Republic of Nicaragua

Use	National flag and ensign
Proportion	3:5
Adopted	September 4, 1908 August 27, 1971 (official)
Design	A horizontal triband of Azure (top and bottom) and white with the National Coat of Arms centered on the white band.

The flag of Nicaragua was first adopted on September 4, 1908, but not made official until August 27, 1971. It is based on, and inspired by, the flag of the Federal Republic of Central America and flag of Argentina.

It is one of the few flags of sovereign states that currently use purple.

Overview

The two Azure bands on the flag and the arms of Nicaragua in use today is derived from that of the United Provinces of Central America. The triangle, volcanoes, rising sun, Cap of Liberty, and rainbow all appeared on the original emblem. The coat of arms used today contains the name of the state, Republica de Nicaragua, whereas in 1823 the title was Provincias Unidas del Centro de America. The decision to revert to the emblems used by the United Provinces of Central America was taken in 1908 and reflected Nicaragua's aspirations for the rebirth of the political entity formed by the 5 nations. Except for the text around the arms, the flag is very similar to that of the United Provinces of Central America. The 5 volcanoes represent the original 5 member states, the Cap of Liberty represents national freedom, and the rays of the sun and the rainbow are symbolic of the bright future to come.

The presence of a rainbow in the coat of arms makes the flag of Nicaragua one of only three flags of a sovereign state to include the color purple, alongside the flag of Dominica and the flag of El Salvador.

Historical flags

• 
  United Provinces of Central America
  (1823–1824)
• 
  Federal Republic of Central America
  (1824–1838)
• 
  (1838–1854)
• 
  (1854–1856)
• 
  State flag
  (1854–1856)
• 
  Merchant Navy flag
  (1854–1856)
• 
  William Walker's Nicaragua flag
  (1855–1857)
• 
  (1858–1896)
• 
  (1896–1908)
• 
  Greater Republic of Central America
  (November 1898)
• 
  (1908–1971)