Flag of LesothoKingdom of Lesotho

What the flag looks like

The Lesotho flag consists of three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white (middle) and green (bottom), with a black mokorotlo — the traditional Basotho hat — centered on the white band. The proportion is 2:3. It was adopted on 4 October 2006, on the 40th anniversary of Lesotho's independence, replacing a flag that had featured a shield and spears.

Colors and meaning

Blue represents the sky and the rain, white represents peace and purity, and green represents the land and prosperity. The black mokorotlo hat is the national symbol of Lesotho and represents the Basotho people and their culture.

Blue

Represents the sky and rain, which is essential for Lesotho's agriculture. The national motto is 'Khotso, Pula, Nala' — Peace, Rain, Prosperity — and rain is the second element.

White

Represents peace, purity and honesty. Peace is the first element of the national motto.

Green

Represents the land, prosperity and the country's agricultural wealth. Prosperity is the third element of the national motto.

Mokorotlo hat

The black conical hat is the mokorotlo, the traditional hat of the Basotho people. It is the national symbol of Lesotho and is also featured on the country's coat of arms. The hat's distinctive shape — a wide brim with a tall conical crown — is modeled after the mountain Qiloane, a peak near the capital Maseru.

Design change (2006)

The flag was changed in 2006 to remove the shield, spear and club that had been part of the previous design. The new design is simpler and more neutral, symbolizing a peaceful and modern Lesotho.

History and adoption

Lesotho, formerly known as Basutoland, was a British protectorate from 1868 until 1966, when it gained independence on 4 October 1966 as the Kingdom of Lesotho. The first national flag featured blue, white and green bands with a black mokorotlo hat. In 1987, after a military coup, the flag was changed to include a shield, spear and club on a blue, white and green background. On 4 October 2006, to mark the 40th anniversary of independence, the flag was changed again to the current design — a simpler, more modern flag that restored the mokorotlo as the central symbol and removed the military elements. It has remained unchanged since.

Key facts

Adopted

4 October 2006

Proportion

2:3

Designer

Based on the original 1966 design by the Lesotho government

Capital

Maseru

Country code

LS

Similar flags

None

Historical and related flags

Lesotho has used three different national flags since independence.

• British Basutoland (1884–1966): British Blue Ensign with a colonial badge.
• First flag (1966–1987): Blue, white and green with a black mokorotlo hat.
• Military-era flag (1987–2006): Blue, white and green with a shield, spear and club.
• Current flag (2006–present): Blue, white and green with a black mokorotlo hat.
• Royal standard: Uses the Lesotho coat of arms on a blue field.

Frequently asked questions

What does the flag of Lesotho look like?

The flag of Lesotho has three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white (middle) and green (bottom), with a black Basotho hat (mokorotlo) in the center of the white band. The proportion is 2:3.

When was the flag of Lesotho adopted?

The current flag of Lesotho was officially adopted on 4 October 2006.

What do the colors mean?

Blue represents the sky and the rain, white represents peace and purity, and green represents the land and prosperity. The black mokorotlo hat is the national symbol of Lesotho and represents the Basotho people and their culture.

Which flags look similar to the Lesotho flag?

No other national flag closely resembles Lesotho's. The combination of blue, white and green bands with a black mokorotlo hat is unique.