Slovakia’s national flag is a horizontal white-blue-red tricolour with the Slovak coat of arms placed toward the hoist. The modern flag was adopted in 1992 as Czechoslovakia approached dissolution.

What does the Slovak flag look like?

The flag has three equal horizontal bands: white, blue and red. Near the hoist is a red shield bearing a white double cross standing on three blue hills.

Why is the coat of arms included?

Plain white-blue-red was too similar to the Russian and Slovenian tricolour traditions. Slovakia therefore uses its historic shield to create a clearly identifiable national flag. The double cross has medieval roots in the region, while the three hills are traditionally associated with Tatra, Fatra and Mátra.

Modern history

The present flag was adopted in 1992, months before the independent Slovak Republic came into existence on January 1, 1993. It retained the white-blue-red Pan-Slavic color scheme while emphasizing specifically Slovak heraldry.

Slovakia flag facts

• Colors: white, blue and red
• Coat of arms: double cross on three hills
• Current flag adopted: 1992
• Independent state: January 1, 1993

Reference

Reference: Slovak constitutional law on state symbols and the heraldic history of the Slovak double cross.