Algeria Flag

Flag of Algeria

Algeria flags, like those of many other nations in northern Africa, originate from the designs used by the Ottoman Empire and the nation's historical rulers. They represent both the history of the nation and the culture of the modern citizens, and in doing so they manage to represent the whole spirit of the nation and its people.

• Capital of Algeria: Algiers
• Area of Algeria: 2,381,740 sq. km
• Languages used in Algeria: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
• Religions in Algeria: Sunni Muslim, Christian and Jewish
• Flag Adopted: July 3, 1962

Colors and Symbolism of Algeria Flags

Modern Algeria flags display a red star and crescent on a field that is evenly divided between green and white. The green portion of the field is an aspect of the design that Algeria shares with many other nations in the Middle East because it is a symbol of Islam. The white part of the field is a symbol of peace. The star and crescent are also symbols of the nation's Islamic heritage, and they are displayed in red in order to represent the blood shed by Algerians during the Algerian war of independence.

Flag symbolism:

• Green: Islam
• White: Purity
• Red: Liberty
• The crescent and star is a symbol of Islam, with the crescent being more closed than in other Muslim countries because the Algerians believe that the long horns of the crescent bring happiness.

History of Algeria Flags

The flag of Algeria began as a military banner. The original design lacked the star and crescent that can be found on the modern flag, but it was the first Algerian flag to display the split field of green and white. The banner was first flown by Emir Abdel Kadir when he led the defense of the Algeria Regency against the French army during the French Invasion of Algiers in 1830. The defense failed, but the flag became a potent symbol of the Algerian people.

The emblem on the flag can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over Algeria until it became a French territory. The Ottoman flag provided the star and crescent emblem that can be found on the modern flag. The use of red in the Algerian flag is another likely link to the Ottoman Empire, which used a red flag to represent itself on the world stage.

The modern flag of Algeria came into use in 1962 after the nation won its war for independence against France. The design dates back to the middle of the war, when it was first used by the Algerian government prior to the nation's independence. Unlike many other nations in the Middle East, Algeria has not changed its flag since it was first adopted.