30 September 1966 (independence, 60 years). Designed ahead of independence so it could fly from the very first day.
Designed byGeorge Winstanley, a British administrator, who also designed the coat of arms.
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
Blue#75AADB · Pantone 284 C
The light blue represents water and rain, precious in a semi-arid country; it echoes the motto Pula ('let there be rain') and evokes the sky.
Black#000000
Black, framed in white, stands for harmony and equality among people of all backgrounds; the two colours also recall the zebra, the national animal.
White#FFFFFF
White frames the black stripe; together, black and white speak of concord and recall the zebra's stripes.
Construction details
Proportions 2:3. A sky-blue field crossed horizontally at its centre by a black stripe framed in white. The bands follow a 9:1:4:1:9 ratio (blue, white, black, white, blue).
Construction sheet
Etiquette & protocol
How the flag should be used and displayed with respect.
Specific rules — Botswana
The flag is honoured on 30 September, Independence Day.
Unusually for an African flag of its era, it avoids the Pan-African colours so as to point to no ethnic group or party.
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?
Unlike many African flags of its time, it avoids the Pan-African colours (red, gold, green), so as to point to no ethnic group or party.
