🇹🇳 The colours of Tunisia

Tunisia’s flag features red and white, with a central white disk holding a red crescent and five-pointed star. Red stands for the blood of martyrs and historic ties to the Ottoman Empire, while white symbolises peace and the sun. The crescent and star are linked to Islam and ancient Carthaginian symbols.

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

• Red symbolises the blood of Tunisian martyrs.
• The crescent and star link to both Islam and ancient Carthage.
• The flag’s proportions and layout are set by law.
• Earlier flags included blue, green, and yellow.
• Insulting the flag can lead to imprisonment.

The colours of the flag of Tunisia

The Tunisian flag is mainly red, with a white circle in the centre. Inside the circle, a red crescent surrounds a red five-pointed star. Official explanations say red recalls the blood of those killed in historic battles, especially against the Crusades, and reflects the country’s Ottoman past. White stands for peace and is also said to represent the sun, shining from the centre of the flag. The crescent and star are widely recognised as Islamic symbols, but they also appear in ancient Carthaginian art and are linked to good luck and the Five Pillars of Islam. These meanings are drawn from both official and popular interpretations.

How the colours were chosen of Tunisia

Earlier Tunisian flags included blue, green, red, and white, often arranged in stripes or with dynastic emblems. The current design was introduced by Hussein II after 1827 to distinguish Tunisia’s fleet from others using plain red flags. The flag’s crescent and star reflect Ottoman and Islamic influence, but also ancient local symbols. During the French protectorate, the flag was mostly unchanged, though there was a brief period when the French flag appeared in the canton. The modern flag’s design was confirmed in 1959 and clarified in law in 1999.

Official shades and rules of Tunisia

The flag’s proportions and elements are set by law: a red rectangle with a 2:3 ratio, a central white disk one-third the flag’s length in diameter, and a red star and crescent positioned with precise measurements. A technical guide exists to ensure correct drawing and colour use. The presidential flag adds gold writing and fringe. Insulting the flag is a criminal offence.