Overview

The national flag of Armenia is a simple horizontal tricolor consisting of three equal bands: red at the top, blue in the middle, and orange (often described as apricot) at the bottom. This arrangement is commonly called the Armenian Tricolor and is used as the primary national emblem of the Republic of Armenia. General information about the flag and its official status can be found through references to the national flag.

Design and symbolism

The flag’s three colors are widely interpreted in symbolic terms. Red is associated with the endurance and survival of the Armenian people, blue with the sky and peaceful aspirations, and orange with courage and the creative spirit or labor of the nation. These meanings are commonly cited in descriptions of the flag, though popular explanations can vary by source. The basic design uses three horizontal bands of equal height without additional emblems.

History and development

The modern tricolor has antecedents in the late 19th century. A distinctive version of the flag was proposed in 1885 by the Armenian Catholic priest and scholar Ghevont Alishan, and the flag later became associated with Armenian national movements. After World War I the tricolor was adopted by the short-lived Democratic Republic of Armenia. During the Soviet period it was replaced by variants of the Armenian SSR flag. The present tricolor was reinstated during the process of independence in 1990 when the Armenian Supreme Council formally adopted it on August 24, 1990.

The role, use and basic requirements for the flag are set out in national legislation. The Law on the National Flag of Armenia, passed by the Armenian Parliament, provides rules on display, treatment and ceremonial use. The flag appears on government buildings, at diplomatic missions, in schools and at official events, and it is also widely used by Armenian communities abroad.

Notable facts

  • The tricolor is one of the most recognizable national symbols and is often displayed at public ceremonies and commemorations.
  • Descriptions and color names (for example, the term "apricot/orange") vary in everyday language; legal texts describe the flag without elaborate symbolic prescriptions.