Why Is Nepal’s Flag Not Rectangular? Shape, Construction & Meaning
Nepal is the only sovereign state whose national flag is not a quadrilateral. Its flag is formed from two joined triangular pennants with a crimson field and dark-blue border.
What is the shape of Nepal’s flag?
The flag consists of two overlapping triangular pennants. The upper pennant contains a white moon emblem and the lower pennant contains a white sun.
What colors are used?
The main field is crimson red with a dark-blue border. Crimson is Nepal’s national color and is closely associated with the rhododendron, the national flower.
What do the moon and sun mean?
The moon and sun are traditional national symbols commonly interpreted as expressing endurance—the hope that Nepal will last as long as the sun and moon.
How is the flag constructed?
Nepal’s Constitution includes a detailed geometric construction procedure in its first schedule. Instead of giving a simple width-to-length ratio, it describes how to create the pennants and symbols step by step from geometric lines.
Why is the exact construction famous?
Because the geometry is more complex than a normal rectangular flag, calculating the flag’s overall mathematical proportions became a well-known vexillological problem.
Is Nepal really the only non-rectangular national flag?
Yes. Among sovereign states, Nepal is unique. Some rectangular flags have unusual swallowtails or decorations, but Nepal’s national flag itself is built from two triangles rather than a four-sided rectangle.
Quick facts
| Shape | Two joined triangular pennants |
|---|---|
| Field | Crimson |
| Border | Dark blue |
| Symbols | Moon and sun |
