up. The flags of Iran, Italy, Mexico, Hungary, and Tajikistan are today’s topics of conversation. Below, we’ll have a quick look at each in terms of their origins, aesthetics, and symbolic significance.

5 Countries with Green, White, and Red Flags

The Flag of Iran

The flag of Iran is a tricolor with three evenly spaced bands of green, white, and red. In the center of the white band is the country’s crest, which is red and stylized to look like a tulip.

©iStock.com/Royal Graphics

The current flag of Iran was introduced on July 29, 1980, following the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Many people outside of Iran who are hostile to the government fly flags with different designs, such as the tricolor flag with both the Lion and Sun in the middle, or the tricolor flag with no additional symbols at all.

Design

The Iranian flag is a tricolor flag with green, white, and red (top to bottom) horizontal bands, the national emblem of Iran (the word “Allah” in stylized characters), and the Takbir inscribed in Kufic script in the middle. It is also known as the Three-Colored Flag and the Parcame se ring Irân.

Symbolism

Adopted in 1980, it represents the Grand Ayatollah Khomeini-led Iranian Revolution of 1979. Green denotes togetherness, white represents freedom, and red represents martyrdom.

The Flag of Italy

flag of Italy

The flag of Italy is horizontally colored in green, white, and red.

©Philipp Dase/Shutterstock.com

Italy’s flag also features the colors green, white, and red in a tricolor design. In Reggio Emilia, Italy, on January 7, 1797, the Cispadane Republic became the first independent Italian state to adopt the tricolor as its national flag formally. Following the events of the French Revolution during 1789–1799. On August 21, 1789, a tricolor cockade was first flown in Genoa, displaying the national colors of Italy for the first time.

After the events of 7 January 1797, public support for the Italian flag steadily increased, making it among the most iconic symbols of the Italian unification, which was formally proclaimed on March 17, 1861, with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, whose national flag was the tricolor.

Design

The Italian flag has green, white, and red in three vertical stripes (from left to right). This flag was modified from the banner of the Cispadane Republic in 1797 before being officially accepted as the flag of Italy in 1946.

Symbolism

One secular interpretation sees the green as representing the Italian countryside, the white as the snowy Alps, and the red as the blood spilled in the Wars of Italian Independence and Unification. According to the second, religious perspective, these colors represent faith, hope, and charity, respectively.

The Flag of Mexico

The flag of Mexico

The flag of Tajikistan features red, white, and green.

©Saurabh797/Shutterstock.com

The Aztec civilization, which flourished in Mexico in the 1300s, is the likely ancestry of the country’s flag. The current form, however, has been in use since 1821, when Mexico won its freedom from Spain. In 1968, it received official recognition.

Design

There are three vertical stripes of green, white, and red on the Mexican flag (from left to right). The Mexican coat of arms, depicting an eagle with a serpent in its talons, is centered on the flag.

Symbolism

The red band on the Mexican flag stood for the Spanish allies who helped in the fight for independence. These connotations have evolved slightly in modern times. These days, green stands for renewal and progress, white for harmony, and red for the blood of the martyrs who defended Mexico.

The Flag of Hungary

flag of Hungary

The flag of Hungary is red, white, and green.

©Savvapanf Photo/Shutterstock.com

Hungary has used the present flag since May 23, 1957. Although its design dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries, when national republican movements were at their height, the flag’s colors date back to the Middle Ages. Colors in this configuration have been in use since around the crowning of Leopold II in 1790, before the first usage of the Italian Tricolor in 1797. The present Hungarian tricolor flag is identical to the republican movement banner of the United Kingdom, which has been used since 1816.

Iran’s flag is very similar to that of Hungary, save for the inverted colors of the red and green stripes and the presence of religious motifs.

Design

Three horizontal bars of green, white, and red make up the present Hungarian flag (from bottom to top). The current flag dates back to the 1848 Hungarian Revolution when the Magyars rebelled against the Habsburgs.

Symbolism

According to the constitution ratified in 2012, red represents courage, white represents loyalty, and the green represents hope.

The Flag of Tajikistan

Flag of Tajikistan

The flag of Tajikistan features red, white, and green.

©Hybrid Gfx/Shutterstock.com

The present Tajik, or Tajikistan flag was established in 1991 to replace the flag of the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic. The current flag of the Tajik SSR was not adopted until November 1992, replacing the flag of the Tajik SSR from 1953. This looks a lot like the Iranian flag. This is because the vast majority of Tajiks are of Iranian descent and speak the language.

Design

The Tajik flag has a crown in the middle and three vertical bars of green, white, and red (from bottom to top). There are seven stars in the crown.

Symbolism

Red represents sunrise but also togetherness and victory, the country’s Soviet heritage and the valor of its heroes, and many other notions. The pristine white of the Tajik mountains’ snow and ice stands for both innocence and cleanliness. The green mountains of Tajikistan are symbolic of nature’s bounty. The crown stands for the Tajik people (the word “Tajik” comes from the Persian word for “crown”), while the seven stars symbolize fulfillment and perfection.

Click here to learn about every single flag in the world!

Other Flags With Green, White, and Red

There are other flags with the colors green, white, and red, but the colors may not occur in that exact order. In the spirit of admiring that winning color combination, here are some other attractive flags in those colors.

Madagascar

Flag of Madagascar

Madagascar’s flag is white, green, and red.

©Millenius/Shutterstock.com

Burundi

Burundi flag

Burundi’s flag holds a lot of symbolism.

©Tatohra/Shutterstock.com

Oman

Large Oman flag waving in the wind

Pictured in the upper left corner of the flag of Oman is a white dagger and two swords.

©Maxim Studio/Shutterstock.com

Belarus

flag of Belarus

The attractive pattern on the far left of the Belarus flag represents harvest, bread, and reproduction.

©M_Videous/Shutterstock.com

Lebanon

Flag of Lebanon

The flag of Lebanon features a cedar tree, symbolizing prosperity, happiness, and eternity.

©iStock.com/Nabil Kamara

Algeria

Flag of Algeria

The flag of Algeria is red, green, and white.

©tatohra/Shutterstock.com

Bulgaria

Bulgaria's flag

The Bulgarian flag is tied to Russia.

©Maxim Studio/Shutterstock.com

Maldives

The white crescent moon featured in the middle of the flag of Maldives represents the Islamic religion.

©iStock.com/Nabil Kamara

Wales

Flag of Wales

The flag of Wales features a red dragon that may date back to the Romans.

©Jane McIlroy/Shutterstock.com

Summary of 5 Countries with Green, White, and Red Flags in 2024

RankNationSymbolismDate of Use
1IranUnity, freedom, and martyrdomJuly 29, 1980
2ItalyThe Alpine peaks, the struggle for independence, unificationJanuary 7, 1797
3MexicoRenewal, harmony, and martyrdom1821
4HungaryCourage, loyalty, and hopeMay 23, 1957
5TajikistanPurity, natural beauty, the people, and perfectionNovember 1992

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


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About the Author

Jennifer Gaeng is a writer at A-Z-Animals focused on animals, lakes, and fishing. With over 15 years of collective experience in writing and researching, Jennifer has honed her skills in various niches, including nature, animals, family care, and self-care. Hailing from Missouri, Jennifer finds inspiration in spending quality time with her loved ones. Her creative spirit extends beyond her writing endeavors, as she finds joy in the art of drawing and immersing herself in the beauty of nature.

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Sources
  1. World Populace, Available here: https://worldpopulace.com/countries-with-green-white-and-red-flags
  2. Wikipedia, Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Iran
  3. Fight Hatred, Available here: https://www.fighthatred.com/right-of-education/flags-of-the-world/