#0114 · national

Mexico

The national flag of Mexico is a vertical green, white, and red tricolor with the national coat of arms centered on the white stripe.

Remix

Colours5

Red#CE1126 · 34%
Dark green#006847 · 34%
White#FFFFFF · 29%
Tan#B4B58A · 1%
Brown#5B331C · <1%

More green, white and red flags

Traits

Layout: Centered emblem
Pattern: Tricolor
Symbols: Coat of arms, Animal, Plant
Emblem: Center
Text: None

Details

Catalogue: #0114
Favorites: 10
Added: Jul 1, 2025
Image source: commons.wikimedia.org

History

Mexico’s flag was officially adopted on 16 September 1968, though its design descends from the first national flag created in 1821 after independence. The three colors were originally associated with the Three Guarantees of the Iguala Plan and were later reinterpreted. The central emblem depicts a golden eagle perched on a nopal cactus devouring a serpent, an image tied to the Aztec founding legend of Tenochtitlán. The republican coat of arms was standardized in the modern era by Francisco Eppens Helguera.

Sources

commons.wikimedia.org

Timeline

1821
to 1823
Version used 1821–1823
The first tricolor had a crowned eagle in the center of the white stripe.
1823
to 1863
Republican design adopted
The crown was removed from the eagle, a serpent was added, and oak and laurel branches were placed beneath the emblem.
crwflags.com
1864
to 1867
Imperial flag redesigned
A decree adopted a new imperial coat of arms for the flag, replacing the earlier emblem with a European-styled design.
crwflags.com
1867
Republican flag restored
The republican government officially restored the 1823 flag design after the Second Empire.
crwflags.com
1916
to 1934
Carranza design decreed
A decree prescribed a side-facing eagle and a revised coat of arms, taking effect on October 1, 1916.
crwflags.com
1934
to 1968
Coat of arms revised
A decree made Jorge Enciso’s revised coat of arms the official design for use on flags.
crwflags.com
1968
Current flag adopted
The current national flag design was adopted, retaining the tricolor and revising and standardizing the coat of arms and flag proportions.
crwflags.com · wikipedia.org
1984
Design confirmed by law
A new national symbols law confirmed the existing flag and coat of arms without changing their design.
crwflags.com