Guyana Flag: Meaning, Colors, History & Facts
Guyana’s national flag is known as the Golden Arrowhead. Its green field, layered triangles and five official colors symbolize the country’s landscape, resources and nation-building.
What does the Guyana flag look like?
The Golden Arrowhead has a green background with a long gold triangle edged in white and a smaller red triangle edged in black extending from the hoist toward the fly.
What do the Guyana flag colors mean?
Guyana gives formal meanings to all five colors. Together they describe the country’s natural resources, waterways, mineral wealth, endurance and ambition as an independent nation.
Explore all five color meanings →
Why is it called the Golden Arrowhead?
The long gold triangle resembles an arrowhead and points forward. Gold represents mineral wealth and the country’s forward thrust, producing the flag’s distinctive nickname.
Who designed the Guyana flag?
The design is credited to vexillologist Whitney Smith. It entered official use when Guyana became independent on May 26, 1966.
Read the flag history and Whitney Smith story →
What is the Guyana flag ratio?
Official descriptions use a 3:5 ratio on land and a 1:2 ratio at sea, while preserving the same arrowhead layout.
Guyana flag facts
| Nickname | The Golden Arrowhead |
|---|---|
| Colors | Green, white, gold, black and red |
| Designer | Whitney Smith |
| Adopted | May 26, 1966 |
| Land ratio | 3:5 |
| Sea ratio | 1:2 |
Why does Guyana’s flag look so different from other South American flags?
Most South American national flags are built from horizontal or vertical bands. Guyana instead uses overlapping arrow-shaped triangles, giving the design a strong forward direction. The shape reinforces the official symbolism of progress and forward movement.
When did the Golden Arrowhead first fly?
Guyana’s national flag entered official use on May 26, 1966, the day the country became independent from the United Kingdom. Independence ceremonies replaced British colonial symbols with the new Golden Arrowhead and other national emblems.
Guyana flag FAQ
Why is Guyana’s flag called the Golden Arrowhead?
Because the long gold triangle resembles an arrowhead pointing toward the fly.
Who designed the flag?
Whitney Smith, the American vexillologist associated with the Flag Research Center.
How many colors are on the Guyana flag?
Five: green, white, gold, black and red.
