State Flag of the Republic of Turkmenistan (1997)

Turkmenistan, named after the nomadic Turkmen people indigenous to the area for centuries, was part of the now dissolved Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1924 until 1991.

Carpet weaving in the Turkmenistan region can be traced back for well over a thousand years and the national importance of this traditional art can be seen in the country's flag, which incorporates five of the basic Turkmenistan carpet patterns (called 'guls' locally) vertically in the hoist.

The current national flag dates from the 19th of February 1997, but is only slightly modified from the flag adopted shortly after Turkmenistan's independence from the Soviet Union in October 1991.

In the mid-1990s Turkmenistan declared a policy of permanent neutrality. To acknowledge this proclamation a pair of olive branches, like those on the United Nations flag, were added below the five guls at the hoist.

The Symbolic Meaning

The green field of the flag represents Islam. 

The crescent symbolises a bright future and hope. 

The 5 five-pointed stars represent the five regions or velyaty of Turkmenistan: Akhal, Balkan, Dashhowuz, Lebap and Mary. They also symbolise the five human senses: hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch.

The five carpet patterns or guls represent the traditions of Turkmenistan and are a national symbol of the country. 

Underneath the guls is a pair of crossed olive branches, representing Turkmenistan's position of permanent neutrality.