Madagascar

About the flag

This is Madagascar’s flag. The white and red trace back to the Merina kingdom’s colors, while the green represents the Hova (commoners) and hope for the future; it was adopted in 1958 ahead of independence from France in 1960. That sets it apart from Cape Verde’s stars, Cameroon’s central yellow star, and South Africa’s multicolor Y design. Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island, famed for unique biodiversity—over 90% of its wildlife, like lemurs and baobabs, exists nowhere else. Memory tip: think “Mada-GREEN-scar”—the green band evokes the island’s lush, singular nature and people, helping you link the color to this extraordinary Indian Ocean nation.