State Flag of the Republic of Guatemala (1968)

After nearly 300 years of Spanish colonisation the territory covering modern day Guatemala, together with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua achieved independence from Spain on the 15th of September 1821. 

After independence from Spain the Mexican empire briefly annexed Guatemala.

When the Mexican empire dissolved in 1823, Guatemala became a founding member in a federation of states called the United Provinces of Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua). 

The blue and white of the current flag are an historical link to this union and also remain in the flags of the other former members.

A separate independent Republic of Guatemala was established on the 13th of April 1839.

In 1871, the stripes of the Guatemalan flag were changed from horizontal to vertical, to distinguish it from the flags of the other former federation members.

The current Guatemalan national flag dates from the 15th of September 1968.

Guatemala also has a state flag, which features the national coat of arms placed in the centre of the white stripe. 

The current state flag was adopted on the 26th of December 1997.

The Symbolic Meaning

The colours of the Guatemalan national flag have their origin in the flag of the former federation of the United Provinces of Central America. 

When the federation used the flag the two blue stripes represented the water of the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, which lapped the shores of its member countries and white symbolised peace.

A more modern interpretation has blue symbolising justice, loyalty and the skies above Guatemala and white as purity and integrity.