Flag of Turkmenistan

The national flag of Turkmenistan shows the country's identity and culture. It has a white crescent moon and five stars. The stars stand for the five regions of Turkmenistan and the Five Pillars of Islam. The green background has a design that comes from the country's famous carpet weaving. This flag started on 27 September 1992, replacing the Soviet-era flag. A small change to the shape happened on 24 January 2001. Each part of the flag has a special meaning about Turkmenistan and its people. State Flag and Constitution Day is celebrated on 18 May to honor this important symbol.

Design

The flag of Turkmenistan has a green background with a red stripe on the left side. On the red stripe are five traditional designs called "guls" and two crossed olive branches, like those on the flag of the United Nations. On the right side of the red stripe, there is a white crescent moon and five white stars.

The green color is thought to stand for life and peace. The white crescent moon represents a clear sky. The five stars stand for the five provinces of Turkmenistan: Ahal, Balkan, Daşoguz, Lebap, and Mary. The five carpet guls on the flag symbolize the five main tribes of Turkmenistan: the Teke, Yomut, Saryk, Chowdur, and Ersari.

History

Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

Main article: Flag of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

The first flag of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic was adopted in 1926. It had a red background with a gold star and golden hammer and sickle in the top left corner. The design changed several times over the years.

Modern flag

After Turkmenistan became independent in 1991, a new flag was chosen in 1992. This flag has a white crescent moon and five stars on a green background. In 1997, an olive branch was added to show the country's neutrality. In 2001, the flag's size was changed. In 2008, a very tall flagpole was built in Ashgabat.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1926–1937	Flag of the Turkmen SSR	A plain red field with a golden hammer and sickle and a gold-bordered red star in its canton
	1937–1940		A plain red field with the golden letters TSSR in its canton
	1940–1953		A plain red field with the golden letters ТССР in its canton
	1953–1974		A red field with two blue bars transversing it in the middle. A golden hammer and sickle and a gold-bordered red star are placed in its canton
	1974–1991		Similar to the previous flag of the Turkmen SSR, with the golden hammer and sickle, and gold-bordered start placed to border the hoist
	1991–1992	Flag of Turkmenistan
	1992–1997		A green field with a 1:2 proportion. A vertical red stripe is near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls. A white crescent moon and five white five-pointed stars are placed to the right of the stripe
	1997–2001		Similar to the previous flag, with a golden olive branch added to the bottom of the red stripe
	2001–present		Similar to the previous flag, with a lighter shade of green and a 2:3 proportion