Flag of the Maldives

A red border surrounds a central green rectangle on this rectangular flag. Positioned in the center of the green field is a white crescent moon with its horns facing the fly side.

The red color represents the bravery of national heroes and the blood sacrificed to protect the sovereignty of the islands. Peace, prosperity, and the life-giving coconut palms of the archipelago are symbolized by the central green rectangle. Finally, the white crescent serves as a formal representation of Islam, which is the state religion of the Maldives.

The earliest versions of the Maldivian flag consisted of a plain red field, to which a black and white striped hoist was added in the early 20th century. During the tenure of Prime Minister Abdul Majeed Didi in 1926, the green rectangle and crescent were incorporated into the design. Upon gaining independence from the United Kingdom on July 26, 1965, the government removed the black and white stripes to establish the current national flag.