List of Estonian flags
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The national flag of Estonia is a tricolour featuring three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black (middle), and white (bottom). The proportion of the flag is 7:11, with a nominal size of 105 × 165 cm. In Estonian it is called the "sinimustvalge" (literally "blue-black-white"), after the colours of the bands.
The flag became associated with Estonian nationalism in the beginning of the 20th century and was used as the national flag (riigilipp) when the Estonian Declaration of Independence was issued on 24 February 1918. The flag was formally adopted on 21 November 1918, and on 12 December of the same year, the flag was raised for the first time as the national symbol atop of the Pikk Hermann tower in Tallinn. Starting in 1940, the flag and its colours were banned in Soviet-occupied Estonia, until the flag was restored to the top of Pikk Hermann on 24 February 1989 and reinstated as the state flag on 7 August 1990.[1][2][3][4][5]
The following is a list of flags associated with Estonia.
National flag
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Since 1990 1918–1940[a] |    National flag, Civil flag, Civil ensign | A horizontal tricolour of blue, black, and white Proportion = 7:11 | [2][6][7] |
.svg) |
 Flag of Estonia (vertical) | When displayed vertically, the blue band should appear on the left when viewed by an observer Proportion = 11:7 |
The first ever Estonian flag, made in 1884 (on display in the Estonian National Museum, 2018)
National flag on top of Suur Munamägi (the highest point in Estonia, at 318 metres (1,043 ft) above sea level; photo 2007)
Celebration of the 135th anniversary of the Estonian flag (2019)
Standards
Head of state
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Since 1993 |  Flag of the President of the Republic | National tricolour with the greater coat of arms in the centre | [8] |
| 1922–1940 | Flag of the State Elder | [9] |
Ministers
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Since 2005 |  Flag of the Minister of Defence | National tricolour with the lesser coat of arms offset to hoist | [10][11] |
| 1927–1940 | Flag of the Minister of War | [12]: 185 |
Military flags
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Since 2003 | Flag of the Estonian Defense Forces | Coat of arms of Estonia in banner form | [12]: 247 |
 |
Since 1994 1927–1940 | Flag of the Commander of the Defence Forces | Blue and white swallowtail with the lesser coat of arms offset to hoist, and yellow horizontal bands at the top and bottom | [12]: 256 [12]: 185 |
 |
1927–1940 | Flag of the Lieutenant General | Similar to the flag of the Commander of the Defence Forces, but with yellow band only along the top | [12]: 185 |
 |
1927–1940 | Flag of the Major General | Similar to the flag of the Commander of the Defence Forces, but with yellow band only along the bottom | [12]: 185 |
 |
Since 2012 | Flag of the Estonian Special Operations Force | A black field with a white rhombus, fly side corner open, and a horizontal white sword | [12]: 398 |
Army
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Since 2005 | Flag of the Estonian Land Forces | A black field with a vertical silver sword, in front of it a crenellated golden beam with three blue lions | [12]: 370 |
Navy
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Since 1994 1927–1940 |   Naval ensign of the Estonian Navy | Swallow-tailed national tricolour with the lesser coat of arms off-set towards hoist Proportion = 7:13 | [12]: 310 [12]: 185 |
 |
Since 2008 1927–1940 | Naval jack | White field with a black saltire and blue cross | [12]: 312 [12]: 185 |
|
Since 2018 | Flag of the Vice Admiral | Same as the flag of the Lieutenant General | [13] |
|
Since 2018 | Flag of the Counter Admiral | Same as the flag of the Major General | [13] |
 |
1927–1940 | Similar to the current flag of the Counter Admiral, but without any yellow bands | [12]: 185 | |
| Since 2018 | Flag of the Commodore | [13] | ||
 |
Since 2008 1927–1940 | Pennant of the Commander of the Navy | White swallow-tailed pennant with a blue chevron issuing from the hoist and a yellow anchor near the hoist | [12]: 312 [12]: 185 |
 |
Since 2008 1927–1940 | Pennant of a Commander of Division | Same as the pennant of the Commander of the Navy, but without the anchor | [12]: 312 [12]: 185 |
 |
1927–1940 | Senior officer afloat pennant | White triangular pennant with a horizontal blue band in the middle | [12]: 185 |
 |
Since 2008 1927–1940 | Pennant of a warship commander | White streamer with the national tricolour at hoist | [12]: 312 [12]: 185 |
 |
? | Presidential pennant | White swallow-tailed streamer with the greater coat of arms at hoist | |
| 1923–1940 | Pennant of the State Elder | [14] |
Air Force
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Since 1996 | Flag of the Estonian Air Force | Emblem of the Air Force on a white field, with the word "ÕHUVÄGI" above it | [12]: 333 |
Defence League
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Since 1999 1925–1940 | Flag of the Defence League | The emblem of the Defence League (a silver eagle holding a silver sword and the lesser coat of arms) on a yellow field | [15][16][17] |
Government flags
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Since 2012 | Flag of the Police and Border Guard Board | A white lion rampant on a blue field, holding the lesser coat of arms | [18] |
 |
Since 2000 | Flag of the Internal Security Service | A golden griffin segreant on a blue field, holding the lesser coat of arms. Above it is the motto "Virtute et constantia" and below the year "1993". | [19][20] |
 |
1996–2009 1923–1940 | Flag of the Border Guard | National tricolour with a yellow and green pile issuing from the hoist, defaced with the letters "PV" (for "Piirivalve") | [21][22] |
 |
1996–2009 1923–1940 | Pennant of the Minister of the Interior | White swallow-tailed pennant with a yellow and green pile issuing from the hoist | [21][22] |
 |
1996–2009 1923–1940 | Pennant of the Director General of the Border Guard | White triangular pennant with a yellow and green pile issuing from the hoist | [21][22] |
 |
Since 2004 | Customs flag | National tricolour with a white square in the top canton, containing a black caduceus | [23] |
.svg) |
1994–2004 1923–1940 | National tricolour with a red square in the top canton, containing a white letter "T" and a black caduceus | [24][25] |
Sporting flags
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flag of Estonian Olympic Committee | A white flag with the logo of Estonian Olympic Committee in the middle. |
Postal flag
Subdivisions flags
County flags
The design of the flags of counties of Estonia was officially approved on 7 August 1939, by then President, Konstantin Päts, as Decision of the President of the Republic No. 174. The standard size of the flag was set at 110 x 220 centimeters, which is a proportion of 1:2.[27]
Maakonna lipuks on valge-roheline lipp, mille erivärvide laiud on ühelaiused. Lipu laiuse ja pikkuse suhe on 1:2 ja lipu normaalsuurus 110 X 220 sentimeetrit. Lipu valge laiu keskosas asetseb maakondliku eritunnusena vastava maakonna vapp, mille kõrgus normaalsuurusega lipul on 42 sentimeetrit.[27][b]
| Flag | Administrative division | Adopted | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 | Harju | Since 1939 | Horizontal bicolor of two equally-sized bands of white (top) and green (bottom), emblazoned with the coat of arms of the respective county in the center of the white band. Proportion = 1:2 |
 |
 | Hiiu | Since 1996 | |
 |
 | Ida-Viru | Since 1997 | |
 |
 | Jõgeva | Since 1996 | |
 |
 | Järva | Since 1939 | |
 |
 | Lääne | Since 1939 | |
 |
 | Lääne-Viru | Since 1996 | |
 |
 | Põlva | Since 1996 | |
 |
 | Pärnu | Since 1939 | |
 |
 | Rapla | Since 1996 | |
 |
 | Saare | Since 1939 | |
 |
 | Tartu | Since 1939 | |
 |
 | Valga | Since 1939 | |
 |
 | Viljandi | Since 1939 | |
 |
 | Võru | Since 1939 | |
Historical
Petseri County (1939–1940)
Municipal flags
| Flag | Municipality | Adopted | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 | Alutaguse | ||
 |
 | Anija | ||
 |
| | Antsla | ||
 |
 | Elva | ||
 |
 | Häädemeeste | ||
 |
 | Haapsalu | ||
 |
 | Haljala | ||
 |
 | Harku | ||
 |
 | Hiiumaa | ||
 |
 | Järva | ||
 |
 | Jõelähtme | ||
 |
 | Jõgeva | ||
 |
 | Jõhvi | ||
 |
 | Kadrina | ||
 |
 | Kambja | ||
 |
 | Kanepi | ||
 |
 | Kastre | ||
 |
 | Kehtna | ||
 |
 | Keila | ||
 |
 | Kihnu | ||
 |
 | Kiili | ||
 |
 | Kohila | ||
 |
 | Kohtla-Järve | ||
 |
 | Kose | ||
 |
 | Kuusalu | ||
 |
 | Lääne-Harju | ||
 |
 | Lääne-Nigula | ||
 |
 | Lääneranna | ||
 |
 | Loksa | ||
 |
 | Lüganuse | ||
 |
 | Luunja | ||
 |
 | Maardu | ||
 |
 | Märjamaa | ||
 |
 | Muhu | ||
 |
 | Mulgi | ||
 |
 | Mustvee | ||
 |
 | Narva | ||
 |
 | Narva-Jõesuu | ||
 |
 | Nõo | ||
 |
 | Otepää | ||
 |
 | Paide | ||
 |
 | Pärnu | ||
 |
 | Peipsiääre | ||
 |
 | Põhja-Pärnumaa | ||
 |
 | Põhja-Sakala | ||
 |
 | Põltsamaa | ||
 |
 | Põlva | ||
 |
 | Raasiku | ||
 |
 | Rae | ||
 |
 | Rakvere (parish) | ||
 |
 | Rakvere (town) | ||
 |
 | Räpina | ||
 |
 | Rapla | ||
 |
 | Rõuge | ||
 |
 | Ruhnu | ||
 |
 | Saarde | ||
 |
 | Saaremaa | ||
 |
 | Saku | ||
 |
 | Saue | ||
 |
 | Setomaa | Baltic pick-up pattern arranged in a Nordic cross on a white field.[28] | |
 |
 | Sillamäe | ||
 |
 | Tallinn | 13th century | Six horizontal alternating blue and white bars.[29] Proportion = 2:1 |
 |
 | Tapa | ||
 |
 | Tartu (parish) | ||
 |
 | Tartu (city) | ||
 |
 | Tori | ||
 |
 | Tõrva | ||
 |
 | Türi | ||
 |
 | Väike-Maarja | ||
 |
 | Valga | ||
 |
 | Viimsi | ||
 |
| Viljandi (parish) | ||
 |
 | Viljandi (town) | ||
 |
 | Vinni | ||
 |
 | Viru-Nigula | ||
 |
 | Vormsi | ||
 |
 | Võru (parish) | ||
 |
 | Võru (town) | ||
Political flags
| Flag | Date | Party |
|---|---|---|
 |
Since 2022 | Parempoolsed |
 |
Since 2018 | Estonia 200 Eesti 200 |
 |
Since 2006 | Isamaa |
 |
Since 1994 | Estonian Reform Party Eesti Reformierakond |
 |
Since 1991 | Estonian Centre Party Eesti Keskerakond |
.svg) |
Since 1990 | Social Democratic Party Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond |
Flags of ethnic groups
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Since 2003 | Flag of Setos | Baltic pick-up pattern arranged in a Nordic cross on a white field | [28] |
 |
Since 2002 | Flag of Votians | Blue flag with a white pile issuing from the top, charged with a red cross | [30][31] |
 |
Since 2013 | Flag of Võros | White regular octagram on a dark green field | [32][33] |
 |
Since 2013 | Flag of Mulks | Blue field with a black side, separated by a red looped lucet cord with a white outline | [34] |
 |
Since 1996 | Flag of Noarootsi Parish | [c] |
Historical flags
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 .svg) |
1953–1990 | Flag of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic | Red flag with a golden hammer and sickle and outlined star above them in the top hoist corner. A band of blue and white water waves in the lower half. It lacked the hammer and sickle on its reverse side. |
.svg) |
1940–1953 | Flag of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic | Red flag with a golden hammer and sickle in the top hoist corner and "ENSV" (Eesti Nõukogude Sotsialistlik Vabariik) written above the hammer and sickle. |
.svg) |
1941–1944 | Flag of German Reich | Red field with a white disc with a black swastika at a 45-degree angle. The swastika disk is slightly off-centre. |
.svg) |
1918–1919 (50 days) | Flag of the Estonian Workers' Commune | A red flag with a golden canton. Inside the canton, the texts meaning "Estonian Workers' Commune", separated by a red line: Estonian: "Eesti Töörahva Kommuun"; Russian: "Эстляндская трудовая коммуна" ("Estlyandskaya Trudovaya Kommuna"). On the red field there are also white Russian inspections "НА БАРИКАДЫ ЭСТОНСКИЙ ПРОЛЕТАРИАТ" "ЗА СОВЕТСКУЮ ЭСТЛЯНДИЮ, ВЕЛИКУЮ ВОЛГУ, УРАЛ, СИБИРЬ ВО ИМЯ III КОММУНИСТИЧЕСКАГО ИНТЕРНАЦИОНАЛА", which means "On the barricades is the Estonian proletariat. For Soviet Estonia, greater Volga, Ural and Siberia, in the name of the third Communist International".[35][36] |
.svg) |
1918 | Flag of German Empire | Horizontal black-white-red tricolour. |
 |
1896–1917 | Flag of Russian Empire | Horizontal white-blue-red tricolour. |
 |
1858–1896 | Flag of Russian Empire | Horizontal black-yellow-white tricolour. |
 |
1650–1721 | Flag of the Duchy of Estonia under Sweden | |
.svg) |
1561–1650 | Flag of the Duchy of Estonia under Sweden | |
|
1570–1579 | Flag of the Kingdom of Livonia | |
 |
1587–1629 | Flag of The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth | Version with additional arms of the House of Wasa. |
 |
1569–1587 | Flag of The Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania | Tailed red-white-red triband with the coat of arms in the middle. |
.svg) |
1559–1645 | Flag of the Duchy of Estonia under Denmark–Norway | |
 |
1237–1561 | Flag of the State of the Teutonic Order | White flag with a black cross. |
.svg) |
1300–1346 | Flag of the Duchy of Estonia under The Kingdom of Denmark |
Proposed flags
| Flag | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
 Proposed Nordic cross flag | |
 |
Proposed Nordic cross flag | |
 |
Proposed Nordic cross flag | |
 |
Proposed Nordic cross flag | |
 |
1919 | Proposed cross flag |
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of Estonia.