Flag of Côte d’Ivoire
The flag of Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) has three equal vertical stripes of orange, white and green, with orange next to the pole.
At a glance
- Adopted
- December 3, 1959
- Shape (height : width)
- 2:3
- Capital
- Yamoussoukro
- Continent
- Africa
- Colours
- orange
- white
- green
What it means
- Orange: officially the land and the struggle for freedom; it is also often said to stand for the savannas
- White: peace with justice, and the unity of the nation
- Green: hope for the future; it is also often said to stand for the forests
- Vertical stripes: said to reflect the country's energetic youth and its motto "Union, Discipline, Work"
Where it came from
The flag was adopted by law on 3 December 1959, when the country was self-governing within the French Community. It became the flag of the independent country on 7 August 1960.
The French commissioner had suggested a red, white and blue design with stars, but Ivorian lawmakers wanted a clearer break from France. The assembly chose orange, white and green instead.
History
Before 1959 the colony flew the French tricolour. Ivory Coast's own flag has never changed since it was adopted, and the constitutions of 1960, 2000 and 2016 all describe it.
Fun facts
- It is the same as Ireland's flag in reverse, so the two are often mixed up.
- In 2018 an Ivorian sprinter celebrated a win with an Irish flag held backwards, because she could not find an Ivorian one.
- In 2013 people in Belfast burned Ivorian flags on a bonfire by mistake, thinking they were Irish.
- Ireland's flag is longer: 1:2 instead of 2:3.
Easy to mix up with
Ireland
Niger
IndiaQuestions
What does the flag of Côte d’Ivoire look like?
The flag of Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) has three equal vertical stripes of orange, white and green, with orange next to the pole.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Côte d’Ivoire mean?
Orange: officially the land and the struggle for freedom; it is also often said to stand for the savannas; White: peace with justice, and the unity of the nation; Green: hope for the future; it is also often said to stand for the forests; Vertical stripes: said to reflect the country's energetic youth and its motto "Union, Discipline, Work".
When was the flag of Côte d’Ivoire adopted?
The current flag of Côte d’Ivoire was adopted on December 3, 1959.
What colours are on the flag of Côte d’Ivoire?
The flag of Côte d’Ivoire uses orange, white and green.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Côte d’Ivoire?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Ireland. Ireland has the same colours in the opposite order, with green next to the pole
Famous landmarks in Côte d’Ivoire
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)