The national flag of Estonia is a tricolour featuring three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black (middle), and white (bottom). The proportion of the flag is 7:11, with a nominal size of 105 × 165 cm. In Estonian it is called the "" (literally "blue-black-white"), after the colours of the bands.
The flag became associated with Estonian nationalism in the beginning of the 20th century and was used as the national flag () when the Estonian Declaration of Independence was issued on 24 February 1918. The flag was formally adopted on 21 November 1918, and on 12 December of the same year, the flag was raised for the first time as the national symbol atop of the Pikk Hermann tower in Tallinn. Starting in 1940, the flag and its colours were banned in Soviet-occupied Estonia, until the flag was restored to the top of Pikk Hermann on 24 February 1989 and reinstated as the state flag on 7 August 1990.
The following is a list of flags associated with Estonia.
National flag FlagDateUseDescriptionNotes Since 19901918–1940 National flag, Civil flag, Civil ensign A horizontal tricolour of blue, black, and whiteProportion = 7:11 Flag of Estonia (vertical) When displayed vertically, the blue band should appear on the left when viewed by an observerProportion = 11:7
Standards Head of state FlagDateUseDescriptionNotes Since 1993 Flag of the President of the Republic National tricolour with the greater coat of arms in the centre 1922–1940 Flag of the State Elder
Ministers FlagDateUseDescriptionNotes Since 2005 Flag of the Minister of Defence National tricolour with the lesser coat of arms offset to hoist 1927–1940 Flag of the Minister of War
Military flags FlagDateUseDescriptionNotes Since 2003 Flag of the Estonian Defense Forces Coat of arms of Estonia in banner form Since 19941927–1940 Flag of the Commander of the Defence Forces Blue and white swallowtail with the lesser coat of arms offset to hoist, and yellow horizontal bands at the top and bottom 1927–1940 Flag of the Lieutenant General Similar to the flag of the Commander of the Defence Forces, but with yellow band only along the top 1927–1940 Flag of the Major General Similar to the flag of the Commander of the Defence Forces, but with yellow band only along the bottom Since 2012 Flag of the Estonian Special Operations Force A black field with a white rhombus, fly side corner open, and a horizontal white sword
Army FlagDateUseDescriptionNotes Since 2005 Flag of the Estonian Land Forces A black field with a vertical silver sword, in front of it a crenellated golden beam with three blue lions
Navy FlagDateUseDescriptionNotes Since 19941927–1940 Naval ensign of the Estonian Navy Swallow-tailed national tricolour with the lesser coat of arms off-set towards hoistProportion = 7:13 Since 20081927–1940 Naval jack White field with a black saltire and blue cross Since 2018 Flag of the Vice Admiral Same as the flag of the Lieutenant General Since 2018 Flag of the Counter Admiral Same as the flag of the Major General 1927–1940 Similar to the current flag of the Counter Admiral, but without any yellow bands Since 2018 Flag of the Commodore Since 20081927–1940 Pennant of the Commander of the Navy White swallow-tailed pennant with a blue chevron issuing from the hoist and a yellow anchor near the hoist Since 20081927–1940 Pennant of a Commander of Division Same as the pennant of the Commander of the Navy, but without the anchor 1927–1940 Senior officer afloat pennant White triangular pennant with a horizontal blue band in the middle Since 20081927–1940 Pennant of a warship commander White streamer with the national tricolour at hoist ? Presidential pennant White swallow-tailed streamer with the greater coat of arms at hoist 1923–1940 Pennant of the State Elder
Air Force FlagDateUseDescriptionNotes Since 1996 Flag of the Estonian Air Force Emblem of the Air Force on a white field, with the word "" above it
Defence League FlagDateUseDescriptionNotes Since 19991925–1940 Flag of the Defence League The emblem of the Defence League (a silver eagle holding a silver sword and the lesser coat of arms) on a yellow field
Government flags FlagDateUseDescriptionNotes Since 2012 Flag of the Police and Border Guard Board A white lion rampant on a blue field, holding the lesser coat of arms Since 2000 Flag of the Internal Security Service A golden griffin segreant on a blue field, holding the lesser coat of arms. Above it is the motto "" and below the year "1993". 1996–20091923–1940 Flag of the Border Guard National tricolour with a yellow and green pile issuing from the hoist, defaced with the letters "PV" (for "") 1996–20091923–1940 Pennant of the Minister of the Interior White swallow-tailed pennant with a yellow and green pile issuing from the hoist 1996–20091923–1940 Pennant of the Director General of the Border Guard White triangular pennant with a yellow and green pile issuing from the hoist Since 2004 Customs flag National tricolour with a white square in the top canton, containing a black caduceus 1994–20041923–1940 National tricolour with a red square in the top canton, containing a white letter "T" and a black caduceus
Sporting flags FlagDateUseDescription Flag of Estonian Olympic Committee A white flag with the logo of Estonian Olympic Committee in the middle.
Postal flag FlagDateUseDescriptionNotes 1994–20091923–1940 Postal flag National tricolour defaced with a post horn
Subdivisions flags County flags
The design of the flags of counties of Estonia was officially approved on 7 August 1939, by then President, Konstantin Päts, as Decision of the President of the Republic No. 174. The standard size of the flag was set at 110 x 220 centimeters, which is a proportion of 1:2.
Flag Administrative division Adopted Description Harju Since 1939 Horizontal bicolor of two equally-sized bands of white (top) and green (bottom), emblazoned with the coat of arms of the respective county in the center of the white band.Proportion = 1:2 Hiiu Since 1996 Ida-Viru Since 1997 Jõgeva Since 1996 Järva Since 1939 Lääne Since 1939 Lääne-Viru Since 1996 Põlva Since 1996 Pärnu Since 1939 Rapla Since 1996 Saare Since 1939 Tartu Since 1939 Valga Since 1939 Viljandi Since 1939 Võru Since 1939
Historical
Municipal flags
Flag Municipality Adopted Description Alutaguse Anija | Antsla Elva Häädemeeste Haapsalu Haljala Harku Hiiumaa Järva Jõelähtme Jõgeva Jõhvi Kadrina Kambja Kanepi Kastre Kehtna Keila Kihnu Kiili Kohila Kohtla-Järve Kose Kuusalu Lääne-Harju Lääne-Nigula Lääneranna Loksa Lüganuse Luunja Maardu Märjamaa Muhu Mulgi Mustvee Narva Narva-Jõesuu Nõo Otepää Paide Pärnu Peipsiääre Põhja-Pärnumaa Põhja-Sakala Põltsamaa Põlva Raasiku Rae Rakvere (parish) Rakvere (town) Räpina Rapla Rõuge Ruhnu Saarde Saaremaa Saku Saue Setomaa pattern arranged in a Nordic cross on a white field. Sillamäe Tallinn 13th century Six horizontal alternating blue and white bars.https://www.riigikantselei.ee/et/node/1132 Proportion = 2:1 Tapa Tartu (parish) Tartu (city) Tori Tõrva Türi Väike-Maarja Valga Viimsi Viljandi (parish) Viljandi (town) Vinni Viru-Nigula Vormsi Võru (parish) Võru (town)
Political flags FlagDateParty Since 2022 Parempoolsed Since 2018 Estonia 200Eesti 200 Since 2006 Isamaa Since 1994 Estonian Reform PartyEesti Reformierakond Since 1991 Estonian Centre PartyEesti Keskerakond Since 1990 Social Democratic PartySotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond
Flags of ethnic groups FlagDateUseDescriptionNotes Since 2003 Flag of Setos pattern arranged in a Nordic cross on a white field Since 2002 Flag of Votians Blue flag with a white pile issuing from the top, charged with a red cross Since 2013 Flag of Võros White regular octagram on a dark green field Since 2013 Flag of Mulks Blue field with a black side, separated by a red looped with a white outline Since 1996 Flag of Noarootsi Parish
Historical flags FlagDateUseDescription 1953–1990 Flag of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic Red flag with a golden hammer and sickle and outlined star above them in the top hoist corner. A band of blue and white water waves in the lower half. It lacked the hammer and sickle on its reverse side. 1940–1953 Flag of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic Red flag with a golden hammer and sickle in the top hoist corner and "ENSV" (Eesti Nõukogude Sotsialistlik Vabariik) written above the hammer and sickle. 1941–1944 Flag of German Reich Red field with a white disc with a black swastika at a 45-degree angle. The swastika disk is slightly off-centre. 1918–1919(50 days) Flag of the Estonian Workers' Commune A red flag with a golden canton. Inside the canton, the texts meaning "Estonian Workers' Commune", separated by a red line:Estonian: "Eesti Töörahva Kommuun";Russian: "Эстляндская трудовая коммуна" ("Estlyandskaya Trudovaya Kommuna"). On the red field there are also white Russian inspections "" "", which means "On the barricades is the Estonian proletariat. For Soviet Estonia, greater Volga, Ural and Siberia, in the name of the third Communist International". 1918 Flag of German Empire Horizontal black-white-red tricolour. 1896–1917 Flag of Russian Empire Horizontal white-blue-red tricolour. 1858–1896 Flag of Russian Empire Horizontal black-yellow-white tricolour. 1650–1721 Flag of the Duchy of Estonia under Sweden 1561–1650 Flag of the Duchy of Estonia under Sweden 1570–1579 Flag of the Kingdom of Livonia 1587–1629 Flag of The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Version with additional arms of the House of Wasa. 1569–1587 Flag of The Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Tailed red-white-red triband with the coat of arms in the middle. 1559–1645 Flag of the Duchy of Estonia under Denmark–Norway 1237–1561 Flag of the State of the Teutonic Order White flag with a black cross. 1300–1346 Flag of the Duchy of Estonia under The Kingdom of Denmark
Proposed flags FlagDateDescription Proposed Nordic cross flag Proposed Nordic cross flag Proposed Nordic cross flag Proposed Nordic cross flag 1919 Proposed cross flag
See also
Flag of Estonia National symbols of Estonia
References
Notes