In 2017, a shift in the West African nation of Mauritanialeft the Jamaican flag standing alone as a global anomaly. Today, Jamaica holds the unique distinction of having the only national flag of a sovereign country that contains no red, white, or blue.

The Global Standard vs. The Jamaican Exception

Most of the world’s 190+ sovereign flags rely on a core palette: red appears in approximately 74% of flags, white in 71%, and blue in 50%. These colors often symbolize common themes like bravery, peace, or colonial history.

Jamaica’s flag, adopted on its Independence Day—August 6, 1962—intentionally broke from this mold. Eschewing the colors of the British Union Jack, Jamaica chose a design featuring a gold diagonal cross (saltire) that creates four triangles: two greenand two black.

The 2017 Shift: Mauritania’s Red Bands

Before 2017, Jamaica shared its rare “no red, white, or blue” status with Mauritania, whose flag was simply green with a gold star and crescent. However, following a national referendum in August 2017, Mauritania added two red horizontal bands to its design.

• Reason for Change: The red stripes were added to honor the “martyrs of the resistance” who shed blood for independence from France.
• The Result: When Mauritania officially raised this new flag on November 28, 2017, Jamaica became the sole sovereign nation without the “big three” flag colors.

The Meaning Behind the Black, Green, and Gold

The Jamaican flag’s symbolism was refined in 1996 to reflect a more optimistic national identity:

• Black: Represents the strength and creativity of the Jamaican people in overcoming challenges.
• Gold: Symbolizes the natural wealth of the country and the abundant sunshine.
• Green: Signifies hope and the island’s lush vegetation and agricultural resources.

Questions and Answers

Q: Has any other country ever had a flag without red, white, or blue?
A: Yes. Historically, Libya had a solid green flag (1977–2011), and Mauritania had only green and gold (1959–2017).

Q: Is Jamaica the only flag in the world without these colors?
A: It is the only flag of a sovereign country. Some non-sovereign territories, such as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (an Australian territory), also lack red, white, or blue.

Q: Why was the diagonal cross (saltire) chosen for Jamaica?
A: The original design had horizontal stripes but was rejected for being too similar to the flag of Tanganyika (now part of Tanzania). A bipartisan committee chose the saltire, likely influenced by the Scottish St. Andrew’s Cross.

Q: Does the Jamaican flag have any official motto?
A: Yes, the symbolism is often summarized as: “The sun shineth, the land is green, and the people are strong and creative”.