Cambodia Flag: Meaning, Colors, History & Facts
Cambodia’s national flag has blue-red-blue horizontal bands with a white depiction of Angkor Wat in the centre. The temple links the modern kingdom directly with the heritage of Khmer civilization.
What does the Cambodia flag look like?
The flag consists of three horizontal bands: blue at the top, a red centre band twice as high, and blue at the bottom. A white three-towered depiction of Angkor Wat appears in the middle.
Why is Angkor Wat on the flag?
Cambodian government sources describe Angkor Wat as a symbol of the soul and prestige of the Khmer nation. Its placement on the flag connects the state with Cambodia’s ancient architectural and cultural heritage.
Explore the Angkor Wat symbolism →
What do the colors mean?
Traditional explanations associate blue with the monarchy, red with the nation and white with religion. Together they reflect Cambodia’s long-standing national motto: Nation, Religion, King.
What does the Constitution say?
Article 6 of Cambodia’s Constitution establishes the national flag and refers to its official form in Annex I.
How did the flag develop?
The modern blue-red-blue design with white Angkor Wat was introduced in 1948 and remained through independence in 1953. Different regimes introduced different flags after 1970.
Why did the current flag return in 1993?
When the constitutional monarchy was restored in 1993, the historic blue-red-blue Angkor Wat flag returned as the national flag.
Read the Cambodia flag history →
How can you identify Cambodia’s flag?
The detailed white temple is the key feature. Cambodia is one of the rare sovereign states to place a monumental building at the centre of its national flag.
Cambodia flag facts
| Colors | Blue, red, white |
|---|---|
| Central symbol | Angkor Wat |
| Band relationship | 1:2:1 |
| Design introduced | 1948 |
| Restored | 1993 |