Flags›Africa›Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso

Africa

Quick Facts

Capital

Ouagadougou

Population

21.0M

Area

274,222 km²

Density

77 /km²

Median age

17.9 yrs

Description

Adoption

4 August 1984 (first anniversary of the revolution, the day the country was renamed, 42 years).

Designed byTied to Thomas Sankara's revolutionary government (1984); no individual designer is clearly established.

Design & Symbolism

Specs plus what each color and emblem means on this flag — tap an element to reveal its meaning.

Proportions

2:3

Shape

Rectangular

Colors

Red#EF2B2D · Pantone 186 C

Red evokes the revolution and the blood shed in the struggle for independence.

Green#009E49 · Pantone 355 C

Green represents agricultural abundance, natural riches and hope.

Yellow#FCD116 · Pantone 116 C

The yellow of the star is the guiding light of the revolution; it also evokes the gold beneath the soil.

Symbols & elements

Star

The yellow star is the guiding light of the 1983 revolution, set between the red of the struggle and the green of the land's abundance.

Construction details

Proportions 2:3. Two equal horizontal bands, red on top and green below, with a yellow five-pointed star at the centre. These are the Pan-African colours, borrowed from Ethiopia.

Construction sheet

Etiquette & protocol

How the flag should be used and displayed with respect.

Specific rules — Burkina Faso

The flag is honoured on 4 August (Revolution Day) and 5 August (Independence Day).
Its Pan-African colours deliberately tie it to the wider family of former African colonies.

Common conventions

Keep the flag clean and never let it touch the ground.
Never fly a torn or faded flag — repair or replace it.
Illuminate the flag if it stays up at night.
Never use the flag as clothing, packaging or advertising.
Dispose of a worn flag respectfully, not in the trash.

Did you know?

The yellow star is presented as the guiding light of the revolution.

Test your knowledge!

Can you recognize this flag in Flag Reveal?

Play Flag Reveal

More from Africa

Gabon

Rwanda

Burundi

Senegal

Somalia

Seychelles

Browse by Continent

On the blog

One article covers this flag.

Why Do So Many African Flags Share the Same Colours?

Green, yellow, red. Across Africa, these three colours appear again and again. Their story leads back to Ethiopia, a victory that became a symbol, and the African independence movements of the 20th century.

5 min read