Flag of Colombia
| El Tricolor Nacional ('The National Tricolor') | |
| Use | National flag and ensign |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | 26 November 1861 |
| Design | A horizontal tricolor in a 2:1:1 proportion, where the upper yellow band is twice the size of the others; it is followed by blue and red. |
| Use | Civil ensign |
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Design | A Colombian tricolor defaced with a blue ellipse outlined in red at its center, containing a white eight-pointed star. |
| Use | State flag and ensign |
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Design | A Colombian tricolor defaced with the coat of arms of Colombia. |
| Use | Naval ensign |
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Design | A Colombian tricolor defaced with a white circle outlined in red at its center, enclosing the coat of arms of Colombia. |
| Use | War flag |
| Proportion | 4:5 |
| Design | A Colombian tricolor defaced of reduced proportions, with a white circle outlined in red at its center, enclosing the coat of arms of Colombia. |
| Use | Naval jack |
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Design | A sky blue field with a white circle outlined in red at its center, enclosing the coat of arms of Colombia. |
The flag of the Republic of Colombia, also known as El Tricolor Nacional (The National Tricolor), is the national flag representing the country and, alongside the coat of arms and the national anthem, constitutes one of its official national symbols. The flag consists of a rectangle divided into three horizontal bands featuring the primary colors of the RYB color model. The upper band occupies half of the total height, following a proportional ratio of 2:1:1.
Its design is inspired by the flag created in 1801 by Venezuelan patriots Francisco de Miranda and Lino de Clemente for the First Republic of Venezuela, which was later approved by the Constituent Congress of that country in 1811.
These colors were successively adopted by the Congresses of Gran Colombia on December 17, 1819, and the Republic of New Granada on May 9, 1834. The current arrangement of the colors was officially adopted on November 26, 1861, and subsequently regulated by Decrees No. 861 of May 17, 1924, and No. 62 of January 11, 1934.
Due to their shared historical origin, the Colombian flag bears resemblance to the national flags of Ecuador and Venezuela, which were once part of the former state of Gran Colombia. Among these, the Ecuadorian flag is the most similar, with its legislation recognizing two official versions that closely mirror the proportions and layout of Colombia's flag, differing only in the specific shades used. In the case of Colombia, the use of the national coat of arms on the flag is mandatory exclusively in official institutional contexts.
As a national symbol, the flag is employed by the Government and state institutions, with specific variations in its design depending on its intended use by diplomatic, civil, or military bodies.