Austria

The flag of Austria is a simple horizontal red-white-red triband.

Remix

Colours2

Red#C8102E · 66%
White#FFFFFF · 34%

More red and white flags

Traits

Layout: Horizontal stripes
Pattern: Tricolor
Text: None

Details

Catalogue: #0010
Favorites: 2
Added: Jul 1, 2025
Image source: commons.wikimedia.org

History

The red-white-red design is traced to the coat of arms of the 12th-century Babenberg dynasty and is regarded as one of the world’s oldest continuously used national flag designs. The colors appear on seals from the 1230s, were adopted as a naval flag by Emperor Joseph II in 1786, and were reinstated as the Republic’s flag after World War I and again in 1945.

Sources

commons.wikimedia.org

centreofexcellence.com

britannica.com

en.wikipedia.org

fahnen-gaertner.com

worldpopulationreview.com

Timeline

1230
Triband pattern first documented
A red-white-red triband is first documented on a seal from 1230; this records the design, not necessarily its use as a flag.
wikipedia.org · crwflags.com
1918
to 1938
Triband adopted as national flag
The newly formed Austrian state adopted the red-white-red triband as its national flag in 1918.
wikipedia.org · crwflags.com
1938
Triband use discontinued
The triband ceased to be used after Austria’s annexation by Germany.
crwflags.com
1945
Triband restored by law
A law dated 1 May re-established red-white-red as Austria’s national colours and prescribed the triband design.
gv.at · wikipedia.org
2000
to 2018
Red specified as Pantone 032 C
A defence ministry directive specified Pantone 032 C for the flag’s red.
wikipedia.org
2018
Red specified as Pantone 186 C
A defence ministry regulation specified Pantone 186 C for the flag’s red, replacing the earlier Pantone 032 C specification.
wikipedia.org