Flag of Northern Ireland
Western Europe · GB-NIR · Vector source, 4:3 aspect ratio
- RegionWestern Europe
- ISO codeGB-NIR
- Source formatSVG (infinitely scalable)
- Available downloadsSVG · PNG · JPG · WEBP · ICO · PDF
Download the flag of Northern Ireland as SVG, PNG, JPG, WEBP, ICO or PDF in any resolution you need.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Northern Ireland |
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| Country | Northern Ireland |
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| Official Name | Northern Ireland |
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| Capital | Belfast |
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| Continent | Europe |
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| Region | Northern Europe |
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| ISO Code | GB-NIR / GB-NIR |
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| Internet Domain | .uk |
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| Calling Code | +44 |
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| Currency | Pound sterling (GBP) |
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| Official Language(s) | English, Irish, Ulster Scots |
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| Demonym | Northern Irish |
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| Area | 14,130 km² |
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| Population | 1,920,400 |
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Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Northern Ireland |
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| Current Version Adopted | 1953 |
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| Design First Used | 1924 |
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| Flag Proportion | 1:2 |
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| Flag Shape | Rectangular |
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| Number of Colours | 3 |
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| Main Colours | White, Red, Gold |
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| Designer | Based on the arms of Northern Ireland |
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| Design Type | Cross of Saint George with a central star and hand |
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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 Northern Ireland |
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Flag Colour Information
| Colour | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK | Pantone |
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| White | | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 | No official Pantone reference |
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| Red | | #CF142B | 207, 20, 43 | 0, 90, 79, 19 | No official Pantone reference |
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| Gold | | #FFD100 | 255, 209, 0 | 0, 18, 100, 0 | No official Pantone reference |
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Flag Design and Symbolism
| Red Hand of Ulster | The historic emblem of the province, on a six-pointed star for the six counties |
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| Crown | The link with the Crown |
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| White | Stands for the field of the cross of Saint George. |
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| Red | Stands for the cross itself and the Red Hand of Ulster. |
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| Gold | Stands for the crown above the star. |
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Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
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| 1924 | The arms of the Government of Northern Ireland are granted |
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| 1953 | The banner is used as the Ulster Banner |
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| 1973 | The devolved government is abolished and the flag loses official status, though it remains widely used |
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| Present | The flag remains in official use |
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Flag Dimensions and Construction
| Official Ratio (height : width) | 1:2 |
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| Hoist (height) | 1 units |
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| Fly (width) | 2 units |
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| Layout | Cross of Saint George with a central star and hand |
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| Band / Stripe Construction | No stripes; a red cross with a star and crowned hand at the centre |
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| Construction Sheet Available | No |
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| Governing Specification | No longer an official flag; used unofficially since 1973 |
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How the Flag of Northern Ireland 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 | No | No separate military flag is in use |
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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 | No | Not a United Nations member state |
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Other Official Flags of Northern Ireland
| 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 | No |
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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 | No |
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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) | 73 years |
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| Adoption Date | 1953 |
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| Earliest Recorded Use | 1924 |
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| Designer | Based on the arms of Northern Ireland |
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| Nickname | No widely used nickname |
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| Dominant Colour | White |
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| Flags It Resembles | England’s flag is the same without the central charge |
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| Notable Feature | Cross of Saint George with a central star and hand |
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