Flag of Moldova
Europe
Quick Facts
- Capital
- ChiΘinΔu
- Flag adopted
- 2010
- Population
- 2,749,076
- Area
- 33,847 kmΒ²
- Languages
- Romanian
- Currency
- Moldovan leu (L) β MDL
- Demonym
- Moldovan
- Government
- parliamentary republic
- Subregion
- Eastern Europe
- Driving side
- Right
- Timezones
- UTC+02:00
- Independence
- 1991
Religions
- Orthodox 90.1%
- Unspecified 6.9%
- Protestant 2.6%
- Atheist 0.2%
- Other 0.1%
- Agnostic 0.1%
About This Flag
The flag of Moldova consists of three equal vertical bands of blue on the hoist side, yellow in the center, and red on the fly side, with the national coat of arms centered on the yellow stripe. The coat of arms features an eagle holding a cross in its beak and an olive branch and scepter in its talons, with a shield on its chest bearing the head of an aurochs (an extinct wild ox) β the historical symbol of the medieval Principality of Moldavia.
The blue-yellow-red tricolor is nearly identical to Romania's flag, reflecting the shared Romanian-speaking heritage and the historical region of Moldavia that spans both countries. The flag was adopted on November 6, 1990, as Moldova moved toward independence from the Soviet Union.
What the colors & design mean
Blue symbolizes the sky and aspiration. Yellow represents grain fields, prosperity, and the sun. Red stands for the blood shed for independence. The coat of arms combines the eagle (common in Romanian heraldry) with the aurochs head from the historical Principality of Moldavia.
Pattern: Vertical Stripes
Bordering countries (2)
Fun Facts
- Moldova's flag is nearly identical to Romania's β both use vertical blue-yellow-red stripes β with the only difference being Moldova's coat of arms on the center stripe, reflecting the two countries' shared Moldavian-Romanian heritage.
- The aurochs (extinct wild ox) on the coat of arms has been the symbol of Moldavia since the medieval principality was founded in 1359, according to legend, during a royal hunt that followed an aurochs.
- Moldova is one of the least-visited countries in Europe despite having excellent wine β it has the highest density of vineyards per capita in the world.
- The breakaway region of Transnistria in eastern Moldova uses its own flag (a Soviet-style design with a hammer and sickle) and operates as a de facto independent state, though no UN member recognizes it.
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