Colors that represent a nation
National colours are frequently part of a country's set of national symbols . Many states and nations have formally adopted a set of colours as their official "national colours" while others have de facto national colours that have become well known through popular use. National colours often appear on a variety of different media, from the nation's flag to the colours used in sports . Before World War I , they also served as the colours of different military uniforms for each nation or region.
Africa
Country
Flag
Primary colours
Secondary colours
Primary
Secondary
Further information
Algeria
Green, white and red
National colours of Algeria
Angola
Red, black and yellow
National colours of Angola
Benin
Green, yellow and red
National colours of Benin
Botswana
Light blue, black and white
National colours of Botswana
Burkina Faso
Red, green and yellow
National colours of Burkina Faso
Burundi
Red, white and green
National colours of Burundi
Cameroon
Green, red and yellow
National colours of Cameroon
Cape Verde
Blue, white, red and yellow
National colours of Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Blue, white, green, yellow and red
National colours of Central African Republic
Chad
Blue, yellow and red
National colours of Chad
Comoros
Yellow, white, red, blue and green
National colours of Comoros
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Blue, yellow and red
National colours of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Congo, Republic of the
Green, yellow and red
National colours of Congo Republic
Djibouti
Light blue, green, white and red
National colours of Djibouti
Egypt
Red, white and black
Gold
National colours of Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Green, white, red and blue
National colours of Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Green, blue, red and yellow
National colours of Eritrea
Eswatini (Swaziland)
Blue, yellow, red, black and white
National colours of Eswatini
Ethiopia
Green, yellow, red and blue
National colours of Ethiopia
Gabon
Green, yellow and blue
Gambia
Red, blue, green and white
Ghana
Red, yellow, green and black
Black and white (used in sports)
Guinea
Red, yellow and green
Guinea-Bissau
Red, yellow, green and black
Ivory Coast
Orange, white and green
Kenya
Black, red, green and white
Lesotho
Blue, white, green and black
Liberia
Red, white and blue
Libya
Red, black, green and white
Madagascar
Red, green and white
Malawi
Black, red and green
Mali
Green, yellow and red
Mauritania
Green, yellow and red
Mauritius
Red, blue, yellow and green
Morocco
Red and green
Mozambique
Green, yellow, red, black and white
Namibia
Blue, red, green, white and yellow
Niger
Orange, white and green
Nigeria
Green and white
Rwanda
Sky blue, yellow and green
São Tomé and Príncipe
Green, yellow, red and black
Senegal
Green, yellow and red
Seychelles
Blue, yellow, red, white and green
Sierra Leone
Green, white and blue
Somalia
Blue and white
South Africa
Red, green, blue, gold, black and white[ 1]
Green and gold (used in sports)
South Sudan
Black, red, green, blue, yellow and white
Sudan
Red, white, black and green
Tanzania
Green, yellow, blue and black
Togo
Green, yellow, red and white
Tunisia
Red and white
Uganda
Black, yellow and red
Zambia
Green, red, black and orange
Zimbabwe
Green, yellow, red, black and white
North America
Country
Flag
Primary colours
Secondary colours
Primary
Secondary
Further information
Antigua and Barbuda
Red, white, blue, black and yellow
Bahamas
Aquamarine, yellow and black
Barbados
Ultramarine, gold and black
Belize
Blue, red and white
Sky blue (used in sports)
Canada
Red and white[ 2]
Black (only used in sports)
National colours of Canada
Costa Rica
Blue, white and red
Black (used in sports)
Cuba
Blue, white and red
Black
Dominica
Green, yellow, black, white and red
Blue (used in sports)
Dominican Republic
Blue, white and red
El Salvador
Blue and white
Grenada
Green, yellow and red
Guatemala
Blue and white
Navy blue and green-blue
Haiti
Blue and red[ 3]
Honduras
Turquoise blue and white
Navy blue and midnight blue
Jamaica
Green, gold and black
Mexico
Green, white and red
Black, Indian red, magenta and lime green (used only in sports)
Nicaragua
Blue and white
Gold and denim (used only in sports)
Panama
Blue, white and red
Midnight blue and cadet blue (used only in sports)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Green, red and white
Gold and black
Saint Lucia
Light blue, yellow, black and white
Blue (only in sports)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Blue, yellow and green
Trinidad and Tobago
Red, white and black
Maroon (only in sports)
United States
Red, white and blue[ 3]
List of U.S. state colors
Sub-national colours
Country, nation or region
Flag
Primary colours
Secondary colours
Primary
Secondary
Further information
Anguilla
Orange, blue and white
Aruba
Yellow, cerulean, white, red
Bermuda
Red, blue and white
Prussian blue (used in sports)
Bonaire
Yellow, blue and white
British Virgin Islands
Green, yellow and white
Cayman Islands
Blue, red and white
Curaçao
Blue, yellow and white
Guadeloupe
Green, red and white
Black
Martinique
Red, green and black
Blue and white
Montserrat
Black, green, dark blue, red and white
New Brunswick
Pine green, navy blue and white
See Flag of New Brunswick
Puerto Rico
Red, white and blue
Quebec
Royal Blue and white
See Flag of Quebec
Saint Martin
Yellow and blue
Dark blue, red and white
Saint Pierre et Miquelon
Blue, white and red
Sint Maarten
Red, blue and white
Turks and Caicos
Blue, light blue, red and white
Green sheen (only in sports)
US Virgin Islands
White, yellow and blue
Light blue (used only in sports)
South America
Country
Flag
Primary colours
Secondary colours
Primary
Secondary
Further information
Argentina
Light blue and white[ 4]
Blue and black (used in sports)
Bolivia
Red, yellow and green
White (used in sports)
Brazil
Green and yellow
Blue and white
Chile
Red, white and blue
Colombia
Yellow, blue and red
Dark blue and white (used in sports)
Ecuador
Yellow, blue and red
Sky blue (used in sports)
French Guiana
Yellow and green
Blue (used in sports)
Guyana
Yellow and green
Red and black
Paraguay
Red, white and blue
Bluegray (used in sports)
Peru
Red and white
Suriname
White and green
Red and gold
Uruguay
Blue and white
Light blue (used in sports)
Artigas flag , Flag of the Treinta y Tres
Venezuela
Yellow, blue and red
Burgundy, khaki, white and neon yellow (used in sports)
Asia
Country
Flag
Primary colours
Secondary colours
Primary
Secondary
Further information
Armenia
Red, blue and orange
Afghanistan
Black, red, green and white
Blue (Sports)
Azerbaijan
Sky blue, red and green
Bahrain
Red and white
Bangladesh
Red and green
White (football)[ 5]
First Flag of Bangladesh (1971)
Bhutan
Orange, gold and white
Brunei
Yellow, black, white and red
Blue and green (football)
Cambodia
Red and blue
Black (football)
China
Red and yellow
Dark blue, black and white (sports)
Georgia
Red and white
India
Saffron orange, blue, white and green
Sky blue (sports)
Indonesia
Red and white[ 6]
Green (sports)
Iran
Green, white and red
Black
Iraq
Red, white, black and green
Israel
Blue and white[ 7]
National colours of Israel
Japan
Red and white
Black (sports); Blue, white and spring bud (only used in football )
Jordan
Black, white, green and red
Kazakhstan
Blue and gold
White and black (sports)
Korea, North (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
Red, white and blue
Korea, South (Republic of Korea)
White, red, blue and black
Kuwait
Green, white, red and black
Blue and red (sports)
Kyrgyzstan
Red and yellow
Laos
Red, blue and white
Black, gold and sky blue (football)
Lebanon
Red, white and green
Malaysia
Gold and black
Red, white, dark blue and gold
Maldives
Red and white
Green and blue (football)
Mongolia
Blue, red and yellow
White (sports)
Myanmar
Yellow, green, red and white
Nepal
Crimson, blue and white
Oman
Red, white and green
Gold
Pakistan
Green and white
Lime green and gold (sports)
Philippines
Blue, red, white and yellow
Qatar
Maroon and white
Saudi Arabia
Green and white
Lavender[ 8]
Singapore
Red and white
Blue (football)
Sri Lanka
Blue and yellow
Maroon, yellow, orange, green (flag colours) and white
Syria
Red, white, black and green
Gray and gold
Tajikistan
Red, white and green
Thailand
Red, white and blue
Royal yellow, royal purple and blue sapphire
Royal flags of Thailand
Timor-Leste
Red, yellow, black and white
Turkmenistan
Green and white
Sand
United Arab Emirates
Red, green, white and black
Gold and blue
Uzbekistan
Blue, white, green and red
Black (sports)
Vietnam
Yellow and red
Blue and White (sports)
Yemen
Red, white and black
Sub-national colours
Country, nation or region
Flag
Primary colours
Secondary colours
Primary
Secondary
Further information
Hong Kong
Red and white
Black and gray
Macau
Green and white
White and dark blue (sports)
Europe
Country
Flag
Primary colours
Secondary colours
Primary
Secondary
Further information
Albania
Red and black
Andorra
Blue, yellow and red
Austria
Red and white
Belarus
Red, green and white
Belgium
Red
Black and yellow; Light blue (used in sports)[ 9]
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Blue and gold
White (used in football)
Bulgaria
White, green and red
Croatia
Red, white and blue
Czech Republic
White, red and blue[ 10] [ 11] [ 12]
National colours of the Czech Republic
Cyprus
Blue and white
Orange
Denmark
Red and white
Estonia
Blue, black and white[ 13]
Finland
White and blue
Red and gold
France
Blue, white and red[ 14]
Germany
Black, red and gold
White; Silver (used in motor racing); Green (used in football)
(football)
National colours of Germany
Greece
Blue and white
National colours of Greece
Hungary
Red, white and dark green
Iceland
Blue, white and red
Ireland
Green
St. Patrick's blue
Italy
Green, white and red[ 15]
Azure
National colours of Italy
Latvia
Carmine and white
Liechtenstein
Blue and red
Lithuania
Yellow, green and red
Luxembourg
Red, white and light blue
Malta
Red and white
Moldova
Blue, yellow and red
Monaco
Red and white
Montenegro
Red and gold
Netherlands
Orange
Red, white and blue (flag)
Orange refers to the Dutch royal family , the House of Orange-Nassau .
North Macedonia
Red and yellow
White (used by the national football team)
Norway
Red, blue and white
Poland
White and red
(Sports)
National colours of Poland
Portugal
Green and red
(Before the 1910 revolution : White and blue)
Romania
Blue, yellow and red
Russia
White, blue and red
Green
San Marino
White and light blue
Serbia
Red, blue and white[ 16] [ 17] [ 18]
National colours of Serbia
Slovakia
White, blue and red
Slovenia
White, blue and red[ 19]
Green, blue and white (sports)[ 20]
Spain
Red and gold
(During the Second Spanish Republic : also Purple)
Sweden
Blue and yellow
See Flag of Sweden
Switzerland
Red and white
Turkey
Red and white
Turquoise
Ukraine
Blue and gold
National colours of Ukraine
United Kingdom
Red, white and blue
British racing green
National colours of the United Kingdom
Sub-national colours
Oceania
Country
Flag
Primary colours
Secondary colours
Primary
Secondary
Further information
Australia
Green and gold
Blue and white
National colours of Australia
Fiji
Light blue
White and black (rugby and other sports)
Kiribati
Red, gold, blue and white
New Zealand
Black[ 21]
White, silver, ochre red, teal and beige (used by the cricket team in the 1980s)
National colours of New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Red, black, yellow and white
Samoa
Red, white and blue
Solomon Islands
Olive green, yellow and blue
Green and white
Tonga
Red and white
Tuvalu
Sky blue, yellow and white
Blue
Vanuatu
Red, green, black and yellow
Sub-national colours
Countries with limited or no recognition
These are the national colours for countries or states that have limited or no recognition .
Country
Flag
Primary colours
Secondary colours
Primary
Secondary
Further information
Austria-Hungary
Black and gold
Red, white and green
Flags of Austria-Hungary Black and gold were the colours of the ruling Habsburg monarchy
Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)
Red, blue and orange
White
Byzantine Empire
Red, gold and purple
Byzantine flags and insignia
China (Republic of China, 1912-1949)
Blue, white and red
Confederate States of America
Blue, white and red
Cadet grey
Cadet grey was an official color of the Confederate States Army
Czechoslovakia
Blue, white and red
Donetsk People's Republic
Black, blue and red
East Germany
Black, red and gold
Blue
National colours of Germany
France (Kingdom of France 987–1792, 1814–1848)
White and blue
French Blue , French Flags
German Empire
Black, white and red
German Flags
Göktürk Khaganate
Sky blue
Holy Roman Empire
Gold and black
White and red
Flags of the Holy Roman Empire
Luhansk People's Republic
Light blue, blue and red
Nazi Germany
Black, white and red
Brown
German Flags
Neutral Moresnet
Black, white and navy
Portugal (Kingdom of Portugal 1139-1910)
Blue and white
Republic of Texas
red, white and blue
Texas is a current state of he United States but was a former independent republic from 1839-1845.
Rhodesia
Green
Soviet Union
Red
Gold
South Africa (pre-1994)
Orange, white and blue
Green (sports)
South Yemen
Red, sky blue, white and black
Yugoslavia
Blue, white and red
Caliphates
Ancient/Imperial Chinese dynasties
Supranational organisations
Some noted supranational organisations like the United Nations and the European Union have their own colours as part of their branding and marketing . They are usually taken from the organisation's flag. Although they do not have national sporting teams, the colours can be used for anything connected to the organisation, like associated bodies.
Examples of use of these colours
See also
References
^ "National flag" . South African Government. 2018-02-19.
^ "National Colours: Red and White" . Government of Canada. Retrieved 2013-10-26 .
^ a b "National Symbols". The World Factbook (52nd ed.). Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Public Affairs. 2014. ISBN 978-0-16-092553-5 . OCLC 913577992 . Archived from the original on 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2015-05-02 .
^ "Símbolos nacionales" . Government of Argentina. Archived from the original on 2015-10-09. La primera enseña patria es la Bandera Nacional. Creada por el general Manuel Belgrano el 27 de febrero de 1812, fue consagrada con los mismos coloures 'celeste y blanco' por el Congreso de Tucumán el 20 de julio de 1816 y ratificada por el mismo cuerpo en Buenos Aires , el 25 de febrero de 1818.
^ "Bangladesh national team" . Colours of Football. Retrieved 2018-07-11 .
^ Minahan, James B. (2009). The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems . ABC-CLIO. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-313-34497-8 . Retrieved 2015-10-26 . National colours: Red and white
^ "Israel National Symbols: The Israeli Flag" . Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 2014-06-11 .
^ Noor, Saleha (2023). "Lavender and the Kingdom: Vogue Arabia Celebrates Saudi Arabia's New Color Identity" . Vogue Arabia . Retrieved 2024-01-28 .
^ "Rode Duivels brengen eerbetoon aan wielrenners met uitshirts" . Sporza. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-08-20 .
^ "Státní symboly" . hrad.cz .
^ "Symboly současné České republiky" . vlast.cz .
^ "Státní symboly České republiky" . toulkypocechach.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-01-26 .
^ "National symbols of Estonia" . Archived from the original on 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2016-07-29 .
^ "Le drapeau tricolour " [The Tricolour Flag] (in French). 2002-06-20. Archived from the original on 2005-01-28. Retrieved 2015-07-18 . Le pavillon, ainsi que le drapeau national, sera formé des trois couleurs nationales disposées en trois bandes égales, de manière à ce que le bleu soit attaché à la garde du pavillon, le blanc au milieu et le rouge flottant.
^ Ferorelli, Nicola (1925). La vera origine del tricoloure italiano . Rassegna storica del Risorgimento. Vol. 12. pp. 654– 680.
^ The Journal of the Orders & Medals Research Society of Great Britain . Orders and Medals Research Society. 1969. p. 207).
^ Chronicles . Rockford Institute. 1994. p. 39.
^ Thomas, Nigel; Mikulan, Krunoslav (2006). The Yugoslav Wars (2): Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia 1992–2001 . Osprey Publishing. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-84176-964-6 .
^ "National Insignia" . Government of the Republic of Slovenia. Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2016-08-21 . the three national colours (white, blue and red) of Carniola - the central historic state on the territory of the Slovenian people - are used
^ "Sport in Slovenia" (PDF) . Government Communication Office of the Republic of Slovenia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-21. Retrieved 2016-08-21 . The Olympic Committee of Slovenia suggests that sports organisations use the following ratio when designing national sports equipment: 50% green, 30% blue and 20% white.
^ "Design of The New Zealand Orders Insignia" . The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Government of New Zealand . Archived from the original on 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2013-03-20 .
^ "ACT Flags and Emblems" . ACT Government Chief Minister's Department . 27 February 2023.
^ Symbols and emblems of NSW Archived 2010-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Northern Territory Flag" . Department of the Chief Minister . Archived from the original on 2010-03-08.
^ "State colour" . Department of the Premier and Cabinet .
^ "State Emblems and Insignia" . Archived from the original on 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2016-09-09 . , Government of South Australia
^ Department of Premier and Cabinet - TASMANIA : Sporting colours
^ "Tasmanian Sporting Colours - Story of their Origin" . The Mercury . 13 February 1925.
^ "Ensigns of Public Authority" . Department of Premier and Cabinet . Archived from the original on 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2019-05-30 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Gao, Jingyi (2012). "Official Colours of Chinese Regimes: A Panchronic Philological Study with Historical Account of China" (PDF) . Trames. A Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences . 16(66/61) (3). Estonian Academy Publishers: 237– 285. doi :10.3176/tr.2012.3.03 .
^ "West Indies Cricket Board" . CARICOM . Retrieved 2020-06-23 .
Color classifications
Color systems, standards and palettes Color names (alphabetic) Variations of base colors