Venezuela's Flag: Official Name and Symbolism

The Venezuelan flag's formal name is "Bandera Nacional de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela" (National Flag of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela).

Design and Meaning

The current horizontal tricolor—yellow, blue, red—dates to 1811 independence movements, refined in 2006 with an eighth star added to the original seven (representing the provinces that declared independence). The coat of arms appears on the official state flag.

• Yellow: Wealth of the land, agriculture, sovereignty
• Blue: Caribbean Sea separating Venezuela from Spain, courage
• Red: Blood shed for independence, valor
• Eight stars: The signatory provinces (Caracas, Cumaná, Barcelona, Barinas, Margarita, Mérida, Trujillo, Guayana)

Historical Evolution

Francisco de Miranda designed the original tricolor in 1806. Simón Bolívar added the seventh star in 1817 for Guayana. The 2006 reform under Hugo Chávez restored Bolívar's eight-star version, fulfilling his 1817 decree.

The flag embodies Venezuela's independence struggle, territorial integrity, and Bolivarian identity—distinct from its Gran Colombia partners (Colombia, Ecuador) which share the tricolor but differ in star arrangement and symbolism.