Madagascar

Specification

Article 4 of the 2010 Constitution identifies the national emblem as a white, red and green tricolor made from three rectangular bands of equal dimensions: white vertically at the hoist, red horizontally above green at the fly. It prescribes no separate emblem. Article 1 names the represented state the Republic of Madagascar. [1]

The numerical grid follows the Southern African Vexillological Association (SAVA) sheet and agrees with Flags of the World. The constitutional wording does not print a numerical ratio; 2:3 also follows geometrically when its equal-dimension rectangles are treated as congruent, with the hoist rectangle rotated. [2] [3]

Color evidence

The Constitution names colors without numerical standards. SAVA lists Pantone Warm Red c and 348c; Flags of the World reports the same references from Album des pavillons (2000). These are published reference specifications; a Malagasy legal instrument making them binding was not located. [1] [2] [3]

The values below come directly from the retrieved SVG. They are screen approximations, not textile standards or certified conversions of those Pantone references. [6]

Construction notes

The SVG viewBox is 0 0 3 2. A green field is overlaid by red across the upper unit and white across the left unit. The visible white rectangle is 1 × 2; red and green are each 2 × 1. Each occupies two square units, one third of the total area. There are no strokes, gaps or devices. This matches the SAVA diagram’s horizontal divisions 1:2 and vertical divisions 1:1. [2] [6]

Scale the complete drawing uniformly. The viewBox is a proportional artwork grid, not a prescribed fabric size; seams, sleeves, tolerances and material specifications are not established here.

Historical record

The design was introduced during self-government in 1958 and retained at independence. [2] Madagascar’s embassy in Moscow lists 26 June as the national holiday. [4]

October 1958 chronology

The embassy dates adoption to 14 October 1958, while the SAVA sheet prints 4 October. A Malagasy press report describing a national-flag exhibition records official public presentation on 21 October 1958. These accounts describe different dates and potentially different events. Without the original adoption act or assembly declaration, this record uses October 1958 and leaves the exact legal adoption day unresolved. [4] [2] [5]

Symbols

SAVA associates red and white with the earlier Merina kingdom and green with the Hova commoner class. Flags of the World also records a competing association of green with coastal peoples. These are historical interpretations, not meanings prescribed by Article 4; the color arrangement alone is the constitutional specification. [2] [3] [1]

Usage

SAVA identifies the design as the national flag and ensign. Flags of the World records civil, state and military use on land and at sea. This entry covers that plain national design. [2] [3]

Source trail

1. Haute Cour Constitutionnelle: Constitution of the Fourth Republic, Articles 1 and 4 ↗ — state name and legal flag description.
2. SAVA: Madagascar national flag specification sheet ↗ — construction diagram, ratio, use, reference colors, history and differing adoption date.
3. Flags of the World: Madagascar ↗ — equal-area geometry, usage classification, Album color references and symbolism differences.
4. Embassy of Madagascar in Russia: Discover Madagascar ↗ — government identification of the flag, 14 October adoption account and national holiday.
5. Midi Madagasikara: Drapeau national, référence et code (2020) ↗ — secondary report of an exhibition and public presentation on 21 October; not an adoption instrument.
6. Retrieved SVG mirror ↗; Commons contributors and public-domain declaration ↗; local provenance register ↗.

Sources checked 15 September 2026. Related records: Kenya and Ghana. Browse national flags or the Flag Index.