Flag of ParaguayRepública del Paraguay

What the flag looks like

The Paraguayan flag consists of three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white (middle) and green (bottom). It is one of only two national flags in the world with different designs on the obverse and reverse. The obverse (front) bears the national coat of arms — a yellow five-pointed star surrounded by a green wreath, with the words 'República del Paraguay' — while the reverse bears the seal of the Treasury — a yellow lion below a red Phrygian cap, with the words 'Paz y Justicia'. The proportion is 3:5.

Colors and meaning

Red represents courage, equality and the blood shed for Paraguayan independence, white represents peace, unity and purity, and green represents hope, the fertility of the Paraguayan land and its natural wealth. The two emblems represent the nation (obverse) and the Treasury (reverse), reflecting the state's dual identity.

Red

Represents courage, equality and the blood shed by Paraguayan patriots during the struggle for independence from Spain, achieved in 1811, and during the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1864–1870).

White

Represents peace, unity and purity of the Paraguayan people.

Green

Represents hope, the fertility of the Paraguayan land and the country's natural wealth, including its forests and agriculture.

National coat of arms (obverse)

A yellow five-pointed star surrounded by a green wreath of palm and olive branches, tied with a red ribbon. The star represents Paraguay's guiding light, and the wreath represents victory and peace. The words 'República del Paraguay' appear around it.

Seal of the Treasury (reverse)

A yellow lion below a red Phrygian cap, symbolizing the defense of liberty. The words 'Paz y Justicia' ('Peace and Justice') appear around it.

History and adoption

Paraguay declared independence from Spain on 14 May 1811. The first Paraguayan flag was a simple blue-white-red horizontal tricolor adopted in 1811 under José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia. In 1842, the flag was changed to the current red-white-green design under Carlos Antonio López, and the dual emblem system was introduced — one emblem on the front and a different one on the back. This makes Paraguay's flag one of only two national flags in the world (along with Moldova) with different designs on each side. The coat of arms and seal of the Treasury have been modified several times, but the tricolor and the dual-emblem system have remained since 1842.

Key facts

Adopted

25 November 1842

Proportion

3:5

Designer

Carlos Antonio López (design)

Capital

Asunción

Country code

PY

Similar flags

Italy, Mexico

Historical and related flags

Paraguay has used several flags across its colonial, independence and republican periods, and today uses several official variants.

• First flag (1811–1813): Blue-white-red horizontal tricolor.
• Second flag (1813–1842): Red-white-blue tricolor with different arrangements.
• Current design (1842–present): Red-white-green tricolor with dual emblems.
• National flag (bandera nacional): Civil flag with the emblem on one side.
• State flag: Used by government institutions with the national coat of arms.
• Naval ensign: Variant with an anchor for naval use.

Frequently asked questions

What does the flag of Paraguay look like?

The flag of Paraguay has three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white (middle) and green (bottom), with a different emblem on each side. The obverse shows the national coat of arms, and the reverse shows the seal of the Treasury. The proportion is 3:5.

When was the flag of Paraguay adopted?

The current flag of Paraguay was officially adopted on 25 November 1842.

What do the colors mean?

Red represents courage, equality and the blood shed for Paraguayan independence, white represents peace, unity and purity, and green represents hope, the fertility of the Paraguayan land and its natural wealth. The two emblems represent the nation (obverse) and the Treasury (reverse), reflecting the state's dual identity.

Which flags look similar to the Paraguay flag?

Italy and Mexico use vertical green-white-red designs with different arrangements. Paraguay uses horizontal red-white-green bands — a different order — and is unique in having different emblems on each side.