🇧🇮 Burundi Flag Unveiled: Colors, Meaning, Coat of Arms, Flag Map, and Similar Flags

The flag of Burundi captures the essence of the nation’s pride and hope, symbolizing the country’s journey through independence and its forward-looking aspirations.

As a vital representation of Burundi’s character, the flag resonates deeply with its people and their vision for a united and peaceful future. It stands as a beacon for unity, reflecting the shared heritage and the diverse cultures that shape Burundi’s vibrant social tapestry.

Burundi Flag

Flag of Burundi with a white saltire dividing green and red areas and three six-pointed stars in the central white circle.
The official flag of Burundi, adopted to its current ratio on since 1982.

The flag of Burundi presents a distinctive cross that partitions the field into alternating sections, crowned by a central disc that is embraced by a trio of stars.

The geometry of this flag, with its cross and stars, conveys the nation’s dedication to balance and harmony among its residents. These stars testify to the country’s core principles that bind its society.

Burundi Flag: Color Palette

Red

#c8102e

RGB: 200, 16, 46

CMYK: 0, 92, 77, 22

White

#ffffff

RGB: 255, 255, 255

CMYK: 0, 0, 0, 0

Green

#43b02a

RGB: 67, 176, 42

CMYK: 62, 0, 76, 31

Map of Burundi with the national flag overlay.
The map of Burundi, adorned with the colors of the national flag.

Burundi Flag Emoji: 🇧🇮

The color palette of Burundi’s flag is a carefully chosen spectrum that reflects the country’s rich cultural fabric and natural landscape. The hues are visually striking and imbued with deep meaning, each shade set to represent a fundamental aspect of the nation’s character and ethos in the subsequent section.

Meaning of Each Color

Flag of Burundi waving against a clear blue sky.
Flag of Burundi waving on a clear blue sky.

Red

This color weaves a narrative of liberation, echoing the resilience and indomitable spirit of the Burundian people.

It’s a potent emblem of the bloodshed and the fierce struggles endured on the journey to self-governance, evoking the nation’s enduring commitment to liberty and remembering their historical battles.

Green

Conveying more than hope, green is a tribute to Burundi’s lush topography and its reliance on agriculture, symbolizing the country’s fertile lands and the promise of renewal and growth.

It underscores the nation’s reliance on natural resources and the optimism for a thriving future.

White

The white color in Burundi’s flag represents more than serenity; it is a backdrop for harmony and the luminosity of the country’s ambitions. It signifies a dedication to openness in administration and the sincerity of purpose in Burundi’s public pursuits, promoting togetherness and collective aspiration for its people.

Burundi Coat of Arms

Coat of arms of Burundi featuring a shield with a lion head, three spears behind, and a banner with the national motto "Unité, Travail, Progrès".
The coat of arms of Burundi, representing the country’s commitment to unity, labor, and progress.

The coat of arms of Burundi, steeped in symbolism, not only pledges to safeguard the nation’s autonomy but also evokes the courage inherent in its people, fortified by the wisdom and strength represented by the lion.

Including spears points to a heritage of defense and signifies the cultural traditions that continue to shape the nation’s uniqueness.

The crossed spears behind the shield are a nod to the country’s historical defense mechanisms, signifying an enduring legacy of protecting its values and a reminder of the instruments that once ensured the nation’s sovereignty.

Historical Evolution and the Meaning Behind Changes

A historical flag of Burundi with a white saltire dividing green and red fields and a central white circle featuring a drum with a sorghum plant.
Historical flag of Burundi with drum and sorghum, a tribute to Burundi’s culture.

Burundi’s flag has evolved with the nation’s shifting political and social climate since gaining independence in 1962. The original flag displayed a drum and sorghum plant, symbolizing authority and agriculture, set against a green and white backdrop with a red diagonal divider.

After a coup, the monarchy’s fall in 1967 marked the most significant redesign of the flag, introducing three stars instead of the drum and plant. Initially aligned, these stars represented the country’s main ethnicities and guiding principles.

In 1982, a subtle redesign repositioned the stars into a triangle, emphasizing the equality and interconnectedness of the ethnic groups, mirroring the country’s aspirations for an equitable society.

This transition from monarchical to republican symbols underscores Burundi’s move from its colonial past towards self-governance and social cohesion.

Overall Symbolic Meaning of the Flag

Burundi's location in Central Africa, pinned by its national flag
Burundi’s location in Central Africa, pinned by its national flag.

The flag of Burundi is a tapestry of symbolism, weaving together the country’s struggles, aspirations for peace, and the enduring commitment to unity among its diverse people.

Central to its design are the iconic stars that serve as a beacon of the nation’s shared values and principles. This emblem stands not just as a marker of national identity but as a constant reminder of the collective path toward a harmonious and prosperous future.

Similar Flags to the Flag of Burundi

While distinct in color and national narrative, the flag of Burundi shares design similarities with several other flags, most notably in its geometric divisions and prominent central symbols.

Jamaica

Jamaican flag with a diagonal gold cross dividing four triangles of green and black.
The flag of Jamaica, sharing a cross design with Burundi’s flag.

The flag of Jamaica displays a bold gold saltire, dividing the banner into four distinct triangles of green and black. This cross pattern is reminiscent of the white diagonal cross on Burundi’s flag that segments it into separate color areas.

While Jamaica’s colors represent the land’s wealth and the people’s strength and creativity, the structural similarity to Burundi’s flag lies in using the saltire as a unifying design feature.

Grenada

Flag of Grenada with a red border featuring six yellow stars, a central yellow and green diagonal cross, and a red disk with a gold star and a small symbol of a nutmeg on the left.
The flag of Grenada, echoes a diagonal division similar to Burundi’s flag, underlining a common geometric feature.

Grenada’s flag showcases a diagonal bisect with a yellow and green background, bordered by red with six stars. At the center, it features a gold star in a red circle adjacent to a nutmeg symbol, which signifies one of Grenada’s key exports.

The diagonal division and the central emblematic focus of Grenada’s flag align with the structural and symbolic design principles seen in Burundi’s flag, where the cross and stars centralize the theme of national identity and cultural significance.

Conclusion

The flag of Burundi serves not just as a national emblem but as a tapestry that weaves together the country’s past struggles, cultural diversity, and aspirations for unity and peace. Standing alongside the world’s array of flags, it holds its own with a design that encapsulates the nation’s story and ideals.

Image Sources and Copyright Information
  • Burundi Flag Against Blue Sky: © Derek Brumby/Shutterstock
  • Pin on Map of Burundi: © hyotographics/Shutterstock