Eleven flags combine a triangle with one or more stars: Cuba, Puerto Rico (a US territory), the Philippines, Jordan, East Timor, São Tomé and Príncipe, Djibouti, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eritrea, Mozambique, and Cape Verde. Most place a triangle at the hoist — the edge nearest the flagpole — with a star or stars set inside or beside it.
The Hoist Triangle Motif
A triangle anchored to the hoist and pointing outward toward the fly is one of the most popular devices in flag design. Its shape naturally draws the eye and creates a strong sense of direction and forward motion, which is why so many independence-era and revolutionary flags adopted it. A star placed inside the triangle then acts as a focal point, often standing for freedom, unity, or a guiding ideal.
The combination became especially common in the 20th century, as newly independent nations across the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia looked for bold, meaningful symbols. Cuba's flag, dating to the 1800s, helped popularize the red-triangle-with-white-star formula, and later flags across several continents echoed the pattern. Even where the geometry varies, the underlying idea — a triangle giving direction and a star giving purpose — recurs again and again.
The Americas
- Cuba: Five blue-and-white horizontal stripes with a red hoist triangle containing a single white five-pointed star — the "Lone Star." The triangle represents liberty, equality, and fraternity, while the star stands for independence. This influential design dates to 1849.
- Puerto Rico: A near-mirror of Cuba's layout, this US territory's flag has red-and-white stripes with a blue hoist triangle holding one white star. The two flags share a common revolutionary heritage from the 19th-century Caribbean independence movements.
- Cape Verde: Technically no hoist triangle, but a ring of ten yellow stars on a blue field with white and red stripes; it is sometimes grouped with star flags for its circle of stars representing the ten islands of the archipelago.
Africa
- Djibouti: A white hoist triangle bearing a red five-pointed star, set against light-blue and green horizontal bands. The star symbolizes unity, while blue and green represent the sea and the earth.
- São Tomé and Príncipe: Green, yellow, and green horizontal bands with a red hoist triangle and two black stars in the yellow band. The two stars stand for the nation's two main islands.
- Eritrea: A red hoist triangle spanning the full height of the flag, flanked by green and blue triangles, with a gold olive wreath and upright olive branch on the red — a distinctive emblem rather than a classic star, though it is often included in triangle-and-symbol lists.
- Mozambique: A red hoist triangle bearing a yellow star, on which sit an open book, a hoe, and a rifle. The star represents socialism and internationalism; Mozambique is famous as the only flag to depict a modern assault rifle.
Asia and the Pacific
- Philippines: A white hoist triangle carrying a golden sun with eight rays and three five-pointed stars, above blue and red horizontal bands. The three stars represent the country's main island groups, and the sun's rays honor the provinces of the 1896 revolution.
- Jordan: A red hoist triangle containing a white seven-pointed star, set against black, white, and green Pan-Arab stripes. The seven points of the star are commonly linked to the seven verses of the opening chapter of the Quran.
- East Timor: A black hoist triangle bearing a white five-pointed star, overlaid on a larger yellow triangle, against a red field. The yellow triangle recalls the traces of colonialism, the black recalls the struggle to overcome it, and the white star represents peace.
Europe
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: A yellow triangle with a diagonal line of white five-pointed stars running along its edge, on a blue field. The three points of the triangle represent the country's three main peoples, and the stars — echoing the European Union flag — symbolize Europe. It is a rare modern example of a triangle used away from the hoist.
What the Triangle and Stars Mean
Although these flags come from four continents, their symbolism converges on a few themes. The triangle most often represents unity, equality, or the coming together of a people or islands, while its outward point suggests progress and forward direction. The star (or stars) typically stands for independence, freedom, or a guiding ideal, and the number of stars frequently maps to real geography — islands, regions, or founding groups. Together, triangle and star make an efficient visual sentence: a nation moving forward toward a shared goal.
Common Questions
What does a triangle on a flag usually mean?
A hoist triangle most often symbolizes unity or equality, with its outward point suggesting progress and forward motion. In flags like Cuba's, the triangle specifically represents the revolutionary ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Why do Cuba and Puerto Rico have such similar flags?
The two flags share a 19th-century Caribbean independence heritage and were designed with the same layout, but with the colors of the triangle and stripes swapped. Cuba has a red triangle on blue-and-white stripes, while Puerto Rico has a blue triangle on red-and-white stripes.
Which triangle flag has a star that is not five-pointed?
Jordan's flag features a white seven-pointed star inside its red hoist triangle, unusual among triangle-and-star flags where five-pointed stars dominate. The seven points are commonly associated with the seven verses of the opening chapter of the Quran.