Flag of Bhutanའབྲུག་ཡུལ་

What the flag looks like

The Bhutanese flag is divided diagonally from the lower hoist corner to the upper fly corner. The upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange. A large white dragon — the Druk (Thunder Dragon) — stretches across the diagonal, facing the fly side, with four jewels in its claws. The proportion is 2:3. The design was standardized in 1969 and confirmed by the Bhutanese constitution of 2008.

Colors and meaning

Yellow represents the secular authority of the Bhutanese king — the Druk Gyalpo — and the yellow robe of the Bhutanese monarchy, orange represents the spiritual authority of Buddhism and the Buddhist monasteries of Bhutan, and the white dragon represents purity, the country's name in Dzongkha, and the thunder dragon of Bhutanese mythology.

Yellow

Represents the secular authority of the Druk Gyalpo — the King of Bhutan — and the yellow robes traditionally worn by the Bhutanese monarchy. Yellow is associated with the civil administration and the continuity of the Bhutanese state.

Orange

Represents the spiritual authority of Buddhism in Bhutan and the Buddhist monasteries and monastic community. Orange is a traditional Buddhist color, worn by monks in the Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma lineages that dominate Bhutanese religious life.

White dragon (Druk)

The thunder dragon is the national symbol of Bhutan, and the country is known as Druk Yul — 'Land of the Thunder Dragon' in Dzongkha. The dragon is white, representing purity and loyalty, and holds four jewels in its claws representing wealth and perfection. The dragon's snarling mouth represents the strength and power of the Bhutanese deities.

Design origin

The flag's design dates to the 19th century, when a similar flag was used by the Druk Desi — the temporal rulers of Bhutan. The design was refined over the 20th century and standardized in 1969, and confirmed by the Bhutanese constitution of 2008.

History and adoption

Bhutan has been a unified kingdom since the 17th century, when Ngawang Namgyal, the Zhabdrung Rinpoche, unified the country and established a dual system of religious and secular rule. A flag with a white dragon on a yellow and orange background has been used since the 19th century, evolving from earlier designs that featured a dragon on a plain yellow field. The current design was standardized in 1969, and the proportions (2:3) were fixed. The flag was confirmed as the national flag by the Constitution of Bhutan, adopted in 2008. Bhutan has never been colonized, and the flag reflects the country's ancient monarchy and Buddhist heritage.

Key facts

Adopted

1969

Proportion

2:3

Designer

Mayum Choying Wangmo Dorji (design), standardized by the Bhutanese government

Capital

Thimphu

Country code

BT

Similar flags

None

Historical and related flags

Bhutan has used several variations of the dragon flag across its history.

• Early Bhutanese flags (17th–19th century): Various banners with dragons and religious symbols.
• Dragon flag (19th century–1949): White dragon on a yellow field.
• First diagonal flag (1949–1969): Diagonal yellow and orange with a white dragon.
• Current flag (1969–present): Standardized design with the current dragon.
• Royal standard: Uses the Bhutanese coat of arms with two dragons and a lotus.

Frequently asked questions

What does the flag of Bhutan look like?

The flag of Bhutan is divided diagonally from the lower hoist to the upper fly, with a yellow upper triangle and an orange lower triangle. A large white dragon — the Druk — spans the diagonal, facing the fly side, holding jewels in its claws. The proportion is 2:3.

When was the flag of Bhutan adopted?

The current flag of Bhutan was officially adopted on 1969.

What do the colors mean?

Yellow represents the secular authority of the Bhutanese king — the Druk Gyalpo — and the yellow robe of the Bhutanese monarchy, orange represents the spiritual authority of Buddhism and the Buddhist monasteries of Bhutan, and the white dragon represents purity, the country's name in Dzongkha, and the thunder dragon of Bhutanese mythology.

Which flags look similar to the Bhutan flag?

No other national flag closely resembles Bhutan's. The combination of diagonal yellow and orange triangles with a white dragon is unique.