Venezuela’s national flag is a horizontal tricolour of yellow, blue and red with eight white five-pointed stars arranged in an arc across the blue band. The current eight-star version dates from 2006.

What does the Venezuelan flag look like?

The flag has three equal horizontal bands: yellow at the top, blue in the middle and red at the bottom. Eight white stars form an upward-curving arc in the centre of the blue stripe.

Origins of the tricolour

The yellow-blue-red tradition is closely associated with independence leader Francisco de Miranda. A tricolour carried by Miranda’s expedition was raised on Venezuelan soil at La Vela de Coro on August 3, 1806. Related tricolours were later adopted by Venezuela and by Gran Colombia.

Why are there eight stars?

Seven stars originally represented the provinces that declared independence in 1811. In 2006 the law was changed to add an eighth star associated with Guayana, reflecting a decree issued by Simón Bolívar in 1817.

Venezuela flag facts

• Colors: yellow, blue and red
• Stars: eight white five-pointed stars
• Miranda tricolour raised in Venezuela: August 3, 1806
• Eighth star added: 2006
• Flag Day: August 3

Sources

Primary references: Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs — National Flag and Ministry of Culture — Flag Day.