Flag of Benin
Sub-Saharan Africa · BJ · Vector source, 4:3 aspect ratio
- RegionSub-Saharan Africa
- ISO codeBJ
- Source formatSVG (infinitely scalable)
- Available downloadsSVG · PNG · JPG · WEBP · ICO · PDF
Download the flag of Benin as SVG, PNG, JPG, WEBP, ICO or PDF in any resolution you need.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Benin |
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| Country | Benin |
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| Official Name | Republic of Benin |
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| Capital | Porto-Novo |
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| Continent | Africa |
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| Region | Western Africa |
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| ISO Code | BJ / BEN |
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| Internet Domain | .bj |
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| Calling Code | +229 |
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| Currency | West African CFA franc (XOF) |
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| Official Language(s) | French |
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| Demonym | Beninese |
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| Area | 112,622 km² |
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| Population | 11,485,048 (approx.) |
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| Coastline | Has a sea coast |
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| United Nations Member | Yes |
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Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Benin |
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| Current Version Adopted | 1 August 1990 |
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| Design First Used | 1959 |
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| Flag Proportion | 2:3 |
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| Flag Shape | Rectangular |
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| Number of Colours | 3 |
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| Main Colours | Green, Yellow, Red |
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| Designer | Adopted at self-government within the French Community |
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| Design Type | Vertical green band with two horizontal bands |
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| Nickname | No widely used nickname |
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| Official Status | Official national flag |
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| Governing Authority | Government of Benin |
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Flag Colour Information
| Colour | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK | Pantone |
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| Green | | #008751 | 0, 135, 81 | 100, 0, 40, 47 | No official Pantone reference |
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| Yellow | | #FCD116 | 252, 209, 22 | 0, 17, 91, 1 | No official Pantone reference |
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| Red | | #E8112D | 232, 17, 45 | 0, 93, 81, 9 | No official Pantone reference |
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Flag Design and Symbolism
| Green | Stands for hope and renewal. |
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| Yellow | Stands for the country’s wealth and the savannah. |
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| Red | Stands for the courage of the ancestors. |
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Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
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| 16 November 1959 | First adopted under French rule |
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| 1975 | Replaced by a green flag with a red star under Marxist government |
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| 1 August 1990 | Restored with the end of one-party rule |
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| Present | The flag remains in official use |
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Flag Dimensions and Construction
| Official Ratio (height : width) | 2:3 |
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| Hoist (height) | 2 units |
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| Fly (width) | 3 units |
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| Layout | Vertical green band with two horizontal bands |
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| Band / Stripe Construction | The green hoist band is two fifths of the length |
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| Construction Sheet Available | Yes |
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| Governing Specification | Constitution of Benin, Article 1 |
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How the Flag of Benin Is Used
| Setting | Flown | Notes |
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| Government buildings | Yes | Flown on official premises |
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| Schools and public institutions | Yes | Common in daily and ceremonial use |
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| Private and civil use | Yes | May be flown by members of the public |
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| Public holidays and commemorations | Yes | Displayed on national days of remembrance |
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| Armed forces | Yes | Carried by the military as a war flag or colour |
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| Naval ensign | Yes | Flown by naval and merchant vessels |
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| Embassies and consulates | Yes | Flown at diplomatic missions abroad |
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| International sport | Yes | Used at the Olympic Games and world championships |
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| United Nations building | Yes | Flown in the row of member states |
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Other Official Flags of Benin
| Flag Type | Purpose | In Use |
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| National flag | The primary flag shown on this page | Yes |
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| Civil flag | Flown by private citizens and organisations | Yes |
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| War flag | Carried by the armed forces on land | Yes |
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| Naval ensign | Flown at sea by naval and merchant vessels | No |
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| Air force ensign | Used by the air force | No |
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| Presidential standard | Marks the presence of the head of state | Yes |
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| Royal standard | Marks the presence of the monarch | No |
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| Historical flags | Earlier designs no longer in official use | Yes |
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Quick Facts About the Flag
| Years in Use (current design) | 36 years |
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| Adoption Date | 1 August 1990 |
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| Earliest Recorded Use | 1959 |
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| Designer | Adopted at self-government within the French Community |
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| Nickname | No widely used nickname |
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| Dominant Colour | Green |
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| Flags It Resembles | Guinea-Bissau’s flag uses the same layout with a star |
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| Notable Feature | Vertical green band with two horizontal bands |
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