Flag of Nicaragua

What the flag looks like

Three equal horizontal bands of blue, white and blue, with the coat of arms in the center: a triangle containing five volcanoes, a cap of liberty and a rainbow, circled by the words "REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA - AMERICA CENTRAL".

What it means

The blue bands represent the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and white the land and peace; the five volcanoes stand for the five members of the former Federal Republic of Central America.

How to remember it

Nicaragua circles its rainbow-and-volcanoes triangle with gold lettering; El Salvador wraps its triangle in a laurel wreath, and Honduras just has stars.

Fun facts

• The rainbow in the coat of arms makes Nicaragua's one of only two national flags that include purple, alongside Dominica's.
• Lake Nicaragua is one of the few freshwater lakes in the world where bull sharks are found.

Nicaragua at a glance

Capital

Managua

Region

Central America

Population

6.9 million

Area

130,373 km²

Languages

Spanish

Currency

Nicaraguan córdoba (C$)

Flag adopted

1971

Flags often confused with Nicaragua

• El Salvador: Nicaragua and El Salvador are both blue-white-blue with a triangular emblem. El Salvador's blue is darker and its emblem has flags and a green laurel wreath; Nicaragua's is a plain triangle in a ring of text.
• Honduras: Honduras and Nicaragua are both horizontal blue-white-blue. Honduras has five blue stars in the center; Nicaragua has a triangle coat of arms.
• Argentina: Argentina and Nicaragua are both blue-white-blue horizontal stripes with a central emblem. Argentina's is a gold sun with a face; Nicaragua's is a triangle in a ring of text.
• Guatemala: Guatemala and Nicaragua are both blue-white-blue with a central emblem. Guatemala's bands are vertical; Nicaragua's are horizontal, with a triangle emblem.