Flag of Brazil

What the flag looks like

A green field with a large yellow rhombus in the center, holding a blue globe of the night sky with 27 white stars, crossed by a curved white band with the motto "ORDEM E PROGRESSO" in green.

What it means

Green and yellow come from the royal houses of Braganza and Habsburg of the first emperor and empress, and are popularly read as forests and gold; the 27 stars represent the states and the Federal District.

How to remember it

Brazil is the only flag with a starry blue globe inside a yellow diamond on green, wrapped in the banner "Ordem e Progresso".

Fun facts

• The stars show the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889, when the republic was proclaimed.
• The basic design dates from 1889; the star count has been updated as states were created, reaching 27 in 1992.
• The motto "Ordem e Progresso" (Order and Progress) was inspired by the positivist philosopher Auguste Comte.

Brazil at a glance

Capital

Brasília

Region

South America

Population

212 million

Area

8,515,767 km²

Languages

Portuguese

Currency

Brazilian real (R$)

Flag adopted

1992