🇲🇰

Flag of North Macedonia

Europe

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Quick Facts

Capital
Skopje
Flag adopted
1995
Population
1,822,612
Area
25,713 km²
Languages
Macedonian
Currency
denar (den) — MKD
Demonym
Macedonian
Government
parliamentary republic
Subregion
Southeast Europe
Driving side
Right
Timezones
UTC+01:00
Independence
1991

Religions

  • Orthodox 46.1%
  • Muslim 32.2%
  • Christian 13.2%
  • Other 7.2%

About This Flag

The flag of North Macedonia features a red field with a golden-yellow sun at the center, from which eight broadening rays extend to the edges of the flag. The sun represents the 'new sun of liberty' referenced in the national anthem, and the red field with gold symbolizes the country's struggle for sovereignty and independence.

The flag was adopted on October 5, 1995, replacing a controversial earlier flag that featured the Vergina Sun (a 16-pointed star from the ancient Macedonian royal tombs), which Greece strongly opposed as appropriation of Greek heritage. The dispute over Macedonian national symbols was part of a broader naming controversy that was ultimately resolved by the 2018 Prespa Agreement, which changed the country's name from 'Macedonia' to 'North Macedonia.'

What the colors & design mean

Red represents the struggle for freedom and sovereignty. The golden sun symbolizes the 'new sun of liberty' from the national anthem. The eight rays extending to the flag's edges represent the radiating light of this new freedom reaching in all directions.

red yellow

Pattern: Solid Field

Bordering countries (5)

🇦🇱 Albania 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇬🇷 Greece 🇽🇰 Kosovo 🇷🇸 Serbia

Fun Facts

  • The original 1992 flag featured the Vergina Sun, a symbol found on the sarcophagus of Philip II of Macedon (Alexander the Great's father) — Greece protested this as misappropriation of Greek history, leading to the flag's replacement in 1995.
  • The 2018 Prespa Agreement between Greece and North Macedonia resolved a 27-year naming dispute, with the country officially changing its name from 'Republic of Macedonia' to 'Republic of North Macedonia.'
  • The current flag's design, with rays extending to all four edges, is relatively unusual and gives it a dynamic, radiating appearance distinct from most other national flags.
  • North Macedonia's capital Skopje was almost entirely destroyed by a catastrophic earthquake in 1963 and was substantially rebuilt with international assistance, including designs contributed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange.

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