Laos flag picture
Use the construction sheet to check measurements, or follow the drawing guide.
Laos flag: key facts
| Country | LaosLao People’s Democratic Republic; Southeast Asia. |
|---|---|
| Design | Red–blue–red with a white diskThree bands in a 1:2:1 height ratio. |
| Present adoption | December 2, 1975The design was used earlier in 1945. |
| Proportions | 2:3 height:lengthEquivalent to 3:2 length:height. |
| White disk | 40% of the flag heightIts diameter is 80% of the blue band’s height. |
| Colors | Red, dark blue, and whiteDigital palette: #CE1126, #002868, #FFFFFF. |
| Designer | Maha Sila ViravongCredited with the 1945 design. |
| National Day | December 2Anniversary of the republic’s establishment in 1975. |
A quick memory aid: red–blue–red, 1–2–1, white moon in the center.
What does the flag of Laos look like?
The flag of Laos has a wide dark blue horizontal band between two narrower red bands, with a white disk at the center. Its official height-to-length ratio is 2:3. The blue band is twice as high as either red band.
This is the national flag of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Its present national use began on December 2, 1975; the design had an earlier history in the Lao Issara movement.
Which features identify the Laos flag?
Read the flag from top to bottom as red, dark blue, red. The central white shape is a solid circle, without an outline, lettering, rays, or a face. It is centered both horizontally and vertically.
| Element | Position | Share of total height |
|---|---|---|
| Top red band | Upper quarter | 25% |
| Dark blue band | Middle half | 50% |
| Bottom red band | Lower quarter | 25% |
| White disk | Center of the flag | Diameter: 40% |
The blue band’s 50% refers to its full underlying rectangle. The white disk covers part of that rectangle, so the visible blue area is smaller than half of the complete flag.
What are the Laos flag’s colors and HEX codes?
Laos uses red, dark blue, and white. The files on this page use the digital palette below. These values make the illustrations consistent; they are not presented as legally prescribed printing or textile specifications.
| Color | HEX | RGB | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | #CE1126 | 206, 17, 38 | Top and bottom bands |
| Dark blue | #002868 | 0, 40, 104 | Central band |
| White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | Central disk |
The constitutional description identifies the colors and geometry without assigning HEX, RGB, CMYK, or Pantone values. For physical manufacture, agree on a color sample with the supplier; screen appearance alone cannot define a fabric dye.
What do the colors of the Laos flag mean?
The red bands are commonly associated with sacrifices made in the struggle for freedom. Blue is associated with the Mekong River and prosperity, while the white disk is commonly interpreted as the full moon and the unity of the Lao people.
These are explanations of the flag’s symbolism. The constitutional construction rule describes a white moon but does not set out this full color-by-color interpretation.
Two red bands frame a dark blue field and a centered white moon.
Is the white disk a moon or a sun?
The national description calls it a white moon. The familiar interpretation is a full moon over the Mekong. In the actual drawing, it is a plain white disk; a realistic lunar photograph, crescent, or sun with rays would change the flag.
Its diameter equals four-fifths of the blue band’s height. With a 20-unit flag height and a 10-unit blue band, the disk is 8 units across. That leaves a 1-unit gap between the disk and each red band.
How is the Laos flag constructed?
Use a rectangle 30 units long and 20 units high. Divide its height into 5 red units, 10 blue units, and 5 red units. Put the white circle at coordinate (15, 10), measured from the upper-left corner, with a radius of 4 units.
| Measurement | Formula, using flag height H | Example for H = 100 cm |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 1.5 × H | 150 cm |
| Each red band | H ÷ 4 | 25 cm |
| Blue band | H ÷ 2 | 50 cm |
| Disk diameter | 2 × H ÷ 5 | 40 cm |
| Disk radius | H ÷ 5 | 20 cm |
| Disk center | Half the length; half the height | 75 cm from the left; 50 cm from the top |
| Blue gap above or below disk | H ÷ 20 | 5 cm |
Does 2:3 mean height to length or width to height?
The conventional flag ratio 2:3 means height:length: two units along the hoist and three along the horizontal fly. Written as length:height, the same rectangle is 3:2.
A 900 × 600 pixel image and a 150 × 100 centimeter flag therefore have the same proportions. A 2:1 rectangle, three equally high stripes, or an oval center would distort this design.
What sizes work for printing the flag?
Choose a size that keeps the 3:2 length-to-height ratio, then scale every feature by the same factor. The following are calculated examples, not compulsory commercial sizes.
| Length × height | Each red band | Blue band | White disk diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 × 60 cm | 15 cm | 30 cm | 24 cm |
| 150 × 100 cm | 25 cm | 50 cm | 40 cm |
| 180 × 120 cm | 30 cm | 60 cm | 48 cm |
| 300 × 200 cm | 50 cm | 100 cm | 80 cm |
The SVG can be enlarged without pixelation. The PNG is 3600 × 2400 pixels: at 300 pixels per inch, it gives a 12 × 8 inch image. Keep the aspect-ratio lock enabled in a design or print application.
How can you draw the Laos flag step by step?
- Draw a rectangle 30 units long and 20 units high.
- Mark horizontal lines 5 units and 15 units below the top edge.
- Color the upper and lower bands red and the central band dark blue.
- Mark the center at (15, 10), draw a circle with a 4-unit radius, and fill it white.
- Remove construction guides and check that the disk stays circular and clear of both red bands.
How did the Laos flag develop?
The present flag has roots in the mid-1940s. It was used before the current republic existed, with an interruption in national use between its early adoption and 1975.
Lao Issara flag
The red–blue–red design was adopted by the short-lived Lao Issara government on October 12.
Early use interrupted
French control was reestablished, ending that early period of national use.
Pathet Lao movement
The Pathet Lao subsequently used the design.
Flag of the republic
On December 2, it became the flag of the newly established Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
When was the current Laos flag adopted?
December 2, 1975 is the adoption date for the flag of the present republic. The United Nations Office at Vienna’s flag reference records that date.
The earlier date, October 12, 1945, belongs to Lao Issara use of the design. These dates describe different stages; the design was not invented for the first time in 1975.
Who designed the Laos flag?
The design is credited to Maha Sila Viravong, a Lao scholar and historian associated with the Lao Issara movement. His 1945 design replaced royal imagery with the bands and white disk familiar today.
What flag did the Kingdom of Laos use?
The royal flag used before the republic showed a white three-headed elephant and a ceremonial parasol on a red field. Its imagery belonged to a different historical and political setting.
The current national flag has no elephant, parasol, pedestal, or royal badge. Label older royal flags by their historical context rather than using them as pictures of today’s national flag.
Is the national emblem printed on the flag?
No. The national flag and national emblem are separate symbols. The flag’s central device is the plain white moon.
The national emblem includes the That Luang stupa and other elements associated with the country. Adding that emblem, a national name, or a motto inside the white disk would create a modified graphic, not the standard national flag.
What does the Constitution say about the flag?
Article 115 of the English translation of the 2025 revised Constitution describes the red bands, blue center, white moon, and their proportions. It specifies a flag whose height is two-thirds of its length, red bands each half as high as the blue band, and a moon diameter four-fifths of the blue band’s height.
Older editions use different article numbers: the flag appears in Article 112 of the 2015 text and Article 91 of the 2003 text. Those different numbers should not be mistaken for different flag designs.
Why is December 2 important?
December 2 is Lao National Day, commemorating the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975. It is also the current flag’s adoption anniversary.
National Day celebrations commonly feature the flag. Calling the anniversary “National Day” preserves the established name; it does not establish a separate official holiday called “Flag Day.”
How should the Laos flag be displayed?
For a standard horizontal display, keep the red bands at the top and bottom and the white disk in the middle of the blue band. Give the flag enough space to remain visible, and use a secure mount appropriate to its size and the weather.
For a clear, accurate display
- Preserve the 2:3 height-to-length ratio.
- Use a clean flag with sound seams and fittings.
- Keep the disk centered and circular.
- Follow the host institution’s arrangements at official events.
Design errors to avoid
- Three equal-height bands.
- A disk touching the red bands.
- A stretched or off-center disk.
- Text, logos, or an emblem added to the national design.
These practical points are general display guidance. Formal precedence, ceremonial timing, and mourning arrangements depend on the applicable official instructions.
Can the Laos flag be displayed vertically?
A 90-degree rotation turns the design into red, blue, and red vertical bands, with a centered white disk. Its rotated outer proportions are 2 wide by 3 high. The circle keeps the same diameter; it must not become an ellipse.
The flat design has both horizontal and vertical mirror symmetry. Reversing it or turning it through 180 degrees produces the same pattern. This is a geometric property, not a reason to disregard an event’s prescribed display arrangements.
What about half-mast and ceremonial use?
For an official mourning display, follow the current instructions issued for the institution or event. A flag’s construction specification does not, by itself, establish when to lower it or exactly where to position it on a pole.
For ordinary handling, support the fabric while attaching or removing it and store it clean and dry. A practical flat or rolled fold can protect the material; this page does not prescribe a national ceremonial folding ritual.
How should the flag be cared for?
Check the attachment points, seams, and fly edge before display. Replace damaged fittings and avoid letting the fabric drag across rough surfaces. Follow the material’s care instructions and let a damp flag dry before storing it.
For a digital file, keep an untouched original. Resize a copy with its aspect ratio locked, and avoid filters, shadows, or textures when the purpose is an accurate reference image.
How is Laos’s flag different from similar flags?
A circle alone does not identify a country’s flag. Check the colors, stripe pattern, and position of the disk together.
| Flag | Quick identifying features |
|---|---|
| Laos | White disk on a dark blue middle band, with red above and below. |
| Japan | Red disk on a white field. |
| Thailand | Five horizontal bands: red, white, blue, white, red; no central disk. |
Browse the World Flags collection for more national flag articles.
What is the Laos flag emoji?
The Laos flag emoji is 🇱🇦. It combines the regional indicator letters L and A: U+1F1F1 U+1F1E6.
Platforms may show a waving flag, a flat rectangle, or the letters LA. An emoji is useful in text, but the plain SVG or PNG is a better choice for accurate drawing, printing, or large display.
Which mistakes should be corrected?
- Equal stripes: the blue band is twice as high as either red band.
- Oversized disk: its diameter is four-fifths of the blue band, not the full band height.
- Wrong ratio: 2:3 means height:length.
- Sun or crescent: the constitutional device is a full white moon.
- Royal imagery: the elephant flag belongs to an earlier historical setting.
- First creation in 1975: the design was already used in 1945.
- Official HEX claims: digital artwork values do not automatically constitute a legal color standard.
- Added symbols: the present national flag contains no star, hammer and sickle, coat of arms, or lettering.
Download Laos flag pictures
Use the plain files for an unlabelled national flag and the diagrams for learning or reference. The explanatory labels in the diagrams are not part of the flag.
| File | Purpose | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Plain flag SVG | Scalable 2:3 reference | Download SVG |
| Plain flag PNG | 3600 × 2400 pixels | Download PNG |
| Construction sheet | 30 × 20 grid and measurements | Download SVG |
| Color reference | Digital palette | Download SVG |
| Drawing guide | Three illustrated stages | Download SVG |
The gallery below includes eight distinct illustrations. Every download is hosted on GKBook, and the plain flag files contain no visible watermark or explanatory text.
Laos flag pictures
Red, dark blue, and red horizontal bands in a 1:2:1 ratio, with a centered white disk; height:length is 2:3.
Original GKBook illustration; based on the national flag’s proportions.Download image
The flag measures 30 by 20 units. Bands are 5, 10, and 5 units high; the centered white disk has an 8-unit diameter.
Original GKBook illustration; based on the national flag’s proportions.Download image
The supplied artwork uses red #CE1126, dark blue #002868, and white #FFFFFF. These are digital reference values.
Original GKBook illustration; based on the national flag’s proportions.Download image
The disk spans 40 percent of the flag’s height. Its edges remain inside the blue band with equal clearance above and below.
Original GKBook illustration; based on the national flag’s proportions.Download image
Examples of 90 by 60 centimeters and 150 by 100 centimeters both use a 3:2 length-to-height ratio.
Original GKBook illustration; based on the national flag’s proportions.Download image
The modern design was used by Lao Issara in 1945, later by the Pathet Lao, and became the republic’s flag on December 2, 1975.
Original GKBook illustration; based on the national flag’s proportions.Download image
The flat design has mirror symmetry. In a rotated display, the bands become vertical and the centered disk remains circular.
Original GKBook illustration; based on the national flag’s proportions.Download image
Three steps: make a red 3:2 rectangle, add a blue band covering the middle half, and add the centered white disk.
Original GKBook illustration; based on the national flag’s proportions.Download imageFrequently asked questions
What does the Laos flag look like?
It has red, dark blue, and red horizontal bands with a white disk centered in the blue band. The middle band is twice as high as each red band.
What is the ratio of the Laos flag?
The national ratio is 2:3, written as height:length. In image dimensions, this is 3:2 length:height, such as 900 by 600 pixels.
Are the three bands equal in height?
No. The bands have a 1:2:1 height ratio. Each red band occupies one-quarter of the total height; the blue band occupies the middle half.
How large is the white disk?
Its diameter is four-fifths of the blue band’s height, equal to two-fifths of the complete flag height. On a 100-centimeter-high flag, it is 40 centimeters across.
What does the white circle represent?
The Constitution describes it as a white moon. It is commonly interpreted as the full moon over the Mekong and as a symbol of unity.
What does red mean on the Laos flag?
Red is commonly associated with the sacrifices made in the struggle for freedom. This is a symbolic interpretation rather than an additional construction requirement.
What does blue mean on the Laos flag?
Blue is commonly associated with the Mekong River and prosperity. The actual design uses a dark blue band twice as high as either red band.
When was the flag adopted?
The adoption date for the present republic is December 2, 1975. The design had earlier been used by Lao Issara in 1945.
Who designed the Laos flag?
The design is credited to the Lao scholar and historian Maha Sila Viravong in 1945.
What are the flag’s HEX colors?
The supplied digital artwork uses #CE1126 for red, #002868 for dark blue, and #FFFFFF for white. These are reference values for these files, not a claimed universal legal color standard.
Does the Laos flag have an elephant?
The current flag does not. A white three-headed elephant appeared on the earlier royal flag, which should be identified as historical.
Does the flag contain the national emblem?
No. The national emblem is separate. The current flag contains only the red and blue bands and the white disk.
How do you draw the flag accurately?
Use a rectangle 30 units long and 20 high, with bands 5, 10, and 5 units high. Center a white circle at (15, 10), with a radius of 4 units.
Can the Laos flag be displayed vertically?
The design can be rotated through 90 degrees: the red bands move to the sides and the disk remains circular. At formal events, follow the host’s display arrangements.
Does the reverse side have a different design?
No separate reverse design is needed for the plain flag. Its bands and centered disk are mirror-symmetric, so the flat pattern looks the same from either side.
Why is December 2 important in Laos?
December 2 is National Day, commemorating the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975. It is also the current flag’s adoption anniversary.
What is the Laos flag emoji?
It is 🇱🇦, formed from regional indicator letters L and A: U+1F1F1 and U+1F1E6. Its appearance depends on the platform.
Which file should I use for printing?
Use the SVG when you need a scalable vector image. The PNG provides a 3600 by 2400 pixel raster image. Preserve the 3:2 length-to-height ratio when resizing.
Which Constitution article describes the flag?
The 2025 revised Constitution describes it in Article 115. Older editions use other article numbers, including Article 112 in 2015 and Article 91 in 2003.
How does the Laos flag differ from Japan’s flag?
Laos has a white disk on a dark blue band, with red bands above and below. Japan has a red disk on a white field.
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