A brief overview of the meaning, history, and key facts about the national flag of Yemen.
Flag of Yemen
Adopted in 1990, Yemen’s flag consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and black. The red represents the blood of those who fought for independence and unity, the white symbolizes a bright future, and the black represents the difficult past. The flag was adopted following the unification of North Yemen and South Yemen into a single state.
Printable Yemen Flag (PNG Download)
Interesting facts about Yemen’s flag
1. Yemen’s flag was adopted on 22 May 1990, the day North and South Yemen unified to form the Republic of Yemen.
2. The red, white, and black stripes are part of the pan-Arab colors, which have historically been associated with major Arab dynasties and later became symbols of Arab unity and independence.
3. The design was created by removing the distinctive symbols from the former flags of North Yemen and South Yemen after unification.
4. Yemen’s flag is visually identical to the flag used by Libya between 1969 and 1972.
5. Similar red–white–black horizontal tricolor flags are also used by Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Sudan, reflecting shared Arab nationalist symbolism.
Explore more about Yemen:
Evolution of Yemen’s flag
Kingdom of Yemen flag (1927–1962)
This red flag with a white sword and five stars was one of several flags used by the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen until the 1962 revolution that established the Yemen Arab Republic. During the subsequent civil war, royalist forces continued using the flag.
Yemen Arab Republic flag (1962–1990)
After the revolution in North Yemen, the republic adopted a red–white–black horizontal tricolor with a green star in the center.
People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen flag (1967–1990)
South Yemen used a red–white–black horizontal tricolor with a light blue triangle at the hoist and a red star.
History of Yemen’s flag
Early flags of Yemen
After the collapse of Ottoman control in 1918, northern Yemen became the Kingdom of Yemen. The kingdom used a red flag, sometimes featuring white inscriptions or symbols.
In southern Yemen, the region was under British influence through several protectorates centered around Aden. These states did not have widely recognized national flags.
Flags of North and South Yemen
In 1962 a revolution in northern Yemen led to the establishment of the Yemen Arab Republic. The republic adopted a red–white–black horizontal tricolor inspired by the Arab Liberation Flag, with a green star in the center representing unity and independence.
In 1967 southern Yemen gained independence from the United Kingdom and became the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen. Its flag also used the red–white–black tricolor but added a light blue triangle at the hoist and a red star.
Adoption of the modern flag (1990)
On 22 May 1990, North Yemen and South Yemen unified to form the Republic of Yemen.
The new national flag removed the distinctive symbols from the previous designs and adopted a simple red–white–black horizontal tricolor.
The flag has remained unchanged since its adoption in 1990.
Browse all Middle Eastern flags or explore more Asian flags. You can also test your knowledge with our Flags of Asia 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.