Flag of Chile

The Chilean flag consists of two horizontal bands of equal width, with white positioned above red. A blue square canton, equal in height to the white stripe, occupies the upper hoist-side corner and contains a single white five-pointed star.

Blue represents the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean and the clear skies above the territory. The white band symbolizes the snow of the Andes Mountains, while the red stripe commemorates the blood spilled by those fighting for Chilean sovereignty. Positioned within the blue canton, the lone star functions as a symbol of the country's unitarian government and its progress toward the future.

Officially adopted on October 18, 1817, this design emerged during the nation's struggle for independence from Spanish rule. It succeeded the Bandera de la Transición and the earlier Patria Vieja flag, which featured horizontal stripes of blue, white, and yellow. Minister of War José Ignacio Zenteno is frequently credited with commissioning the current design, which was used during the formal declaration of independence in 1818.