South America
Brazil
A green field with a large yellow diamond bearing a blue globe with 27 white stars and a white banner reading ORDEM E PROGRESSO. It was adopted shortly after Brazil became a republic in 1889, while preserving the imperial-era green and yellow field.
Adopted
1889
Proportion
7:10
Colours
4
Colours & their meaning
Green
No official symbolism for the colour itself; historically linked to the House of Braganza.
Yellow
No official symbolism for the colour itself; historically linked to the House of Habsburg.
Blue
The sky over Rio de Janeiro on 15 November 1889.
White
Peace, and used for the stars and motto banner.
Symbols & emblems
Stars
The 27 stars represent the 26 states and the Federal District, arranged as specific constellations seen from Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889.
Motto banner
The white band bears the national motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO ('Order and Progress'), derived from Auguste Comte’s positivist thought.
Blue globe
The globe represents the celestial sphere.
Did you know?
Brazil’s flag is one of the few national flags to depict an actual star map with identifiable constellations.