Flag of Trinidad & Tobago
A red flag crossed by a wide black diagonal band with thin white edges, running from the top left corner to the bottom right.
At a glance
- Adopted
- August 31, 1962
- Shape (height : width)
- 3:5
- Capital
- Port of Spain
- Colours
- red
- black
- white
What it means
- Red: fire: the warmth and energy of the sun, the vitality of the land and people, and courage and friendliness
- Black: earth: the unity, strength and purpose of the people, and the wealth of the land
- White: water: the sea around the islands, the purity of the nation's hopes and the equality of all people
Where it came from
The flag was chosen by the 1962 Independence Committee and adopted on 31 August 1962, the day Trinidad and Tobago became independent from Britain. The government credits the committee, while other sources name the artist Carlisle Chang as the designer.
The white, black and white bands are in the proportion 1, 4, 1, and together they take up one fifth of the flag's length.
History
Before 1962 the colony used a British Blue Ensign with a badge showing a ship arriving in front of a mountain. The new flag dropped all colonial symbols. It stayed the same when the country became a republic in 1976. At sea, ships fly it in a longer 1:2 shape.
Fun facts
- The government says the three colours stand for the elements earth, water and fire.
- It is one of only a few national flags with a diagonal band.
- The flag has the same design on land and sea, but a different shape: 3:5 on land and 1:2 at sea.
- The Coast Guard flies a white flag with the national flag in its corner.
Easy to mix up with
Congo - Kinshasa: DR Congo has a red diagonal band with yellow edges on sky blue, plus a yellow star
Namibia: Namibia has a red diagonal band with white edges between blue and green, plus a gold sun
Questions
What does the flag of Trinidad & Tobago look like?
A red flag crossed by a wide black diagonal band with thin white edges, running from the top left corner to the bottom right.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Trinidad & Tobago mean?
Red: fire: the warmth and energy of the sun, the vitality of the land and people, and courage and friendliness; Black: earth: the unity, strength and purpose of the people, and the wealth of the land; White: water: the sea around the islands, the purity of the nation's hopes and the equality of all people.
When was the flag of Trinidad & Tobago adopted?
The current flag of Trinidad & Tobago was adopted on August 31, 1962.
What colours are on the flag of Trinidad & Tobago?
The flag of Trinidad & Tobago uses red, black and white.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Trinidad & Tobago?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Congo - Kinshasa. DR Congo has a red diagonal band with yellow edges on sky blue, plus a yellow star
Famous landmarks in Trinidad & Tobago
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)