# flag of Bulgaria

> National flag of the Republic of Bulgaria

**Wikidata**: [Q225360](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q225360)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Bulgaria)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/flag-of-bulgaria

## Summary

The flag of Bulgaria is the national flag of the Republic of Bulgaria, consisting of three horizontal stripes of equal width in white (top), green (middle), and red (bottom), with an aspect ratio of 5:3. Adopted in its current form on July 12, 1991, following the fall of the communist regime, the flag serves as the primary national symbol representing Bulgarian sovereignty, identity, and statehood. The tricolor design has roots dating back to 1879, making it one of the oldest continuously used flag designs in Europe, though the specific color arrangement and political meaning have evolved through different periods of Bulgarian history.

## Key Facts

- **Design**: Horizontal triband with three equal horizontal stripes (white, green, red from top to bottom)
- **Aspect Ratio**: 5:3 (width:height)
- **Colors**: White (hex #FFFFFF), Green (hex #00966E), Red (hex #D62612)
- **Current Adoption Date**: July 12, 1991
- **Original Adoption Date**: April 16, 1879
- **Country Jurisdiction**: Bulgaria
- **Instance Of**: National flag
- **Unicode Character**: 🇧🇬 (U+1F1E7 U+1F1EC)
- **Wikipedia Title**: Flag of Bulgaria
- **Commons Category**: National flag of Bulgaria
- **Sitelink Count**: 76 (Wikipedia articles in 76 language editions)
- **Flags of the World ID**: bg
- **Freebase ID**: /m/01nmj1
- **BabelNet ID**: 02035491n
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID**: topic/flag-of-Bulgaria (author: Whitney Smith)
- **OpenStreetMap Tag**: bulgaria-e5dc93
- **Wikidata Description**: National flag of the Republic of Bulgaria

## FAQs

**What do the colors of the Bulgarian flag represent?**

The Bulgarian flag features three horizontal stripes: white (top), green (middle), and red (bottom). While the official interpretation has changed across different political periods—from the original 1879 meaning of "peace and charity" (white), "the fertile fields of the country" (green), and "the blood of heroes spilled in defense of the country" (red)—the current constitution does not specify official symbolism, allowing for multiple interpretations.

**When was the current Bulgarian flag adopted?**

The current design was officially adopted on July 12, 1991, following the fall of communism in Bulgaria. This version restored the traditional horizontal tricolor that had been modified during the communist era (1946–1990) when a communist coat of arms was added to the flag. The 1991 version returned to the simple horizontal triband design.

**What is the historical origin of the Bulgarian flag design?**

The Bulgarian tricolor dates back to April 16, 1879, when it was first adopted as the flag of the Principality of Bulgaria following liberation from Ottoman rule. The design was inspired by the Russian tricolor but with different colors chosen to represent Bulgarian national identity. This makes it one of the oldest flag designs in Europe still in use.

**How many Wikipedia language editions cover the Bulgarian flag?**

The flag of Bulgaria has sitelinks in 76 different Wikipedia language editions, ranging from major world languages (English, Russian, German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic) to smaller languages and variants (including Esperanto, Macedonian, Serbian, Bulgarian, and many others).

**What are the technical specifications of the Bulgarian flag?**

The flag has an aspect ratio of 5:3 (width to height), with three equal horizontal stripes. The digital representation uses specific RGB colors: white (#FFFFFF), green (#00966E), and red (#D62612). It is classified as a horizontal triband with the stripe orientation being horizontal.

**What aliases is the Bulgarian flag known by?**

The flag is known by numerous aliases across different languages, including: Bulgarian flag, Bulgaria flag, Flagge von Bulgarien, Bulgarische Flagge, ブルガリアの旗 (Japanese), 保加利亞國旗 and 保加利亞共和國國旗 (Traditional Chinese), Болгарский флаг (Russian), and 불가리아 국기 (Korean).

## Why It Matters

The flag of Bulgaria represents one of the oldest continuous national flag designs in Europe, with origins dating back to the founding of the modern Bulgarian state in 1879. Its historical significance extends beyond mere symbolism—it serves as a visual chronicle of Bulgaria's political evolution from the Principality of Bulgaria through the Kingdom of Bulgaria, the People's Republic of Bulgaria, and the modern Republic of Bulgaria. The flag's restoration in 1991 following the fall of communism marked a return to democratic values and historical continuity, rejecting the communist-era modification that had added a state emblem to the tricolor.

The flag functions as a critical identifier in international contexts, appearing in diplomatic settings, international organizations, and global sporting events. Its distinctive white-green-red horizontal triband is immediately recognizable and serves as a primary vehicle for expressing national pride and solidarity among Bulgarians worldwide. The flag's simple yet striking design has proven durable across more than 140 years of use, surviving two world wars, communist rule, and the transition to democracy.

From a vexillological perspective, the Bulgarian flag exemplifies the horizontal tricolor genre that became dominant across Europe in the 19th century. Its adoption in 1879 influenced subsequent flag designs in the region and represents a deliberate choice to align Bulgarian national identity with the emerging nation-states of Europe. The flag's technical specifications, including its 5:3 aspect ratio and precise color values, ensure consistent reproduction across both physical and digital media.

## Notable For

- **One of Europe's oldest flags**: The basic tricolor design dates to 1879, making it one of the oldest continuously used national flags in Europe
- **Historical resilience**: Survived through multiple regime changes—from principality to kingdom, to communist republic, to democracy—adapting while maintaining core design elements
- **Unicode representation**: One of relatively few national flags to have a dedicated emoji (🇧🇬), facilitating digital expression of national identity
- **Extensive cross-language documentation**: Covered in 76 Wikipedia language editions, demonstrating global recognition
- **Return to simplicity**: The 1991 restoration eliminated the communist-era coat of arms, returning to the pure tricolor design and symbolizing the break from authoritarian rule
- **Digital standardization**: Has precise hex color codes (#FFFFFF, #00966E, #D62612) and aspect ratio (5:3) ensuring accurate reproduction
- **Expert documentation**: Featured in authoritative vexillological sources including Encyclopædia Britannica (written by Whitney Smith, a renowned flag scholar) and Flags of the World

## Body

### Historical Development

The flag of Bulgaria traces its origins to April 16, 1879, when the first Bulgarian flag was adopted following the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1878. The design was chosen by the First Grand National Assembly, which selected a horizontal tricolor inspired by the Russian flag but with colors specifically chosen to represent Bulgarian national identity. The original 1879 constitution did not specify the exact symbolism of the colors, though interpretations have been offered over time.

The flag remained essentially unchanged through the Kingdom of Bulgaria period (1908–1946), becoming an established symbol of Bulgarian sovereignty. Following World War II and the establishment of the People's Republic of Bulgaria in 1946, the flag was modified to include a communist state emblem—a golden star, wheat, and other symbols—in the center. This version remained in use until 1991.

The current version was adopted on July 12, 1991, following the fall of the communist regime and the restoration of democracy. The new constitution removed the communist-era coat of arms, returning to the simple horizontal tricolor design. This restoration was deliberate and symbolic, representing Bulgaria's break from authoritarian rule and return to its pre-communist national traditions.

### Design and Specifications

The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width, arranged from top to bottom as follows: white stripe on top, green in the middle, and red on the bottom. The official aspect ratio is 5:3 (width:height), meaning the flag is 1.67 times wider than it is tall.

The precise digital color values have been established for accurate reproduction: white is represented by hex code #FFFFFF (RGB 255, 255, 255), green by #00966E (RGB 0, 150, 110), and red by #D62612 (RGB 214, 38, 18). These specifications ensure consistency across official documents, digital platforms, and physical flag production.

The design is classified as a horizontal triband, with the stripes oriented horizontally. Each stripe is considered a "part of the class" (stripe), with three total stripes and horizontal orientation specified in the structured data.

### Classification and Taxonomy

The flag is formally classified as an instance of "national flag" in knowledge systems, specifically representing the nation of Bulgaria. It is categorized under the broader classification of "flag" and serves as a national symbol representing Bulgarian sovereignty and identity.

The flag's classification connects it to the larger taxonomy of national flags, linking to resources such as the "gallery of sovereign-state flags" and the Wikimedia Commons category "National flag of Bulgaria." This classification situates the Bulgarian flag within the global system of national symbols.

### International Identification and Documentation

The flag has been assigned numerous identifiers across international knowledge systems, ensuring comprehensive documentation and cross-referencing capabilities:

- **Wikipedia**: Title is "Flag of Bulgaria" with 76 language editions covering the topic
- **Wikidata**: Unique identifier with detailed structured properties
- **Commons**: Category "National flag of Bulgaria" with multiple file versions
- **Flags of the World**: ID "bg" for the Bulgarian flag entry
- **Encyclopædia Britannica**: Online article "topic/flag-of-Bulgaria" authored by Whitney Smith
- **Freebase**: /m/01nmj1
- **BabelNet**: 02035491n
- **OpenStreetMap**: bulgaria-e5dc93 as the name suggestion index ID

### Digital Presence and Unicode

The flag has a dedicated Unicode character: 🇧🇬, which combines the regional indicator symbols for Bulgaria (U+1F1E7 for "B" and U+1F1EC for "G"). This emoji allows for easy digital representation of Bulgarian national identity in electronic communication, social media, and text-based platforms.

The flag's digital presence extends across multiple platforms, with Wikipedia articles in 76 languages, Wikimedia Commons files including both standard and digital vector versions, and OpenStreetMap tagging for geographic identification.

### Multilingual Aliases

The flag is known by various names across different languages and platforms:

- English: Bulgarian flag, Flag of Bulgaria
- German: Flagge von Bulgarien, Bulgarische Flagge
- Japanese: ブルガリアの旗
- Traditional Chinese: 保加利亞國旗, 保加利亞共和國國旗
- Russian: Болгарский флаг
- Korean: 불가리아 국기

These aliases ensure the flag is accessible and identifiable across linguistic boundaries, facilitating international recognition and documentation.

### Related Entities and Connections

The flag is directly connected to Bulgaria as a country, with the jurisdiction applying to the Republic of Bulgaria. It is part of the broader collection of national flags and connects to related topics including flag design (as a genre), national symbols (as a classification), and the historical timeline of national flags.

The flag serves as one of Bulgaria's primary national symbols alongside the coat of arms and the national anthem "Mila Rodino." These symbols collectively represent Bulgarian statehood and national identity in domestic and international contexts.

### Technical Standards and Specifications

The flag adheres to specific technical standards that ensure consistent reproduction:

- **Aspect Ratio**: 5:3 (width:height)
- **Stripe Configuration**: Three equal horizontal stripes
- **Color Space**: RGB color space specified for digital versions
- **File Formats**: Available as SVG (vector) including Flag_of_Bulgaria.svg and Flag_of_Bulgaria_(digital).svg
- **Physical Proportions**: Equal-width stripes occupying one-third of the flag height each

These specifications enable accurate reproduction across various media, from large-scale physical flags to small digital icons, maintaining visual consistency and national identity representation.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. BabelNet
3. Name Suggestion Index