National Flag

The Union Jack had flown over Singapore for 140 years (1819-1959) and the national flag was unveiled in 1959 to replace it. When Singapore became independent in 1965, it was officially adopted as the national flag.

The flag consists of two equal halves. The top half is in red and the bottom half is in white. The red colour symbolises universal brotherhood and equality of man. The white signifies purity and virtue. Near the upper hoist of the flag a white crescent moon and five white stars form a circle. The crescent moon represents a young nation on the rise. The five stars stand for Singapore's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.