The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Middle East
Flag Syria, in 36 editions.
The entry for Syria published Flag in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 14 editions. Each is shown as published. Flag in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 14
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Flag” (1990 to 2025) and “Flag description” (1997 to 2024).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2004 edition
Changed since 2003- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- similar to the flags of the YAR which has one star and Iraq which has three stars (in a horizontal line centered in the white band)--all green and five-pointed;
- also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flags of the YAR which has one star and Iraq which has three stars (in a horizontal line centered in the white band)--all green and five-pointed; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- similar to the flag of Yemen which has a plain white band and of Iraq which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flags flag of the YAR Yemen which has one star a plain white band and of Iraq which has three green stars (in (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band)--all green and five-pointed; band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
The same text in 1992 and 1993.
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small
green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
similar to the flag of Yemen Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq Iraq,
which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal
line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt Egypt, which
has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small
small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the
white band;
and of Iraq,
in a horizontal
flag of Egypt, which
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two
two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the
the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band
band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription)
inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also
similar to the
the white band
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with
with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line
centered in
a plain whiteArabic
Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also
also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle
centered in
The same text in 1997 and 1998.
Published as “Flag description”
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white,
and black
centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has
plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an
Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle
in the white band
Published as “Flag description”
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white,
white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a
horizontal line
Yemen, which has a
green stars (plus an
centered in the white band;
has a symbolic eagle centered
The same text in 4 editions, 2000 to 2003.
Published as “Flag description”
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of red (top),black black, with two small green five-pointed stars in aband band, and of Iraq, which has threesymbolic heraldic eagle centered in the white band
The same text in 4 editions, 2004 to 2007.
Published as “Flag description”
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colors associated with the Arab Liberation flag;
- two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt;
- similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band;
- the current design dates to 1980
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colors associated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag band, and that of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band band; the current design dates to 1980
The same text in 2008 and 2009.
Published as “Flag description”
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colors associated with the Arab Liberation flag;
- two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt;
- similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band;
- the current design dates to 1980
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colors associated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small green small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; the current design dates to 1980
The same text in 5 editions, 2010 to 2014.
Published as “Flag description”
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
- two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white);
- identical to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt;
- the current design dates to 1980
note: similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colors associated with the Arab Liberation flag; black; two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); identical to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; the current design dates to 1980
note:
similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; the current design dates to 1980 band
The same text in 6 editions, 2015 to 2020.
Published as “Flag description”
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
- two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white);
- identical to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt;
- the current design dates to 1980
note: similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); identical to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; the current design dates to 1980
note:
The same text in 4 editions, 2021 to 2024.
Published as “Flag description”
- three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
- two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
- the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white);
- identical to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt;
- the current design dates to 1980
note: similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band; and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); identical to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; the current design dates to 1980
note: similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, band; Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, band; and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band
- description:
- three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black; three five-pointed red stars in a horizontal line, centered on the white band
- meaning:
- the design is the same as a previous Syrian national flag (in use 1932-58 and 1961-63), but it is still unclear if the elements will retain the same meanings;
- the bands formerly represented Syria’s past rulers: white (Umayyad Caliphate), black (Abbasid Caliphate), and green (Rashidun Caliphate);
- the first star represented Damascus, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zor, the three administrative subdivisions in Syria in the 1930s;
- the second star stood for Jabal Druze (the Mountain of the Druze), and the third star for the Alawite Mountains
- history:
- in 2011, opponents to the Asad regime adopted the flag; in 2025, it became the new national flag, replacing the two-star design
Rewritten: too little of the 2024 text remains to mark the changes.
description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black; three five-pointed red stars in a horizontal line, centered on the white band
meaning: the design is the same as a previous Syrian national flag (in use 1932-58 and 1961-63), but it is still unclear if the elements will retain the same meanings; the bands formerly represented Syria’s past rulers: white (Umayyad Caliphate), black (Abbasid Caliphate), and green (Rashidun Caliphate); the first star represented Damascus, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zor, the three administrative subdivisions in Syria in the 1930s; the second star stood for Jabal Druze (the Mountain of the Druze), and the third star for the Alawite Mountains
history: in 2011, opponents to the Asad regime adopted the flag; in 2025, it became the new national flag, replacing the two-star design
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Syria: Flag.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/syria/flag.