Country flag
Costa Rica Flag
Costa Rica's national flag is a five-band design of blue, white, red, white, and blue. Its wider central red band creates a strong horizontal focus betw...
Where is Costa Rica?
The highlighted area marks the country on the world map.
Zoomed location
This country is small on the world map, so this inset shows nearby countries for context.
About Costa Rica and its flag
Costa Rica's national flag is a five-band design of blue, white, red, white, and blue. Its wider central red band creates a strong horizontal focus between the narrower outer bands. The arrangement was established by a decree of 29 September 1848 and first raised ceremonially on 12 November that year.
Flag design and meaning
Five horizontal bands form the flag: blue, white, red, white, and blue. The red centre band is double the width of each blue or white band, making it the dominant part of the composition. The plain flag has no central emblem, so the broad red stripe is the primary recognition feature.
- Blue, white, and red bands: Costa Rican law gives the three colours formal civic associations, including blue with the country's sky and ideals, white with peace, and red with vitality, generosity, and sacrifice in defence of freedom.
History and adoption
Costa Rica's national flag was established by decree on 29 September 1848. National heritage material records its first ceremonial raising on 12 November 1848. Current legal provisions regulate the flag's use and preserve the distinctive five-band arrangement, including the double-width central red band.
How to recognise this flag
- Identify Costa Rica by the five horizontal bands and the central red stripe, which is wider than every blue and white stripe.
- Check that the outer bands are blue and that white bands sit directly on either side of the broad red centre.
Costa Rica flag quiz context
On Name The Flag, the Costa Rica flag is currently grouped as medium difficulty for quiz progression.
Players may also want to compare it with Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, which can appear as plausible flag distractors.
Explore more country flags
Compare Costa Rica with other flags from the quiz.
