🇭🇺 The colours of Hungary

Hungary's flag is a horizontal tricolour of red, white and green. These colours, rooted in medieval heraldry, officially stand for strength, fidelity and hope. The flag has symbolised national identity since the 19th century and remains unchanged since 1957.

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

• Hungary’s tricolour flag has been official since 1957.
• Red, white and green have medieval origins in Hungary.
• The official meanings are strength, fidelity and hope.
• The flag’s colours are set by Hungarian Standard MSZ 1361:2009.
• The flag is a plain tricolour, with no badge since 1957.

The colours of the flag of Hungary

Hungary’s flag is made up of three horizontal stripes: red at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom. The official meaning, as set out in the constitution since 2012, is that red stands for strength, white for fidelity, and green for hope. These meanings are now part of the law, though earlier traditions also linked red to the blood shed for the country, white to freedom, and green to the land. The flag itself has no symbols or badges since 1957, making it a plain tricolour.

How the colours were chosen of Hungary

Hungarian colours have roots in the Middle Ages, with red banners and later the red and silver stripes of the Árpád dynasty. Red, white, and green began appearing together from the 15th century, especially on official seals and military banners. The tricolour became a symbol of national sovereignty during the 1848 revolution. After various changes, including periods with different badges and a brief all-red flag during the 1919 Soviet Republic, the plain tricolour was restored and has been official since 1957.

Official shades and rules of Hungary

The flag’s proportions are not fixed in the constitution, but a 2:3 ratio is used for merchant ships and a 1:2 ratio for government buildings by decree. The colours are defined in Hungarian Standard MSZ 1361:2009. The flag may sometimes include the coat of arms for state use, but the plain tricolour is the national flag.