Flag of Cambodia
A blue stripe at the top and bottom and a red stripe twice as wide in the middle, with the white temple of Angkor Wat at the centre.
At a glance
- Adopted
- September 24, 1993first adopted in 1948 and used until 1970; brought back in 1993 when the monarchy was restored
- Capital
- Phnom Penh
- Continent
- Asia
- Colours
- blue
- red
- white
- black (outline)
What it means
- Blue: the king; also described as liberty, cooperation and brotherhood
- Red: the nation and bravery
- White Angkor Wat: religion, as well as integrity, justice and heritage
- Together: the national motto: Nation, Religion, King
Where it came from
Angkor Wat, the huge 12th-century temple, has appeared on Cambodian flags since about 1875. The current design, with the temple on a red band between two blue bands, was adopted in 1948.
The temple is shown from the front with its towers. In Khmer belief, the temple stands for Mount Meru, the centre of the universe.
History
The flag was replaced in 1970 when Lon Nol's Khmer Republic took power. The Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979) used a red flag with a yellow three-towered temple, and the government that followed used a red flag with a yellow five-towered temple; in 1989 its lower half was made blue.
During the United Nations transition period of 1992-1993, a special UN flag was used. When the monarchy returned in 1993, the 1948 flag was brought back.
Fun facts
- Cambodia is one of very few countries with a building on its national flag.
- Angkor Wat has been on Cambodian flags in one form or another for about 150 years.
- The red middle stripe is exactly twice as wide as each blue stripe.
Easy to mix up with
Thailand
LaosQuestions
What does the flag of Cambodia look like?
A blue stripe at the top and bottom and a red stripe twice as wide in the middle, with the white temple of Angkor Wat at the centre.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Cambodia mean?
Blue: the king; also described as liberty, cooperation and brotherhood; Red: the nation and bravery; White Angkor Wat: religion, as well as integrity, justice and heritage; Together: the national motto: Nation, Religion, King.
When was the flag of Cambodia adopted?
The current flag of Cambodia was adopted on September 24, 1993. (first adopted in 1948 and used until 1970; brought back in 1993 when the monarchy was restored)
What colours are on the flag of Cambodia?
The flag of Cambodia uses blue, red, white and black (outline).
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Cambodia?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Thailand. Thailand has red, white and blue stripes with no temple
Famous landmarks in Cambodia
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)