List of Costa Rican flags

This is a list of flags used in Costa Rica. For more information about the national flag, visit the article Flag of Costa Rica.

National flags

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Flag Date Use Description
1998– State flag and state ensign The national flag with the national coat of arms inside a white circle in the red strip to the left.
1848– National flag and civil ensign Five strips blue, white, red, white and blue. The red central stripe with double width than other blue and white strips.

Provinces

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Flag Administrative division Adopted Description
Alajuela White flag with the coat of arms of Alajuela Province in the center
Cartago Two horizontal strips blue and red
Guanacaste Three horizontal strips blue, white and green, with an inverted red triangle to the left
Heredia Three vertical strips yellow, white and red, with the regional coat of arms in the central strip
Limón Three horizontal strips green, blue and white
Puntarenas Two triangles, red (upper left) and green (lower right), crossed by two diagonal joined strips white (lefter) and blue (righter). In the center, a ten-pointed golden star with the cypher "1848" in black characters.
San José Blue flag with a five-pointed white star in the center, and bordered with red strips

Cantons

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Historical flags

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Flag Date Use Description
1541–1821 Burgundy Cross, flag of the Spanish Overseas Territories A red saltire resembling two crossed, roughly-pruned (knotted) branches, on a white field
1638–1707 Flag of England A white field with a red cross, also known as the St George's Cross
1707–1787 Flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain The first version of the Union Jack used in England from 1606 and Scotland from 1707—the flags of England and Scotland superimposed
1785–1821 War ensign of Spain Three horizontal stripes—red, yellow and red—with the coat of arms. The yellow strip being twice as wide as each red stripe
1808–1813 Flag of Spain under Joseph Bonaparte (1808–1813). A white banner with the royal coat of arms under Joseph Bonaparte
1819–1820 First flag of Great Colombia A tricolour of yellow, blue, and red with the coat of arms
1820–1821 Second flag of Great Colombia A tricolour of yellow, blue, and red with the coat of arms
1821 First flag of the First Mexican Empire Three diagonal strips of white, green and red with three golden stars
1821–1823 Second flag of the First Mexican Empire Three vertical strips of green, white and red, with the imperial coat of arms in the center
1821–1831 Third flag of Great Colombia A tricolour of yellow, blue, and red with the coat of arms in the center
1823 First Costa Rican national flag Three horizontal strips of blue, yellow and blue
1823–1824 Second Costa Rican national flag White field with a six-pointed red star
1823–1824 Flag of the United Provinces of Central America Three horizontal strips of light blue (upper and lower) and white (central), with the coat of arms in the center
1824 First flag of the State of Costa Rica (within the United Provinces of Central America) Same as UPCA flag, with the State Seal in the lower strip.
1824–1838 Second flag of the State of Costa Rica (within the United Provinces of Central America) Same as UPCA flag, with the state seal in the lower strip
1824–1849 Flag of the United Provinces of Central America Three horizontal strips of light blue (upper and lower) and white (central), with the coat of arms in the center
1831–1834 Flag of The Republic of New Granada A tricolour of yellow, blue, and red with the coat of arms in the center
1834–1856 Flag of The Granadine Confederation A vertical tricolour of red, blue, and yellow
1838–1840 Second flag of the State of Costa Rica (within the United Provinces of Central America) Three horizontal strips of white, blue and white, with the state seal in blue strip
1840–1842
1842–1848 Third flag of the State of Costa Rica (within the United Provinces of Central America) Three horizontal strips of blue, white and blue, with the state seal in white strip
1848–1906 First flag after break of UPCA Same as actual flag, with the national coat of arms in the center
1906–1964 State flag from 1906 to 1964 The number of stars appeared on coat of arms was five since 1848. In 1906 the style of coat of arms was slightly modified, and the one appeared on state flag was also modified, narrowed and was put into a white oval lied near to the hoist of the flag.
1964–1998 State flag from 1964 to 1998 In 1964 a law was passed by the government to increase the numbers of the stars from five to seven, to reflect the increase of number of its provinces. In 1998 a decree was passed by the government about the design of the national coat of arms, and according to the decree there should be some smoke ejecting from three volcanoes as the current look.

Flag Proposal

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Flag Date Use Description
1845
2022 Map of the Pavas district, with a rainbow and the text: 'Liberty, peace, and equity' A proposal sent to the San José municipal government

Political flags

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Flag Date Party Description
current
2021–present A Just Costa Rica
2020–present Social Democratic Progress Party
2019–present New Republic Party
2018–present United We Can
2016–present Liberal Progressive Party
2014–present Social Christian Republican Party
2014–present Authentic Limonense Party
2012–present New Homeland Partyes
2012–present New Generation Party
2012–present Workers' Party
2012–present Christian Democratic Alliance
2009–present Patriotic Alliance
2005–present National Restoration Party
2004–present Broad Front
2004–present Accessibility without Exclusion
2004–present Cartago Green Party
2002–present National Rescue Party
2002–present Escazu's Progressive Yoke
2000–present Citizens' Action Party
1997–present 21st Century Curridabat
1997–present Party of the Sun
1996–present National Integration Party
1995–present Costa Rican Renewal Party
1994–present Libertarian Movement
1990–present Agrarian Labour Action Party
1977–present Social Christian Unity Party
1969–present Cartago Agrarian Union Party
1951–present National Liberation Party
2005–present National Union Party
1948–1958
1943–present People's Vanguard Party
former
2006–2010 Union for Change Party
2005–2010 New Feminist League
2005–2006 United Leftes
2004–2010 Homeland First Party
1997– 2003 New Democratic Partyes
1996–2010 Democratic Force
1989–2007 National Agrarian Partyes
1986 Alianza Popular Coalitiones
1998–? Independent Partyes
1982–1998
1982–2006 Christian National Alliancees
1981–? National Movementes
1978-2000s United People
1978–? Socialist Workers Organizationes
1976–1983 Unity Coalition
1973–2007 Independent Workers Partyes
1973–2007 Democratic Nationalist Alliancees
1972–2007 National Patriotic Partyes
1972–1984 Democratic Renewal Partyes
1970s National Front Partyes
1970–2007 Partido Unión Generaleñaes
1969–1978 Socialist Action Partyes
1967–1984 Christian Democratic Partyes
1966–1978 National Unification Party
1962–1966
1960s Popular Democratic Action
1957–1968 Revolutionary Civic Union
1952–2003 Democratic Party
1929–2002 Costa Rican Socialist Partyes
1901–1952 National Republican Party

Sources

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