Uruguay Flag: Meaning, Colors, History & Facts
Uruguay’s national flag has nine alternating white and blue stripes with a golden Sun of May in the upper-left canton.
What does the Uruguay flag look like?
The flag has nine horizontal stripes: five white and four blue. A white canton in the upper hoist contains the golden Sun of May.
Why are there nine stripes?
The nine stripes are traditionally connected with Uruguay’s original departments when the flag was standardized. Earlier versions used more stripes before the design was simplified.
What does the Sun of May mean?
The Sun of May links Uruguay’s national flag to the revolutionary symbolism of the Río de la Plata and the broader independence movement. It is related to, but graphically distinct from, the sun on Argentina’s flag.
Why are Argentina and Uruguay flags similar?
The two countries share historical roots in the former Spanish territories of the Río de la Plata. Their flag traditions evolved from a common independence-era visual language rather than from modern imitation.
Compare the Argentina and Uruguay flags →
How did Uruguay’s flag develop?
Uruguay’s first national pavilion was created in 1828. The many-stripe early design was later simplified to the nine-stripe form used today.
Read the full Uruguay flag history →
Uruguay flag facts
| Colors | White, blue and gold |
|---|---|
| Stripes | 9 |
| White stripes | 5 |
| Blue stripes | 4 |
| Symbol | Sun of May |
| First national flag | 1828 |
What does the Sun of May look like?
Uruguay’s Sun of May is a golden face surrounded by 16 rays: eight straight rays alternating with eight flame-like rays. It sits inside the white canton in the upper-left corner of the flag.
How can you identify Uruguay’s flag?
Count the stripes and look at the canton. Uruguay uses nine alternating white and blue stripes with the Sun of May at the hoist. Argentina uses only three broad horizontal bands and places its sun in the centre, making the two easy to distinguish once you know the layouts.
Uruguay flag FAQ
How many stripes are on Uruguay’s flag?
Nine: five white and four blue.
Why does Uruguay have the Sun of May?
It reflects the independence symbolism of the Río de la Plata region.
Is Uruguay’s flag based on Argentina’s?
The designs share regional revolutionary influences, but Uruguay developed its own distinctive nine-stripe national flag.
