Flag of Kosovo
A blue flag with a gold map of Kosovo in the middle and an arch of six white five-pointed stars above it.
At a glance
- Adopted
- February 17, 2008
- Shape (height : width)
- 5:7
- Continent
- Europe
- Colours
- blue
- gold
- white
What it means
- Six white stars: officially Kosovo's six main communities, all equal: Albanians, Serbs, Bosniaks, Turks, Roma (with Ashkali and Egyptians) and Gorani
- Gold map: Kosovo itself; the designer said gold shows a rich and peaceful country
- Blue: the hope of joining European and Euro-Atlantic organisations, according to the designer
Where it came from
The flag was chosen through a competition in 2007 that drew around a thousand entries. The design had to suit all the peoples of Kosovo, so the double-headed eagles of Albania and Serbia, and their red-and-black or red-blue-white colour schemes, were not allowed. The winning design was by Muhamer Ibrahimi.
It was adopted by Kosovo's Assembly on 17 February 2008, the day Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. Many countries recognise Kosovo's independence and some, including Serbia, do not.
History
Before 2008, the United Nations flag was used for official purposes in Kosovo, which was then under UN administration. Many Albanians flew the flag of Albania, and many Serbs flew the flag of Serbia.
The first new flags are reported to have been made in Turkey and flown into Kosovo in February 2008. The shape was first announced as 2:3, but a 2009 law set it at 1:1.4 (5:7).
Fun facts
- Kosovo and Cyprus are the only two countries with a map of themselves on their national flag.
- The design contest rules banned the double-headed eagles used on the flags of Albania and Serbia.
- The flag's shape is 5 by 7, a little taller than most flags.
- The 2007 design contest received 993 entries.
Easy to mix up with
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Bosnia and Herzegovina also uses blue, yellow and white stars, but has a yellow triangle and a diagonal line of stars
Cyprus: Cyprus also shows a map of the country, but in copper on white, with two olive branches
Questions
What does the flag of Kosovo look like?
A blue flag with a gold map of Kosovo in the middle and an arch of six white five-pointed stars above it.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Kosovo mean?
Six white stars: officially Kosovo's six main communities, all equal: Albanians, Serbs, Bosniaks, Turks, Roma (with Ashkali and Egyptians) and Gorani; Gold map: Kosovo itself; the designer said gold shows a rich and peaceful country; Blue: the hope of joining European and Euro-Atlantic organisations, according to the designer.
When was the flag of Kosovo adopted?
The current flag of Kosovo was adopted on February 17, 2008.
What colours are on the flag of Kosovo?
The flag of Kosovo uses blue, gold and white.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Kosovo?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina also uses blue, yellow and white stars, but has a yellow triangle and a diagonal line of stars
Famous landmarks in Kosovo
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)