Flag of Syriaالجمهورية العربية السورية

What the flag looks like

The current Syrian flag consists of three horizontal bands of green (top), white (middle) and black (bottom), with three red five-pointed stars centered in the white band. The proportion is 2:3. This design was originally adopted in 1932 for the Syrian Republic under the French mandate, was used until 1958, and was restored in 2025 following the fall of the Ba'athist government. A different design — red, white and black bands with two green stars — was used from 1980 to 2025.

Colors and meaning

Green represents the Fatimid Caliphate and the fertility of the Syrian land, white represents the Umayyad Caliphate and peace, black represents the Abbasid Caliphate and the dark years of oppression, and the three red stars represent the three districts that made up the original Syrian Republic — Aleppo, Damascus and the Euphrates region — and the blood shed for Syrian independence.

Green band

Represents the Fatimid Caliphate and the fertility of the Syrian land, including its agricultural regions along the Orontes and Euphrates rivers.

White band

Represents the Umayyad Caliphate, whose capital was Damascus, and peace and purity. Damascus was the seat of the Umayyad Caliphate from 661 to 750 CE.

Black band

Represents the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled from Baghdad, and the dark years of foreign rule. Black is also a Pan-Arab color.

Three red stars

Represent the three districts that made up the original Syrian Republic under the French mandate — the State of Aleppo, the State of Damascus and the Alawite State (later the Sanjak of Latakia). The stars also represent the blood shed for Syrian independence.

Historical context

The green-white-black design with three red stars was first adopted in 1932 and was the flag of Syria from independence in 1946 until the union with Egypt in 1958. It was restored in 2025 following the fall of the Ba'athist government in December 2024. The red-white-black design with two green stars used from 1980 to 2025 was associated with the Ba'ath Party and its rule.

History and adoption

Syria was part of the Ottoman Empire until 1918, then became a French mandate after World War I. The first Syrian flag, adopted in 1920 under the short-lived Arab Kingdom of Syria, was based on the Arab Revolt flag. Under the French mandate, a new design was adopted in 1932 — green, white and black bands with three red stars representing the three districts of the mandate. This flag was retained when Syria gained independence in 1946. In 1958, Syria united with Egypt to form the United Arab Republic, and the flag was changed to a red, white and black tricolor with two green stars. After the UAR dissolved in 1961, Syria briefly restored the 1932 flag, then changed to a red-white-black design with three green stars, and later (in 1980) to a red-white-black design with two green stars. In December 2024, the Ba'athist government fell, and in 2025 the independence flag was restored as the national flag.

Key facts

Adopted

2025 (originally adopted 1932)

Proportion

2:3

Designer

Based on the original 1932 Syrian Republic flag

Capital

Damascus

Country code

SY

Similar flags

Iraq, Yemen, Egypt

Historical and related flags

Syria has used several flags across its mandate, independence, union and Ba'athist periods.

• Arab Kingdom of Syria (1920): Arab Revolt flag with black, white and green bands and a red triangle.
• French Mandate (1922–1932): Various French-inspired designs.
• Syrian Republic (1932–1958): Green, white and black bands with three red stars.
• United Arab Republic (1958–1961): Red, white and black with two green stars.
• Syrian Arab Republic (1961–1963): Independence flag briefly restored.
• Ba'athist Syria (1963–1980): Red, white and black with three green stars, then two.
• Ba'athist Syria (1980–2024): Red, white and black with two green stars.
• Current flag (2025–present): Independence flag restored with green, white and black bands and three red stars.

Frequently asked questions

What does the flag of Syria look like?

The current flag of Syria has three horizontal bands of green (top), white (middle) and black (bottom), with three red five-pointed stars centered in the white band. The proportion is 2:3.

When was the flag of Syria adopted?

The current flag of Syria was officially adopted on 2025 (originally adopted 1932).

What do the colors mean?

Green represents the Fatimid Caliphate and the fertility of the Syrian land, white represents the Umayyad Caliphate and peace, black represents the Abbasid Caliphate and the dark years of oppression, and the three red stars represent the three districts that made up the original Syrian Republic — Aleppo, Damascus and the Euphrates region — and the blood shed for Syrian independence.

Which flags look similar to the Syria flag?

Iraq, Yemen and Egypt use red, white and black bands with different emblems. Syria's current design uses green, white and black bands — a different order — with three red stars, distinguishing it from the other Arab tricolors.