Brazil Flag: Meaning, Colors, History & Facts
Brazil’s flag combines a green field, yellow diamond, blue celestial sphere, 27 stars and the motto “Ordem e Progresso.” Its modern design dates to the birth of the Republic in 1889.
What does the Brazil flag look like?
A yellow diamond sits on a green field. Inside the diamond is a blue celestial sphere crossed by a white band bearing the words Ordem e Progresso. The sphere contains 27 white stars.
Why are there 27 stars?
Each star represents one of Brazil’s 26 states or the Federal District. The star arrangement is based on selected constellations in the sky over Rio de Janeiro around the proclamation of the Republic on November 15, 1889.
Explore the 27 stars and constellations →
Why is one star above “Ordem e Progresso”?
The lone star above the motto is Spica, in Virgo. It represents the state of Pará.
What does “Ordem e Progresso” mean?
The phrase means “Order and Progress.” It reflects the influence of positivist philosophy on the designers of the republican flag.
What do green and yellow mean?
Green and yellow predate the Republic and were retained from Brazil’s earlier national flag tradition. Modern popular explanations often connect green with the country’s forests and yellow with mineral wealth, but the national-symbol law primarily defines the design rather than assigning simple one-word legal meanings.
How did the flag develop?
The current republican design was approved in November 1889, shortly after the monarchy ended. Later changes updated the number of stars as Brazil’s federal structure changed.
Read the Brazil flag history →
Brazil flag facts
| Stars | 27 |
|---|---|
| Federal units represented | 26 states + Federal District |
| Motto | Ordem e Progresso |
| Republican design | 1889 |
| Lone star above motto | Spica — Pará |
When is Brazil Flag Day?
Brazil observes November 19 as Dia da Bandeira. The date recalls the decree that established the republican national flag in November 1889. Brazilian flag law specifies special ceremonial raising at noon on that date.
How are the stars arranged?
The flag uses stars from nine constellations. Their placement is inspired by the sky over Rio de Janeiro at the proclamation of the Republic. The design is not a simple decorative star field: each individual star corresponds to a specific federal unit.
Brazil flag FAQ
What does Ordem e Progresso mean?
“Order and Progress.”
Why are there 27 stars?
They represent Brazil’s 26 states and the Federal District.
Which state is represented by the star above the motto?
Pará, represented by Spica in the constellation Virgo.
Can Brazil’s flag gain another star?
Yes. National law provides for the design to be updated if Brazil creates or extinguishes a federal unit.
