Flag of Costa Rica

What the flag looks like

Five horizontal bands of blue, white, red, white and blue, with the red band twice as tall as the others; the state flag places the coat of arms in a white oval on the red band toward the hoist.

What it means

Blue represents the sky and opportunity, white peace and wisdom, and red the warmth of the people and the blood shed for freedom.

How to remember it

Costa Rica is Thailand inside out: a thick red middle band, white beside it, and blue on the outer edges.

Fun facts

• The red band was added in 1848, inspired by the French tricolor; the design is credited to Pacífica Fernández, wife of President José María Castro Madriz.
• Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948, a step written into its 1949 constitution.

Costa Rica at a glance

Capital

San José

Region

Central America

Population

5.1 million

Area

51,100 km²

Languages

Spanish

Currency

Costa Rican colón (₡)

Flag adopted

1848

Flags often confused with Costa Rica

• Thailand: Costa Rica and Thailand both have five stripes with a double-height center band. Costa Rica has blue outside and red in the middle; Thailand swaps them, with red outside and blue in the middle.
• North Korea: Costa Rica and North Korea both run blue, white, red, white, blue. North Korea has very thin white stripes and a red star in a white disc; Costa Rica has wider white stripes and an oval coat of arms.