Laos Flag Meaning: Red, Blue & White Disc Explained
Laos’s national flag has two red bands, a wider dark-blue centre band and a large white disc. The current design became the flag of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975.
What does the Laos flag look like?
The flag is a horizontal red-blue-red design. The dark-blue middle band is twice the height of either red band, and a large white disc is centred within the blue stripe.
What does the white disc mean?
The white disc is commonly interpreted as a symbol of national unity and is also often described as a full moon over the Mekong River. The Lao National Assembly’s official description defines the white disc and its placement but does not reduce the symbol to one legally fixed sentence of meaning.
What does the blue band represent?
The blue band is commonly associated with the country’s resources and prosperity. It is deliberately wider than the red bands and forms the visual centre of the flag.
What do the red bands represent?
Red is widely associated with the sacrifices made in the struggle for independence and revolutionary change.
What is the official ratio?
The National Assembly states that the flag’s width is two-thirds of its length, giving it a 2:3 ratio. Each red band is half the height of the central dark-blue band.
How can you identify the Laos flag?
Look for a large white disc on a broad blue stripe, framed above and below by narrower red bands. No stars, text or coat of arms appear on the national flag.
Quick facts
| Colors | Red, dark blue, white |
|---|---|
| Central symbol | White disc |
| Band relationship | 1:2:1 |
| Overall ratio | 2:3 |
