Flag of Mexico

This national ensign consists of three equal vertical bands colored green, white, and red from left to right. Centered within the white stripe is the national coat of arms, which features an eagle holding a serpent while perched on a cactus. The flag is constructed with a specific aspect ratio of 4:7.

Green represents the hope of the nation, white signifies unity, and red commemorates the blood of those who died for independence. Central to the design is an Aztec foundation legend describing the discovery of an eagle on a cactus, which signaled the site for the city of Tenochtitlan. This imagery emphasizes the synthesis of indigenous heritage and modern national identity.

The current version was officially adopted on September 16, 1968, to standardize the emblem for the Mexico City Olympic Games. While the tricolor layout originated in 1821 with the Flag of the Three Guarantees, the central coat of arms has undergone several redesigns throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. These historical changes reflected shifts in political ideology, including the transition from the First Mexican Empire to the federal republic.