Chile Flag: Meaning, Colors, History & Facts
Chile’s national flag combines a white-and-red horizontal design with a blue canton and one white five-pointed star. The design dates to the independence era and is known as La Estrella Solitaria.
What does the Chile flag look like?
The lower half of the flag is red. The upper half is white except for a blue square at the hoist. A single white star is centred inside that blue canton. The overall legal proportion is effectively 2:3.
Why does Chile’s flag have one star?
The single star is the feature behind the nickname La Estrella Solitaria—the Lone Star. Chilean law precisely defines its size and placement. Popular interpretations often connect the star with national unity or guidance, but the legal texts themselves focus on construction rather than prescribing one exclusive symbolic meaning.
Explore the Lone Star design →
What do the colors mean?
Traditional Chilean explanations commonly associate blue with the sky, white with the snow of the Andes and red with blood shed during the struggle for independence. These are widely repeated patriotic interpretations, while the strongest legal sources primarily define the colors, layout and dimensions.
Who designed the Chile flag?
The design was conceived under Bernardo O’Higgins’s government. Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs credits José Ignacio Zenteno with its conception and says the design is most commonly attributed to Spanish officer Antonio Arcos, although some historians name Gregorio de Andía y Varela.
How did the flag develop?
The current design was legalized on October 18, 1817. Later regulations standardized its proportions, color placement and star dimensions, especially the 1912 law that remains central to the technical design.
Read the full Chile flag history →
Chile flag facts
| Nickname | La Estrella Solitaria |
|---|---|
| Colors | Blue, white and red |
| Stars | One white five-pointed star |
| Overall proportion | 2:3 |
| Current design legalized | October 18, 1817 |
| Star dimensions standardized | 1912 |
How can you identify Chile’s flag?
Look for a red lower half and a white upper-right field, combined with a blue square and single white star at the upper-left. This layout distinguishes Chile from other red-white-blue flags built from full stripes or multiple stars.
Chile flag FAQ
How many stars are on Chile’s flag?
One.
What is the star’s official size?
Its diameter is half the side length of the blue square.
When was the current flag created?
The design dates to 1817.
