The flag of Mexico, a vertical tricolour of green, white, and red from the hoist. The national coat of arms is charged in the centre of the white stripe. While the meaning of the colours has changed over the years, these three colours were adopted by Mexico following their independence from Spain during the War of Independence, and subsequent 1st Mexican Empire. The current flag was adopted in 1968, however the overall design has been used since 1821, when the First National Flag was created. The current law of national symbols, Law on the National Arms, Flag, and Anthem, that governs the use of the national flag has been in place since 1984.

Other flags of Mexico

Red, white, and green are the colours of the national liberation army in Mexico. The central emblem is the Mexican coat of arms, based on the Aztec symbol for Tenochtitlan (now referred to as Mexico City), the centre of the Aztec empire. It recalls the legend that inspired the Aztecs to settle on what was originally a lake-island. The form of the coat of arms was most recently revised in 1968. A ribbon in the national colours is at the bottom of the coat of arms. Throughout history, the flag has changed several times, as the design of the coat of arms and the length-width ratios of the flag have been modified. However, the coat of arms has had the same features throughout: an eagle, holding a serpent in its talon, is perched on top of a prickly pear cactus; the cactus is situated on a rock that rises above a lake. The coat of arms is derived from an Aztec legend that their gods told them to build a city where they spot an eagle eating a serpent, which is now Mexico City. The current national flag is also used as the Mexican naval ensign by ships registered in Mexico.

A pictorial history of flags used in Mexico:

17/04/1535 – Non-Independent Mexico (Spanish Monarchy)

1785 – 1821 Non-Independent Mexico (Spanish Monarchy)

Before the adoption of the 1st National flag, various flags were used during the War of Independence from Spain. Though it was never adopted as an official flag, many historians consider the first Mexican flag to be the Standard of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

24/02/1821 Independent Mexico



24/08/1821 Independent Mexico

02/11/1821 Independent Mexico

During this time period (1821) the colours represented the following:

14/04/1823 Independent Mexico

15/07/1864 Independent Mexico

During this time period (1823-1864) the colours represented the following:

19/06/1867 Independent Mexico

01/04/1893 Independent Mexico

20/08/1916 Independent Mexico

05/02/1934 Independent Mexico

16/08/1968 Independent Mexico (current flag)

During this time period (1867 – current) the colours represented the following: