🇦🇱 The colours of Albania

Albania’s flag features a black double-headed eagle on a red background. The red symbolises bravery, strength, valour and the blood shed for freedom, while the eagle stands for the Albanian people and their sovereignty. These colours have roots in medieval heraldry and national movements.

Where no official value is given, the swatch shows the colour family, not the exact shade.

• The flag’s red stands for bravery, strength, valour, and bloodshed.
• A black double-headed eagle symbolises the Albanian people and sovereignty.
• The flag’s design dates back to Skanderbeg’s revolt in the 15th century.
• The flag’s proportions are fixed by law at a 1:1.4 ratio.
• The flag has changed under different regimes but always kept red and black.

The colours of the flag of Albania

Albania’s flag is simple: a black double-headed eagle sits in the centre of a red field. The red is officially said to stand for bravery, strength, valour, and the blood that has been shed for the country’s freedom. The eagle, a long-standing symbol among Albanians, represents the people and their independent state. These meanings are officially recognised and are rooted in both law and tradition. The flag’s design is closely tied to Albania’s sense of identity and its history of resistance.

How the colours were chosen of Albania

The colours and design of Albania’s flag date back to the 15th century, when the national hero Skanderbeg adopted a red flag with a black double-headed eagle, inspired by Eastern Roman imperial symbols. This emblem became a unifying sign for Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Empire and was later revived by nationalists in the 19th and 20th centuries. The flag has seen several changes under different regimes, including the addition of a crown, fasces, and a star, but always kept the core red and black. The current form was restored in 1992.

Official shades and rules of Albania

Albania’s flag is defined by law, which specifies a blood red field and a black eagle with nine feathers on each wing and seven on the tail. The flag’s aspect ratio is set at 1:1.4. The law also sets out where and how the flag should be displayed, including during national mourning and official events. No official hex codes are provided in the sources.