Flag of North MacedoniaРепублика Северна Македонија

What the flag looks like

The North Macedonian flag consists of a red field with a golden-yellow sun in the center, from which eight rays extend to the edges of the flag. The proportion is 1:2. It was adopted on 5 October 1995, following a dispute with Greece over the use of the Vergina Sun symbol, which had appeared on the previous flag.

Colors and meaning

Red represents the blood shed by Macedonian patriots in the struggle for independence and the courage and determination of the Macedonian people, and the golden sun represents the 'new sun of liberty' — a symbol of freedom, hope and the bright future of the Macedonian nation.

Red field

Represents the blood shed by Macedonian patriots during the long struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire, achieved in 1903 with the Ilinden Uprising and finally in 1991 with independence from Yugoslavia. Red has been a traditional Macedonian color since the 19th century.

Golden sun

Represents the 'new sun of liberty' mentioned in the Macedonian national anthem 'Denes nad Makedonija' ('Today over Macedonia'). The sun symbolizes freedom, hope and the bright future of the Macedonian nation. The eight rays of the sun extend from the central disc to the edges of the flag, symbolizing the spread of freedom and light in all directions.

Design origin

The current design was adopted in 1995 after a dispute with Greece over the use of the Vergina Sun — a symbol of the ancient kingdom of Macedon that Greece also claimed as part of its cultural heritage. The new design replaced the Vergina Sun with a stylized sun that was distinct from the Greek symbol while still evoking the sun of the Macedonian national anthem.

History and adoption

North Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia on 8 September 1991, following a referendum. The first flag, adopted on 11 August 1992, featured the Vergina Sun — a stylized sixteen-rayed sun symbol that had been discovered in the tomb of Philip II of Macedon at Vergina in Greece. Greece objected strongly to the use of this symbol, considering it part of Greek cultural heritage, and imposed a trade embargo on Macedonia from 1994 to 1995. As part of the Interim Accord signed on 13 September 1995, Macedonia agreed to change its flag, and the current design was adopted on 5 October 1995. The flag has remained unchanged since, including after the country changed its name to North Macedonia in 2019 as part of the Prespa Agreement with Greece.

Key facts

Adopted

5 October 1995

Proportion

1:2

Designer

Miroslav Grčev

Capital

Skopje

Country code

MK

Similar flags

None

Historical and related flags

North Macedonia has used several flags across its Yugoslav and independence periods.

• Ottoman Macedonia (14th century–1912): Ottoman flags used during Ottoman rule.
• Yugoslav Macedonia (1944–1991): Yugoslav flag with a red star, with a Macedonian-specific variant used for local occasions.
• First independence flag (1992–1995): Red field with the Vergina Sun.
• Current flag (1995–present): Red field with an eight-rayed golden sun.
• Presidential standard: Uses the Macedonian coat of arms with a rising sun.

Frequently asked questions

What does the flag of North Macedonia look like?

The flag of North Macedonia is a red field with a golden sun in the center, from which eight rays extend to the edges of the flag. The proportion is 1:2.

When was the flag of North Macedonia adopted?

The current flag of North Macedonia was officially adopted on 5 October 1995.

What do the colors mean?

Red represents the blood shed by Macedonian patriots in the struggle for independence and the courage and determination of the Macedonian people, and the golden sun represents the 'new sun of liberty' — a symbol of freedom, hope and the bright future of the Macedonian nation.

Which flags look similar to the North Macedonia flag?

No other national flag closely resembles North Macedonia's. The combination of a red field with a golden eight-rayed sun is unique, though the sun motif also appears on the flags of Uruguay, Argentina and Japan in different forms.