Flag of Sudan

What the flag looks like

Three horizontal stripes of red, white and black, with a green triangle at the hoist.

What it means

Red stands for the struggle and martyrs, white for peace and optimism, black for Sudan itself, and green for Islam and prosperity.

How to remember it

Sudan is red on top with a green hoist triangle; Palestine, Jordan and Kuwait reverse the order with black or green on top.

Fun facts

• The flag replaced a blue-yellow-green tricolor in 1970.
• Sudan has more pyramids than Egypt, built by the ancient Kingdom of Kush around Meroë.
• The capital, Khartoum, lies where the Blue Nile and White Nile meet.

Sudan at a glance

Capital

Khartoum

Region

Northern Africa

Population

50 million

Area

1,886,068 km²

Languages

Arabic, English

Currency

Sudanese pound (ج.س.)

Flag adopted

1970

Flags often confused with Sudan

• Palestine: Palestine and Sudan both have three stripes and a triangle at the hoist. Palestine is black on top with a red triangle; Sudan is red on top with a green triangle.
• Jordan: Jordan and Sudan both have three stripes with a triangle at the hoist. Jordan is black on top with a red triangle and white star; Sudan is red on top with a plain green triangle.
• Kuwait: Kuwait and Sudan both use green, white, red and black. Kuwait has green on top and a black trapezoid at the hoist; Sudan has red on top and a green triangle at the hoist.
• Egypt: Egypt and Sudan are both red, white and black. Egypt has a gold eagle in the center; Sudan has a green triangle at the hoist.
• United Arab Emirates: The UAE and Sudan both use red, green, white and black. Sudan has a green triangle with red on top; the UAE has a straight red vertical band with green on top.
• South Sudan: Sudan and South Sudan both have three stripes and a triangle at the hoist. Sudan is red, white and black with a green triangle; South Sudan is black, red and green with a blue triangle and yellow star.