Flag of MexicoEstados Unidos Mexicanos

What the flag looks like

The Mexican flag consists of three equal vertical bands of green (hoist), white (center) and red (fly). The national coat of arms sits in the center of the white band, depicting an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus, devouring a serpent. The proportion is 4:7.

Colors and meaning

Green represents hope, victory and the fertility of the Mexican land, white represents unity and purity, and red represents the blood shed by Mexican heroes for independence. The coat of arms recalls the Aztec legend that told the Mexica people to found their city where they saw an eagle devouring a serpent on a cactus.

Green

Represents hope, victory and the fertility of the Mexican land. In the original 1821 flag, green stood for independence.

White

Represents unity, purity and the Catholic faith. In the original design, white stood for religion.

Red

Represents the blood shed by Mexican heroes for independence and the union of Mexicans. In the original design, red stood for union.

Coat of arms

The eagle on a prickly pear cactus devouring a serpent is based on the Aztec legend that guided the Mexica people to found Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City) in 1325.

History and adoption

Mexico's first national flag was adopted in 1821, after independence from Spain. It established the green-white-red vertical tricolor with a crowned eagle in the center. The design has changed several times since then, mostly in the coat of arms — the eagle has been shown with different crowns, postures and orientations depending on the political era. The current version was adopted on 16 September 1968 by President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, who standardized the design and proportions. The coat of arms was updated in 1968 to show the eagle in profile, a change based on Aztec codices.

Key facts

Adopted

16 September 1968

Proportion

4:7

Designer

Design based on the 1821 flag; current version standardized by presidential decree

Capital

Mexico City

Country code

MX

Similar flags

Italy, Ireland

Historical and related flags

Mexico has used several national flags since independence, all built on the same green-white-red tricolor.

• First Mexican Empire (1821–1823): Green-white-red with a crowned eagle.
• United Mexican States (1823–1864): Green-white-red with an uncrowned eagle.
• Second Mexican Empire (1864–1867): Green-white-red with the imperial arms and corner eagles.
• Restored Republic (1867–1893): Green-white-red with an eagle facing forward.
• Porfiriato (1893–1916): Eagle in profile with wings spread.
• Current flag (1968–present): Eagle in profile, standardized proportions.

Frequently asked questions

What does the flag of Mexico look like?

The flag of Mexico has three equal vertical bands of green, white and red, with the Mexican coat of arms — an eagle perched on a cactus eating a serpent — in the center of the white band.

When was the flag of Mexico adopted?

The current flag of Mexico was officially adopted on 16 September 1968.

What do the colors mean?

Green represents hope, victory and the fertility of the Mexican land, white represents unity and purity, and red represents the blood shed by Mexican heroes for independence. The coat of arms recalls the Aztec legend that told the Mexica people to found their city where they saw an eagle devouring a serpent on a cactus.

Which flags look similar to the Mexico flag?

Italy uses green-white-red vertical bands but has no coat of arms in the center. Ireland uses green-white-orange, with a different shade of red. Mexico is the only one with the eagle emblem.