View source for Flag of Burundi

{{short description|National flag}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Republic of Burundi
| Article =
| Type =
| Image = Flag of Burundi.svg
| Nickname =
| Morenicks =
| Use = 111111
| Symbol = {{FIAV|111111}} {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|Equal}}
| Proportion = 3:5
| Adoption = 28 June 1967 {{small|(modified to current aspect ratio on 27 September 1982)}}
| Design = A white diagonal cross divided into four panels of red (top and bottom) and green (hoist-side and fly-side) with the white disk superimposed at the center of the cross bearing three red six-pointed stars with green outlines arranged in the triangular form (one above, two below).
| Designer = Unknown
}}
[[File:RuyigiHopital.JPG|thumb|Burundi flag at [[Ruyigi]] Hospital]]
The original [[national flag|national]] '''flag of [[Burundi]]''' ([[Kirundi]]: ''ibendera ry'Uburundi'', [[French language|French]]: ''Drapeau du Burundi'') was adopted after the [[Burundi]]an independence from [[Belgium]] on 1 July 1962. It went through several revisions and now consists of a white [[saltire]] which divides the field into alternating red and green areas. The center of the saltire merges into a white disk, on which there are three red solid six-pointed stars outlined in green. The current ratio is 3:5,<ref name=Worldflags>{{cite web|title=Burundi flag|url=https://www.worldflags101.com/b/burundi-flag.aspx|website=World Flags|access-date=15 September 2014}}</ref> which was changed from 2:3 on 27 September 1982.

== Symbolism ==

The flag is divided into four parts by a white saltire. The upper and lower parts are red in color, while the left and right ones are green in color. The white color of the saltire represents peace, green represents the nation's hopes placed on future development, and red symbolizes the suffering of the nation during its freedom struggle.<ref name="Brittanica" /> The three [[star]]s in triangular configuration stand for the three ethnic groups of [[Burundi]]: the [[Hutu]], the [[Twa]] and the [[Tutsi]].<ref name="Brittanica">{{cite web|title=flag of Burundi|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1355107/flag-of-Burundi|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=15 September 2014}}</ref> The three stars also stand for the three elements of the national motto: ''Ubumwe, Ibikorwa, Amajambere'' ("Unity, Work and Progress"),<ref name="FlagDB">{{cite web|title=Flag of Burundi|url=https://www.flagdb.com/burundi|website=FlagDB|access-date=29 April 2024}}</ref> which can be seen on the [[coat of arms of Burundi]].<ref name="World' p. 153">''Guide to the Flags of the World'' by Mauro Talocci, revised and updated by Whitney Smith ({{ISBN|0-688-01141-1}}), p. 153.</ref> They also represent the loyalty that the citizens of the nation have pledged to their God, king and country.<ref name="Brittanica" />

== Colours ==
The colours are defined in the constitution as simply green, white, and red.  Nowhere does the government document any specific colour shades.
For lack of any official standard, the colours used at the 2012 Olympics are shown in the table below.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
{| class=wikitable width=60% style="text-align:center;"
|-
! [[File:Flag of Burundi.svg|40px]]<br>Colours&nbsp;scheme
!style="background:#ffffff; color:#000000"| White
!style="background:#c8102e; color:#ffffff"| Red
!style="background:#43b02a; color:#ffffff"| Green
|-
| [[Pantone]] || White || 186 C || 361 C
|-
| [[CMYK]] || 0-0-0-0 || 0-92-77-22 || 62-0-76-31
|-
|[[Web colors|HEX]]
|#FFFFFF
|#C8102E
|#43B02A
|-
|[[RGB color model|RGB]]
|255-255-255
|200-16-46
|67-176-42
|}

== Construction sheet ==
{{gallery
|height=250
|width=400
|File:Flag of Burundi (construction sheet).svg|Flag construction sheet.
}}

== History ==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-M0804-0748, Berlin, 10. Weltfestspiel, Demonstration.jpg|thumb|Burundi delegates at the 1973 [[World Festival of Youth and Students]] with the 1967–82 flag flown upside down.]]

When the monarchy ruled over Burundi a variant flag featuring a ''[[karyenda]]'' (a drum said to have divine power) was used.<ref name="World' p. 153"/> It was believed that the drum's messages could be understood only by the ''[[King of Burundi|mwami]]'' (rulers) who made it the laws of the state. Following the abolition of the monarchy in November 1966, the ''karyenda'' was removed from the flag and the other flag was adopted soon after. The ''karyenda'' was replaced with a [[sorghum]] plant which is an important agricultural product of the country.<ref name="Brittanica" />
<gallery>
File:Flag of Burundi (1962–1966) variant.svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} Flag from 1 July 1962 to 28 November 1966 (Drum variant)
File:Flag of Burundi (1962–1966).svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} Flag from 1 July 1962 to 28 November 1966.
File:Royal Standard of Burundi (1962–1966).svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} Royal standard from 1962 to 1966.
File:Flag of Burundi (1966).svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} Flag used on 28 and 29 November 1966
File:Flag of Burundi (1966–1967).svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} Flag from 29 November 1966 to 28 June 1967
File:Flag of Burundi (1967–1982).svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} Flag from 28 June 1967 to 27 September 1982
File:Flag of Burundi.svg|{{FIAV|normal}} The current national flag, adopted on 27 September 1982 features slightly different dimensions to the 1967 flag
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[List of Burundian flags]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{FOTW|id=bi|title=Burundi}}

{{Africa topic|Flag of|title=[[Flags of Africa]]}}

{{Burundi topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burundi, Flag of}}
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1967]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1982]]
[[Category:National symbols of Burundi|Flag]]
[[Category:Flags of Africa]]
[[Category:National flags]]
[[Category:Flags with green, red and white]]
[[Category:Flags with stars]]
[[Category:Horizontally symmetrical flags]]