Flag of Tunisia
A red flag with a white circle in the middle. Inside the circle is a red crescent moon wrapped around a red five-pointed star.
At a glance
- Adopted
- 1999the design dates from the 1820s-1830s (sources give 1827, 1831 or 1835); written into the constitution in 1959 and set in detail by a 1999 law
- Shape (height : width)
- 2:3
- Capital
- Tunis
- Continent
- Africa
- Colours
- red
- white
What it means
- Red: usually said to be the blood of martyrs; explanations vary and none is fixed by law
- White circle: peace, and the nation shining like the sun
- Crescent and star: old symbols of Islam; they are often said to stand for the unity of Muslims, and the star's five points for the Five Pillars of Islam
Where it came from
In 1827 Tunisia's navy was destroyed at the Battle of Navarino. After that, the ruler, Hussein II Bey, ordered a distinct flag for the fleet. Its crescent and star recall the Ottoman Empire, which Tunisia was then part of.
History
Before this flag, Tunisia's rulers used flags with blue, red and green stripes, and the Bey also had his own personal banner. The flag stayed the same during French rule (1881-1956), and after independence the 1959 constitution made it the flag of the republic. A 1999 law set its exact design, including the size of the circle.
Fun facts
- The flag was first made for Tunisia's navy, to tell its ships apart from other fleets.
- Insulting the flag in Tunisia can be punished with a year in prison.
- The President's flag has the words "for the nation" written in gold Arabic letters.
- Tunisia's Red Crescent is said to be the only one in the world whose crescent faces left.
Easy to mix up with
Türkiye: Turkey also has a white crescent and star on red, but they sit straight on the red without a white circle
Questions
What does the flag of Tunisia look like?
A red flag with a white circle in the middle. Inside the circle is a red crescent moon wrapped around a red five-pointed star.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Tunisia mean?
Red: usually said to be the blood of martyrs; explanations vary and none is fixed by law; White circle: peace, and the nation shining like the sun; Crescent and star: old symbols of Islam; they are often said to stand for the unity of Muslims, and the star's five points for the Five Pillars of Islam.
When was the flag of Tunisia adopted?
The current flag of Tunisia was adopted on 1999. (the design dates from the 1820s-1830s (sources give 1827, 1831 or 1835); written into the constitution in 1959 and set in detail by a 1999 law)
What colours are on the flag of Tunisia?
The flag of Tunisia uses red and white.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Tunisia?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Türkiye. Turkey also has a white crescent and star on red, but they sit straight on the red without a white circle
Famous landmarks in Tunisia
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)