🇮🇶

Flag of Iraq

Asia

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Quick Facts

Capital
Baghdad
Flag adopted
2008
Population
46,118,793
Area
438,317 km²
Languages
Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani
Currency
Iraqi dinar (ع.د) — IQD
Demonym
Iraqi
Government
federal parliamentary republic
Subregion
Western Asia
Driving side
Right
Timezones
UTC+03:00
Independence
1932

Religions

  • Muslim 96.5%
  • Other 2.5%
  • Christian 1%

About This Flag

The flag of Iraq consists of three equal horizontal bands of red on top, white in the middle, and black on the bottom, with the Takbir — the phrase 'Allahu Akbar' ('God is Greatest') in green Kufic script — centered on the white band. The red, white, and black are pan-Arab colors representing Arab unity, shared with several other flags in the region.

The current inscription was modified in 2008 to use a standardized Kufic calligraphy, replacing an earlier version reportedly handwritten by Saddam Hussein in 1991. Previous iterations of the Iraqi flag included three green stars on the white band, which were removed in the 2008 redesign.

What the colors & design mean

Red represents courage and struggle. White symbolizes generosity and peace. Black represents the dark past of oppression. Green, used for the Takbir inscription, is the traditional color of Islam.

red white black green

Pattern: Horizontal Stripes

Bordering countries (6)

🇮🇷 Iran 🇯🇴 Jordan 🇰🇼 Kuwait 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 🇸🇾 Syria 🇹🇷 Turkey

Fun Facts

  • The Takbir inscription was added by Saddam Hussein in January 1991, just before the Gulf War, reportedly in his own handwriting — the 2008 redesign replaced his script with standardized Kufic calligraphy.
  • The three green stars that appeared on the white band from 1963 to 2008 originally symbolized a proposed union between Iraq, Egypt, and Syria that never materialized.
  • Iraq's flag has gone through multiple major redesigns since the founding of the modern state in 1921, with each regime change bringing modifications to the national banner.
  • Iraq is home to the ancient Mesopotamian civilizations of Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, and Assyria, often called the 'Cradle of Civilization.'

Similar looking flags

These flags share similar colors and patterns:

🇮🇶 Kenya 🇮🇶 Libya 🇮🇶 Sudan 🇮🇶 Jordan 🇮🇶 Kuwait

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