Türkiye’s national flag has a red field with a white crescent and five-pointed star. The design has deep roots in Ottoman flag traditions, while the precise modern form is regulated by Turkish law.
What does the Turkish flag look like?
The flag is red with a white crescent opening toward a white five-pointed star. Article 3 of the Constitution defines the national flag as a red flag bearing a white crescent and star, with its form prescribed by law.
History of the Turkish flag
Crescents and stars appeared on Ottoman flags in several forms over centuries. A red flag with a white crescent and star became standard in the nineteenth century, and the Republic of Türkiye retained that basic design after 1923. The Turkish Flag Law of 1936 standardised the geometry and proportions used today.
What do the crescent and star mean?
The crescent and star are strongly associated with Turkish state tradition, but popular stories assigning a single definitive origin or meaning should be treated cautiously. The official constitutional definition specifies the design without giving a detailed symbolic interpretation.
Türkiye flag facts
- Colors: red and white
- Symbols: crescent and five-pointed star
- Republic retained the design: after 1923
- Modern design standardised: 1936
Source
Primary reference: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs — The Turkish Flag.
