A brief overview of the meaning, history, and key facts about the national flag of Comoros.
Flag of Comoros
Adopted in 2001, the flag features four horizontal stripes of yellow, white, red and blue, along with a green triangle at the hoist containing a white crescent and four white five-pointed stars. The stripes represent the four main islands of the country: yellow for Mohéli, white for Mayotte, red for Anjouan and blue for Grande Comore. The crescent, stars and green color are symbols associated with Islam, the main religion of the country.
Printable Comoros Flag (PNG Download)
Interesting facts about the Comoros flag
1. The current national flag was introduced after the adoption of a new constitution in 2001, which restructured the country as the Union of the Comoros.
2. The white crescent and four stars have been used in several Comorian flag designs since the independence movement in 1975.
3. The four horizontal stripes represent the four main islands of the archipelago.
4. The stars on the flag are typically shown pointing upward, based on the official model provided when the flag was adopted. However, the legal description of the flag does not specify their orientation, and some versions show the stars pointing outward instead.
5. The constitution defines the colors simply as yellow, white, red, blue and green, without specifying exact shades.
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Evolution of the Comoros flag
Flag of the State of the Comoros (1963–1975)
The first official flag of Comoros featured a green background with a white crescent at the upper hoist and four stars arranged diagonally.
Flag of Comoros (1975–1978)
After independence, a new flag was introduced under President Ali Soilih. This design moved the crescent and rearranged the stars into a diamond shape. Two thirds of the flag were red, reflecting the government’s socialist ideology.
Zscout370, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Flag of the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros (1978–1992)
In 1978 the flag changed again when Ahmed Abdallah returned to power. The flag returned to a green field with a crescent at the center and the four stars arranged between its horns.
Flag of the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros (1992–1996)
A new constitution adopted in 1992 changed the orientation of the crescent and stars so that they faced upward.
Flag of the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros (1996–2001)
In 1996 another constitutional change introduced a new flag featuring Arabic inscriptions. The words “Muhammad” and “Allah” appeared on the flag in Arabic calligraphy.
History of the Comoros flag
Early political background
The political history of the Comoros islands has been marked by instability, rivalries and periods of foreign influence.
Historically, the islands faced threats from regional powers and piracy, which led several local rulers to place their territories under French protection during the nineteenth century.
During the colonial period, the islands used the French tricolor as their official flag.
Independence and early flag designs
Comoros gained independence from France in 1975.
During the early years after independence, several different flags were adopted as governments changed and political systems evolved.
Constitutional changes
Throughout the 1990s, new constitutions brought further changes to the national flag.
Designs during this period often retained the crescent and four stars but altered their orientation or added additional elements such as Arabic inscriptions.
Adoption of the modern flag
In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution that reorganized the country as the Union of the Comoros.
The current national flag was introduced as part of these reforms and symbolizes both the unity of the islands and the country’s Islamic heritage.
Explore more: African flags or test your knowledge with our Flags of Africa Quiz.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. With seven years of teaching experience and a background in educational content, she specialises in creating clear reference resources about countries, geography and global topics.