🇧🇿 The colours of Belize

Belize’s flag combines royal blue, red, and white, with a central coat of arms. Blue and red represent the country’s main political parties, while the coat of arms recalls Belize’s logging history and cultural diversity.

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

The colours of the flag of Belize

The flag of Belize features a royal blue field with two red stripes at the top and bottom. At the centre is a white disc holding the national coat of arms, which is supported by two men of different heritages, reflecting the country’s diversity. Blue stands for the People's United Party, while red was added to include the United Democratic Party’s colour, making the flag a symbol of political unity. The coat of arms highlights the importance of the logging industry in Belize’s past. These meanings are rooted in both official explanations and popular understanding.

How the colours were chosen of Belize

Belize’s flag evolved from an unofficial blue and white flag used by the People's United Party from 1950. When independence was achieved in 1981, a competition led to the addition of red stripes, reflecting the United Democratic Party’s colour. This change aimed to represent both major political parties. The flag’s design, known as the 'Flag of Unity,' was created by Everal Waight and Inez Sanchez. Standardised specifications for the flag’s colours and proportions were only introduced in 2019 after years of variation.

Official shades and rules of Belize

Before 2019, there were no official standards for the flag’s colours or proportions, leading to differences in appearance. In 2019, Belize began standardising the flag’s design, including the exact shades and proportions, with plans to formalise these rules in law. The standardisation was agreed upon by both major political parties.