Flag of Canada
North America
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Ottawa
- Flag adopted
- 1965
- Population
- 41,651,653
- Area
- 9,984,670 km²
- Languages
- English, French
- Currency
- Canadian dollar ($) — CAD
- Demonym
- Canadian
- Government
- federal parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Canada) under a constitutional monarchy
- Subregion
- North America
- Driving side
- Right
- Timezones
- UTC-08:00, UTC-07:00 +4 more
- Independence
- 1867
Religions
- Christian 53.3%
- None 34.6%
- Muslim 4.9%
- Hindu 2.3%
- Sikh 2.1%
- Buddhist 1%
- Jewish 0.9%
- Other 0.6%
- Traditional 0.2%
About This Flag
The Canadian flag, known as the Maple Leaf or l'Unifolie, features a red field with a white square at its center bearing a stylized 11-pointed red maple leaf. Red and white were proclaimed Canada's national colors by King George V in 1921.
The maple leaf has been a recognized symbol of Canada since the 18th century, appearing on coats of arms and military badges long before it was placed on the flag. The current flag was adopted on February 15, 1965, after a contentious parliamentary debate known as the Great Canadian Flag Debate.
The design was created by George Stanley, inspired by the flag of the Royal Military College of Canada, and the leaf's 11 points were chosen through wind tunnel testing for optimal visibility at a distance.
What the colors & design mean
Red represents sacrifice and courage, drawn from the Cross of St. George. White symbolizes peace and tranquility. The red maple leaf is a symbol of Canadian identity that has represented the nation since the 1700s.
Pattern: Vertical Stripes
Bordering countries (1)
Fun Facts
- The 11-pointed maple leaf was not modeled on any real maple species — its shape was determined through wind tunnel tests to find a design that would be most recognizable when the flag was flapping in the wind.
- Before 1965, Canada used the Canadian Red Ensign, a British-style flag, and the flag debate in parliament lasted 33 sitting days with over 250 speeches before the new design was adopted.
- February 15 is celebrated as National Flag of Canada Day, marking the date in 1965 when the Maple Leaf was first raised on Parliament Hill.
- Canada is the second-largest country in the world by total area, and the maple leaf was chosen partly because it is a symbol recognized across all regions and language communities.
Similar looking flags
These flags share similar colors and patterns:
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