View source for Flag of Antigua and Barbuda

{{short description|none}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Antigua and Barbuda
| Image = Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg
| Use = 111100
| Symbol = {{FIAV|111100}} {{FIAV|normal}}
| Image_size = 
| Proportion = 2:3
| Adoption = {{Start date and age|1967|02|27}}
| Design = A horizontal tri-colour of black, blue (half-width), and white, with two red right scalene triangles on opposite sides. On the black band is a yellow half-sun with nine rays
| Designer = Sir Reginald Samuel
| Image2 = Coastguard Ensign of Antigua and Barbuda.svg
| Use2 = 000010
| Symbol2 = {{FIAV|000010}} {{FIAV|normal}}
| Proportion2 = 2:3
| Design2 = A white field with a red cross, the national flag in the canton}}

[[File:Le navire de plaisance Barracuda (11).JPG|thumb|Antigua and Barbuda flag on a pleasure craft]]
The [[national flag]] of [[Antigua and Barbuda]] was adopted on 27 February 1967 to mark the achievement of self-government. A competition to design the flag was held in which more than 600 local people entered. The winning design was put forth by nationally well-known artist and sculptor Sir Reginald Samuel.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=flag of Antigua and Barbuda {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Antigua-and-Barbuda |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Design and symbolism ==
The design is a red field with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the field pointed toward the bottom edge of the field bearing the horizontal tricolour of black, light blue (half width) and white with the rising sun centred on top of the black band. The rising sun symbolises the dawning of a new era.<ref name="CIA-Factbook">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/ |title=CIA World Factbook- Antigua and Barbuda |access-date= 8 July 2019}}</ref>

The colours have different meanings: the black is for the [[Africa]]n ancestry of the people; the blue for hope; and the red for energy or life of the people. The successive colouring of black, yellow, blue, and white (from the sun down) also stands for the soil, sun, sea, and sand.<ref name=":0" /> The blue also represents the [[Caribbean Sea]], and the V-shape is the symbol of victory.<ref name="CIA-Factbook" /> The seven points on the flag represent each of the six [[Parishes of Antigua and Barbuda|parishes]] and the island of [[Barbuda]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Antigua & Barbuda: Antigua and Barbuda Flag. |url=https://www.antiguanice.com/v2/client.php?id=461&cat=38 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=www.antiguanice.com}}</ref>

The [[state ensign]], which is used only by the national coast guard, consists of a white field, a red cross, and the state flag in the canton.

===Construction Sheet===
{{Gallery|align=center|height=250|width=360
|File:Flag of Antigua and Barbuda (construction sheet).svg|
}}

== History ==
===Pre-1967===
From the beginning of European settlement on the islands in the 1630s, the flags of [[Flag of England|England]] (pre 1707), [[Flag of Great Britain|Great Britain]] (1707–1800), [[Union Jack|United Kingdom]] (1801–1871), [[Flag of the British Leeward Islands|British Leeward Islands]] (1871–1958) and [[Flag of the West Indies Federation|West Indies Federation]] (1958–1962) were used over the islands. The first flag representing the territory of the present-day nation was created in the late 1950s, at which time Antigua and Barbuda were reorganized into a province of the [[West Indies Federation]]. This flag consists of a [[Blue Ensign]] [[Defacement (flag)|defaced]] with the coat of arms. The coat of arms depicted the landscape of the island with an [[aloe]]-plant on the shore and a [[sugar mill]] on a hill. It is not known exactly when the coat of arms was developed, however, since 1909 this design has been used to represent Antigua on the larger [[coat of arms of the British Leeward Islands]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=de Vries |first1=Hubert |title=ANTIGUA |url=https://www.hubert-herald.nl/Antigua.htm |website=hubert herald |access-date=2010-02-14}}</ref> The Blue Ensign defaced with the local coat of arms is the common design on [[Historical flags of the British Empire and the overseas territories|colonial flags]] throughout the [[British Empire]], adopted by all the other provinces of the West Indies Federation. The original flag design included a white circle behind the coat of arms, but this element disappeared over time.

{{Gallery|align=center|height=100
|Flag of Antigua and Barbuda (1956–1962).svg|Flag (1956–1962)
|Flag of Antigua and Barbuda (1962–1967).svg|Flag (1962–1967)
}}

===History of the current flag===
The flag based on the Blue Ensign was replaced by the current design on 27 February 1967. This was 11 days after the [[Royal assent]] to the [[West Indies Act 1967]], which changed the status of the islands from [[British colonies]] to states in [[Associated state|free association]] with the United Kingdom. The flag adopted at that time was the design of Sir Reginald Samuel, which had won a public competition. Apparently it was one of the last projects admitted to the competition. After gaining full independence on 1 November 1981, the flag was retained.<ref name=":1" />

==Other flags==
===Governor-General===
{| class="wikitable" style="background:#f9f9f9"
|- 
! width="110"|Flag!!width="100"|Date!!width="250"|Use!!width="400"|Description
|-
| [[File:Flag of the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda (2023-present).svg|border|150px]] || {{center|2023–present}} || {{center|Flag of the [[Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda|Governor-General]]}} || {{center|A lion standing atop a [[Tudor Crown]], over a scroll inscribed "Antigua and Barbuda"}}
|- 
| [[File:Flag of the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda (1981–2023).svg|border|150px]] || {{center|1981–2023}} || {{center|Flag of the Governor-General}} || {{center|A lion standing atop a [[St Edward's Crown]], over a scroll inscribed "Antigua and Barbuda"}}
|- 
| [[File:Flag of the Governor of Antigua and Barbuda (1967–1981).svg|border|150px]] || {{center|1967–1981}} || {{center|Flag of the [[List of colonial governors and administrators of Antigua#Governors of Antigua (1967–1981)|Governor]]}} || {{center|A [[Union Flag]] [[Defacement (flag)|defaced]] with a  local [[Coat of arms of Antigua and Barbuda|coat of arms]]}}
|- 
| [[File:Flag of the Governor of Antigua and Barbuda (1956–1967).svg|border|150px]] || {{center|1956–1967}} || {{center|Flag of the [[List of colonial governors and administrators of Antigua#Administrators of Antigua (1936–1966)|Administrator]]}} || {{center|A Union Flag defaced with an old local coat of arms}}
|}

===Military===
{| class="wikitable" style="background:#f9f9f9"
|- 
! width="110"|Flag!!width="100"|Date!!width="250"|Use!!width="400"|Description
|-
| [[File:Flag of the Commander in Chief of Antigua and Barbuda.svg|border|150px]] || {{center|2023–present}} || {{center|Flag of the [[Chief of Defence Staff (Antigua and Barbuda)|Chief of Defence Staff]]}} || 
|- 
| [[File:Flag of the Commander in Chief of Antigua and Barbuda pre 2023.svg|border|150px]] || {{center|?–2023}} || {{center|Flag of the Chief of Defence Staff}} || 
|-
| [[File:Flag of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force.svg|border|150px]] || {{center|?–present}} || {{center|Flag of the [[Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force]]}} || 
|- 
| [[File:Flag of the Antigua and Barbuda Regiment.svg|border|150px]] || {{center|?–present}} || {{center|Flag of the [[Antigua and Barbuda Regiment]]}} || 
|}

===Customs Service===
{| class="wikitable" style="background:#f9f9f9"
|- 
! width="110"|Flag!!width="100"|Date!!width="250"|Use!!width="400"|Description
|-
| [[File:Flag of Antigua and Barbuda Customs and Excise Division.png|border|150px]] || {{center|?–present}}  || {{center|Flag of the Customs and Excise Division}}  || {{center|White flag with emblem}}
|}

===Antigua and Barbuda Search and Rescue===
{| class="wikitable" style="background:#f9f9f9"
|- 
! width="110"|Flag!!width="100"|Date!!width="250"|Use!!width="400"|Description
|-
| [[File:Flag of None.svg|border|150px]] || {{center|?–present}}  || {{center|Flag of [[Antigua and Barbuda Search and Rescue]].}}  || {{center|White, triangle burgee with red [[lifebuoy]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Antigua and Barbuda Search and Rescue |title=ABSAR |url=http://www.absar.org/ |website=ABSAR}}</ref>}}
|}

===Barbuda===
{| class="wikitable" style="background:#f9f9f9"
|- 
! width="110"|Flag!!width="100"|Date!!width="250"|Use!!width="400"|Description
|-
| [[File:Flag of Barbuda.svg|border|150px]] || {{center|2018–present}} || {{center|Flag of the [[Barbuda Council]] ||Barbuda Flag of Self-Determination<ref>{{Cite web |title=PlanBarbuda - THE FLAG |url=https://www.planbarbuda.org/the-flag |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=www.planbarbuda.org |language=en-US}}</ref>}} 
|- 
| [[File:Barbuda Council Flag.svg|border|150px]] || {{center|1997–2018}} || {{center|Flag of the [[Barbuda Council]]}}  || 
|}

===[[Yacht club]]s ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! class="unsortable"|Burgee !! Club
|-
| [[File:Burgee of Antigua Yacht Club.svg|150px]] || {{center|[[Antigua Yacht Club]]}} 
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{FOTW|id=ag|title=Antigua and Barbuda}}
*{{FOTW|id=ag_col|title=Antigua and Barbuda - Colonial Flags (1956-1967)}}

{{National symbols of Antigua and Barbuda}}
{{Flags of North America}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Antigua and Barbuda, Flag of}}
[[Category:National symbols of Antigua and Barbuda|Flag]]
[[Category:Antigua and Barbuda-related lists|Flag]]
[[Category:National flags]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1967]]
[[Category:Flags adopted through competition]]
[[Category:Flags displaying a sun]]
[[Category:Lists and galleries of flags]]
[[Category:Horizontally symmetrical flags]]