Flag of Sierra LeoneRepublic of Sierra Leone

What the flag looks like

The Sierra Leonean flag consists of three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white (middle) and blue (bottom). The proportion is 2:3. It was adopted on 27 April 1961, when Sierra Leone gained independence from Britain, and has remained unchanged since, including when the country became a republic in 1971.

Colors and meaning

Green represents the country's agriculture, mountains and natural resources, white represents peace, unity and justice, and blue represents the Atlantic Ocean and the natural harbor of Freetown that gave the country its name — 'Lion Mountains' in Portuguese.

Green

Represents Sierra Leone's agriculture, mountains and natural resources. The country has fertile land and significant mineral wealth, including diamonds, rutile and bauxite.

White

Represents peace, unity and justice — a hope for peaceful coexistence among Sierra Leone's diverse ethnic groups, including the Temne, Mende and Krio populations.

Blue

Represents the Atlantic Ocean, which borders Sierra Leone to the west, and the natural harbor of Freetown — the deepest natural harbor in West Africa, which gave the country its capital and its colonial name.

Name origin

The name Sierra Leone comes from the Portuguese 'Serra Leoa' (Lion Mountains), given by the explorer Pedro de Sintra in 1462, who thought the shape of the hills around the harbor resembled a lion. The blue band represents that harbor and the ocean beyond.

History and adoption

Sierra Leone was a British colony and protectorate from 1808 until 1961, when it gained independence on 27 April 1961. The flag was designed by the Sierra Leonean government in preparation for independence and adopted on independence day. It was retained when Sierra Leone became a republic within the Commonwealth on 19 April 1971. The flag has remained unchanged since, through decades of political instability including a brutal civil war (1991–2002) and the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

Key facts

Adopted

27 April 1961

Proportion

2:3

Designer

Sierra Leone government design committee

Capital

Freetown

Country code

SL

Similar flags

None

Historical and related flags

Sierra Leone used several flags during its colonial period before independence.

• British Sierra Leone (1808–1961): British Blue Ensign with a colonial badge featuring a lion and palm tree.
• Current flag (1961–present): Green, white and blue horizontal bands.
• Presidential standard: Uses the Sierra Leonean coat of arms with two lions and a palm tree.
• Naval ensign: Uses a white ensign with the Sierra Leonean flag in the canton.

Frequently asked questions

What does the flag of Sierra Leone look like?

The flag of Sierra Leone has three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white (middle) and blue (bottom). The proportion is 2:3.

When was the flag of Sierra Leone adopted?

The current flag of Sierra Leone was officially adopted on 27 April 1961.

What do the colors mean?

Green represents the country's agriculture, mountains and natural resources, white represents peace, unity and justice, and blue represents the Atlantic Ocean and the natural harbor of Freetown that gave the country its name — 'Lion Mountains' in Portuguese.

Which flags look similar to the Sierra Leone flag?

No other national flag closely resembles Sierra Leone's. The combination of green, white and blue horizontal bands is unique among national flags.