Kyrgyzstan’s flag was first adopted on March 3rd, 1992, not long after independence from the Soviet Union. But a slight change was made to the flag just one year ago, on December 26th, 2023. Check it out!

You’ll notice the design of the overall flag hasn’t changed much. So what’s the story behind the original?

Red, as usual, is the color of (often bloody) sacrifice in a country’s history. Here, however, the red could mean one of several things. Some interpretations liken it to valor and bravery. Others trace it to a banner carried by the Kyrgyz national hero Manas the Noble, and some have even considered it reminiscent of Soviet rule and communism. Nevertheless, red has an important place in this flag.

The flag of the Kirghiz SSR, which lasted as a part of the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1991. One of the explanations for red in the modern flag could be this flag.

What about the yellow design in the center? Traditionally, the Kyrgyz people lived in yurts, although this is not particularly common in the present day. The lines crossing inside the red circle symbolize the roof of the traditional yurt. The 40 yellow lines coming out from the circle represent 40 Kyrgyz tribes that exist in the region, and were supposedly united under Manas.

Why, exactly, was the design changed last year? The previous design possibly bore too much resemblance to a sunflower, which has somewhat negative connotations in Kyrgyz culture. Although the overall layout of the flag hasn’t changed too much, it’s fun to see which places are using old versions of the flag!

Overall, the Kyrgyz flag has a simple but memorable and culturally important design that will remain a strong connection to tradition as their country moves into the future!