Flag of Venezuela

The Venezuelan flag features three horizontal stripes of equal width: yellow at the top, blue in the middle, and red at the bottom. These colours reflect symbolic meanings rooted in the country’s history and geography. Yellow represents Venezuela's wealth, including gold and agriculture; blue symbolises the Caribbean Sea and the nation’s independence from Spain; red stands for the bloodshed during the struggle for freedom.

Stars

Eight white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an arc centred on the blue stripe. These stars represent the original provinces that declared independence from Spain in 1811. The eighth star was added in 2006 to symbolise the province of Guayana, following a decree by Simón Bolívar, the Venezuelan independence leader.

Coat of Arms

In official government uses, the flag may include the national coat of arms in the upper hoist-side corner of the yellow stripe. The coat of arms is divided into three sections depicting a bundle of wheat representing the nation’s union and agricultural wealth, weapons indicating independence and victory, and a horse running free symbolising freedom.

Historical Flags

The current tricolour design was inspired by the banner created by Francisco de Miranda, a precursor of Venezuelan independence, in 1806. Since then, the flag has undergone modifications, particularly in the number of stars and the inclusion of the coat of arms. Earlier versions had seven stars until the recent addition of the eighth in 2006, reflecting historical changes in the country’s administrative divisions.