Dominican Republic Flags and Banners

Flag of the Dominican Republic

The flag of the Dominican Republic is a reflection of the nation's heritage that dates back to the middle of the 19th century. It holds a special significance because it is one of only three national symbols that the Dominican government has authorized for formal use.

The flag of the Dominican Republic, as described by Article 96 of the Dominican Constitution, features a centered white cross that extends to the edges and divides the flag into four rectangles —the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue. A small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a bay laurel branch (left) and a palm frond (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield, a blue ribbon displays the national motto: Dios, Patria, Libertad (God, Fatherland, Liberty). Below the shield, the words República Dominicana appear on a red ribbon (this red ribbon is depicted in more recent versions as having its tips pointing upward -see image below-). In the center of the shield, flanked by three spears (two of them holding Dominican banners) on each side, is a Bible with a small cross above it, which is opened (according to popular belief) to the Gospel of John, 8:32, which reads Y la verdad nos hará libre (And the truth shall set you free). The blue on the flag stands for liberty. The white on the flag stands for salvation. The red on the flag stands for the blood of heroes.

• Capital of the Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo
• Area of the Dominican Republic: 48,380 sq. km
• Languages used in the Dominican Republic: Spanish
• Religions in the Dominican Republic: Roman Catholic

Colors and Symbolism of the Dominican Republic Flag

The design used for the flag of the Dominican Republic is specified in the country's constitution. It displays a white cross that holds the national coat of arms and divides the field into four sections. Two of those sections are dark blue, while two of them are red. The blue portions represent liberty, the red portions represent the blood of the nation's heroes, and the white stands for salvation. The cross is a symbol of the nation's religious heritage and a convenient way to divide the field into sections.

The country's coat of arms received pride of place in the center of the Dominican Republic flag. It features a shield with the same color scheme as the flag nestled between two bay leaves. The shield displays an image of the Christian Bible that is open to the Gospel of John and nestled between two sets of three spears. Two spears on each side support Dominican banners that resemble the Dominican Republic flag.

History of the Dominican Republic Flag

Every flag of Dominican Republic has featured the same color scheme of red, white, and blue. The first flag was adopted in 1844, and it featured the same white cross that can be found on the modern flag. It lacked the Dominican coat of arms, and it arranged the colored sections such that both blue squares were at the top of the flag and both red squares were at the bottom, in contrast to the modern design which arranges them diagonally. That flag of Dominican Republic was only used for five years before it was replaced by the modern design in 1849.

The Dominican Republic uses many other flags to represent individual members of its governments and for specific civil uses, but almost all of them incorporate the national flag in some way. Many of them display it in the canton, which ensures that even the most minor flags of the Dominican Republic are easy to recognize.