Flag of Algeria

What the flag looks like

Two vertical halves, green at the hoist and white at the fly, with a red crescent and five-pointed star in the center.

What it means

Green represents Islam and the land, white purity and peace, and the red crescent and star Islam and the blood of those who died for independence.

How to remember it

Algeria splits green and white straight down the middle and pins a red crescent and star on the seam; Pakistan's is white crescent on green.

Fun facts

• The flag was used by the National Liberation Front during the 1954-1962 war of independence before becoming the national flag.
• Algeria has been Africa's largest country by area since Sudan split in 2011, and the Sahara covers over 80% of it.

Algeria at a glance

Capital

Algiers

Region

Northern Africa

Population

47 million

Area

2,381,741 km²

Languages

Arabic

Currency

Algerian dinar (د.ج)

Flag adopted

1962

Flags often confused with Algeria

• Pakistan: Algeria and Pakistan both pair green and white with a crescent and star. Algeria splits into equal halves with a red crescent; Pakistan has a narrow white strip at the hoist and a white crescent on dark green.
• Mauritania: Algeria and Mauritania both use green with a crescent and star. Algeria is half green, half white with a red crescent; Mauritania is all green with a yellow crescent and red stripes at top and bottom.