Dominican Republic Flag

How to identify it

A white cross dividing the flag into blue and red rectangles, with the coat of arms in the centre. Its quarters alternate blue-red-red-blue, which is what separates it from other cross-on-tricolour designs.

Design and construction

Proportions

2:3 (variants of 5:8 and 1:2 also appear)

Adoption and legal status

Designed by Juan Pablo Duarte and adopted 6 November 1844, shortly after independence from Haiti.

Construction

A white cross extending to the edges, dividing the flag into blue and red rectangles arranged so that blue is nearest the top of the staff, with the national coat of arms centred on the cross.

Officially documented meaning

Per Article 31 of the constitution, blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of the nation's heroes. The coat of arms includes a Bible opened to John 8:32: "And the truth shall set you free."

Sources