Asia

Flag of Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a Central Asian country bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and the Caspian Sea, and is one of the world's most isolated and authoritarian states. It holds the world's fourth-largest natural gas reserves and uses this wealth to provide heavily subsidised utilities and fuel to citizens. The country is home to the Darvaza gas crater — a natural gas field that was set alight in 1971 and continues to burn today, nicknamed the 'Door to Hell.'

CapitalAshgabat
RegionAsia
Current flag since2001
Main coloursGreen, White, Red
Populationabout 6.4 million
Areaabout 488,000 km²
Flags in history4

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of Turkmenistan means

The five carpet guls in the red stripe represent the five main tribes and the country's carpet-weaving tradition, and the olive branches beneath them recall Turkmenistan's neutrality, recognised by the United Nations in 1995. The crescent stands for a bright future and the five stars for the five provinces. The flag was adopted in 1992 and took its present proportions in 2001.

More about the flag

Turkmenistan has one of the most detailed national flags in the world, because each of the five carpet guls is drawn in fine detail. The guls belong to the main tribes, the Teke, Yomut, Arsary, Chowdur and Saryk. Turkmenistan became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.

How to recognise it

Dark green with a vertical red stripe near the hoist bearing intricate carpet gul patterns.

Did you know?

Turkmenistan has one of the world's largest natural gas reserves and a burning crater called "The Door to Hell."

Easily confused with

Turkmenistan's flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:

Pakistan

Azerbaijan

Flag history of Turkmenistan

Every flag that has flown over Turkmenistan, from today back through time.

2001–present

Flag of Turkmenistan

Finalized in 2001, this green flag with a vertical red carpet-stripe of five tribal "guls," a crescent, five stars, and olive branches is among the most detailed national flags in the world.

1997–2001

Olive-branch version

Amended in 1997 to add two crossed olive branches beneath the carpet guls, marking the UN's recognition of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality.

1992–1997

First independent flag

Introduced in 1992: a green field with a vertical red-maroon carpet stripe bearing five tribal guls, plus a white crescent and five stars, but no olive branches yet.

1953–1973

Turkmen SSR (carpet stripe)

A red flag with two light-blue stripes and a band of Turkmen carpet ornamentation — a Soviet nod to the republic's famous carpet industry, foreshadowing the modern flag.

Related historical states

Empires, kingdoms and republics that once covered part of Turkmenistan.

1922–1991

Soviet Union

The gold hammer and sickle beneath a red star stood for the worker-peasant alliance. The exact shade and proportions were fixed by Soviet law in 1955.