A brief overview of the meaning, history, and key facts about the national flag of Armenia.
Flag of Armenia
Adopted in 1990, the national flag of Armenia consists of three horizontal stripes of red, blue, and orange. The red represents the Armenian Highlands, Christian faith, and the Armenian people’s struggle for survival and independence, the blue symbolizes the desire to live under peaceful skies, and the orange represents the creative talent and hardworking nature of the Armenian people.
Printable Armenia Flag (PNG Download)
Interesting facts about Armenia’s flag
1. The colors of the Armenian flag have been interpreted in different ways throughout history, though the official meanings were later defined in law.
2. Several alternative flag designs were proposed in 1919, including rainbow-colored flags suggested by Armenian artist Martiros Saryan.
3. During the Soviet period, the Armenian tricolor was banned, but it continued to be used by Armenian communities and independence movements.
4. The symbolism of the Armenian flag’s colors is defined in a law adopted in 2006 regulating the national flag of the Republic of Armenia.
5. Armenia celebrates National Flag Day on June 15 every year to commemorate the 2006 Armenian law that came to pass.
Explore more about Armenia:
Evolution of Armenia’s flag
Flag of the First Republic of Armenia (1918–1920)
The red–blue–orange tricolor was first adopted in 1918 during the First Republic of Armenia.
Flag of the Armenian SSR (1952–1990)
During the Soviet period, Armenia used a red flag with a blue horizontal stripe and a golden hammer and sickle beneath a star.
History of Armenia’s flag
First Republic of Armenia (1918–1920)
The modern Armenian tricolor was first adopted in 1918 during the First Republic of Armenia. It consisted of three horizontal stripes of red, blue, and orange.
Soviet period (1922–1990)
After Armenia became part of the Soviet Union, several Soviet-style flags were used.
The final Soviet-era flag, adopted in 1952, featured a red background with a blue horizontal stripe and a golden hammer and sickle with a star.
Restoration of the tricolor (1990)
The red–blue–orange tricolor was restored on 24 August 1990, shortly before Armenia declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
The design remains the national flag today.
Explore more: Asian flags or test your knowledge with our Asia Flags 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.