North Macedonia Flag: Meaning, Colors, History & Facts
North Macedonia’s flag is red with a golden-yellow sun in the centre and eight broadening rays extending to every edge. The current design was adopted in 1995.
What does the North Macedonia flag look like?
The flag has a solid red field with a golden-yellow central sun. Eight broad rays extend from the sun to the edges, crossing horizontally, vertically and diagonally.
What does the sun mean?
Official North Macedonian material connects the sun with the “new sun of liberty” in the anthem Today Over Macedonia.
Why are there eight rays?
The 1995 flag law defines eight rays extending from the central sun to the flag’s edges. Their widening shape gives the flag its distinctive radiating appearance.
Explore the eight-ray sun and construction →
What is the official ratio?
The flag has a 1:2 ratio. The sun disc’s diameter equals one-seventh of the flag’s length, and its centre lies at the intersection of the flag’s diagonals.
When was the current flag adopted?
The Assembly adopted the current flag on October 5, 1995.
What flag came before it?
From 1992 to 1995, the country used a red flag with a 16-ray Vergina or Kutlesh Sun. That design became part of the wider dispute with Greece over names and symbols.
Why was it changed?
The 1995 redesign formed part of efforts to normalize relations with Greece while preserving the red-yellow palette and sun motif.
How can you identify it?
Look for a yellow sun whose eight rays expand outward across the entire red field. Few national flags use such a full-surface radiating design.
North Macedonia flag facts
| Colors | Red and golden yellow |
|---|---|
| Sun rays | 8 |
| Ratio | 1:2 |
| Sun disc diameter | 1/7 of flag length |
| Adopted | October 5, 1995 |
