Flag of Benin

The national flag of Benin features a vertical green band positioned at the hoist side. To the right of this vertical section are two horizontal stripes of equal height, with yellow on top and red on the bottom. This layout creates a rectangular field with an aspect ratio of 2:3 and contains no additional emblems or symbols.

Green represents the hope of a new democracy and the lush vegetation found in the southern regions of the country. The yellow stripe signifies the savannas of the north, while the red band commemorates the courage and blood of the ancestors. These Pan-African colors also symbolize the unity and shared heritage of the African continent during the decolonization era.

Initially adopted on November 16, 1959, this design replaced the French Tricolour as the nation transitioned toward independence. The flag was later abandoned in 1975 when the Marxist-Leninist government of the People's Republic of Benin introduced a green field with a red star. Following the collapse of that regime, the original 1959 tricolor was officially reinstated on August 1, 1990.