The Republic of Northern Macedonia is a state located on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe, with a territory of 25.3 thousand km2 and a population of just over 2 million people.
This is what the modern flag of Northern Macedonia looks like:
History of the flag
The territory of the present republic is just over one-third of the Macedonian regions of the Ottoman Empire. In different periods of history this territory belonged to different states. At the beginning of the twentieth century (1903) the population revolted here against the Ottoman yoke and the first republic in the Balkans was established (Republic of Krusevo). The surprising thing is that the new entity lasted only ten days, but managed to adopt its first official flag.
After the fall of the Republic of Macedonia was again dependent on the Ottomans, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. From 1929 to 1941 its territory was part of Yugoslavia as a province and was called Vardarska Banovina. During World War II it was replaced by the Independent Republic of Macedonia with its own symbols.
At the end of the war Yugoslavia was formed according to the principle of federation, which included Macedonia, called the People’s Republic. The symbol of that period was a red flag with a five-pointed star in the center.
Since 1963, the People’s Republic was renamed the Socialist Republic, and the state symbol was given a new look. It was used in this form until the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1991-1992.
The modern flag was adopted in October 1995.
After the disintegration of Yugoslavia, until the approval of the new symbol of the state, the “Vergina star” was depicted on the cloth. Because of the protests of Greece, on the territory of which an ancient tomb of kings with a similar image was discovered, Macedonia replaced the sixteen-beam star with an eight-beam one.
Description
The cloth has a rectangular shape with the proportions of the sides as 1 to 2. On its red field the sun is depicted, from which eight broadening rays emanate to the edges of the general field.
Flag colors
Only two colors are used on the official symbol of the Republic of Northern Macedonia: red and yellow.
Meaning of colors and flag symbol
The symbolism of the state represents the “new sun of freedom,” sung in the national anthem of Northern Macedonia.
- Sun means freedom and independence.
- Yellow is wealth and abundance.
- Red is a symbol of bravery and courage.
Other Flags
In June 1944 the 1st Macedonian Strike Brigade, composed of ethnic Macedonians, was formed.
Interesting facts about the flag
The Vergina star used in the initial period was replaced after Greece subjected Northern Macedonia to an economic blockade for a year. Still, such a star is used on the flag of Macedonia – the Greek one.
General information about Northern Macedonia
| Official language | Macedonian, Albanian |
| Capital | Skopje |
| Territory | 25 333 km² |
| Population | 2 073 702 people |
| Currency | Macedonian denar |
| Phone Code | +389 |
