This flag is a former version of Ethiopia.
Original tricolour adoptedThis flag
Menelik II adopted a red-yellow-green tricolour bearing the first letter of his name on its central stripe.
Version used 1897–1974
The imperial green-yellow-red tricolour with the Lion of Judah; its use was interrupted during the occupation.
Tricolour order reversed
The colours were reordered to green-yellow-red, the arrangement shown on the imperial flag with the Lion of Judah.
Imperial flag restored
After the occupation, the green-yellow-red imperial flag with the Lion of Judah returned.
Lion emblem altered
The crown was removed from the Lion of Judah and the cross tip was changed to a spear point.
Socialist emblem introduced
The Lion of Judah was replaced by the Derg government's national emblem on the tricolour.
New state emblem introduced
The People's Democratic Republic introduced a tricolour with a new state emblem and a 1:2 proportion.
