Flag of Albania
Europe
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Tirana
- Flag adopted
- 1992
- Population
- 2,363,314
- Area
- 28,748 km²
- Languages
- Albanian
- Currency
- Albanian lek (L) — ALL
- Demonym
- Albanian
- Government
- parliamentary republic
- Subregion
- Southeast Europe
- Driving side
- Right
- Timezones
- UTC+01:00
- Independence
- 1912
Religions
- Muslim 56.7%
- Unspecified 16.2%
- Roman Catholic 10%
- Orthodox 6.8%
- Other 5.7%
- Atheist 2.5%
- Bektashi 2.1%
About This Flag
The flag of Albania features a dark red (crimson) field with a black double-headed eagle centered on it. The double-headed eagle is a symbol derived from the Byzantine Empire and was used by the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg in the 15th century during his resistance against the Ottoman Empire.
The red field represents bravery, strength, and the blood shed for freedom, while the black eagle symbolizes the Albanian people's self-identification as 'Children of the Eagle' — the Albanian name for the country, Shqiperia, is often translated as 'Land of the Eagles.' The current flag was officially readopted on April 7, 1992, after the fall of communism, removing the communist-era gold-bordered red star that had topped the eagle since 1946.
What the colors & design mean
Red represents bravery, strength, and the blood of those who fought for Albanian independence. The black double-headed eagle symbolizes the sovereignty and resilience of the Albanian people, drawing from the heraldic tradition of Skanderbeg's 15th-century resistance against the Ottoman Empire.
Pattern: Solid Field
Bordering countries (4)
Fun Facts
- Albania's name in Albanian, Shqiperia, means 'Land of the Eagles,' and Albanians call themselves Shqiptaret ('Children of the Eagles'), directly connecting the flag's eagle to the national identity.
- The double-headed eagle motif was used by Skanderbeg, Albania's national hero, who held off Ottoman forces for over 25 years in the 15th century and became a symbol of Christian resistance in Europe.
- Albania's flag is one of only a few national flags featuring an eagle as the sole design element — most countries that use eagles place them on a colored background with other symbols.
- During the communist period (1946-1992), a gold-bordered red star was placed above the eagle's heads; its removal in 1992 marked Albania's democratic transition.
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