Flag of Jamaica

What the flag looks like

A gold diagonal cross (saltire) divides the flag into four triangles: green at top and bottom, black at hoist and fly.

What it means

Black represents the strength and creativity of the people, gold the sunlight and natural wealth, and green the land and hope.

How to remember it

Jamaica: a golden X splitting black and green triangles, and the only national flag with no red, white or blue.

Fun facts

• Jamaica's flag is the only current national flag that contains none of red, white or blue.
• An earlier proposal with horizontal stripes was dropped because it looked too similar to the flag of Tanganyika.

Jamaica at a glance

Capital

Kingston

Region

Caribbean

Population

2.8 million

Area

10,991 km²

Languages

English, Jamaican Patois

Currency

Jamaican dollar ($)

Flag adopted

1962

Flags often confused with Jamaica

• Bahamas: The Bahamas and Jamaica both use black, gold and a third color. The Bahamas has horizontal aquamarine and gold stripes with a black triangle; Jamaica has a gold diagonal cross with green and black triangles.