The flag of Finland features a blue Nordic cross on a white field. The design was officially adopted on 29 May 1918, shortly after Finland gained independence from Russia.
The design
The Flag of Finland is a national emblem rendered in the colours and proportions defined by the country’s flag law. Its official aspect ratio is 11:18, the height-to-length ratio that fixes how the flag should be cut and flown. The colour scheme uses White, Blue, with each shade specified to particular Pantone or RGB values for official reproduction.
Colour palette
| Colour | Name | Common symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| White | White | Commonly represents peace, purity, honesty or snow-capped landscapes. |
| Blue | Blue | Frequently symbolises sky, sea, freedom, vigilance or perseverance. |
| Source | Official flag law | The country’s own statute or constitutional appendix specifies exact shades and proportions. |
Symbolism & heraldry
The blue Nordic cross on white symbolises Finland's lakes and the snow-covered land.
Heraldic elements on the Flag of Finland — bands, charges, emblems or stars — each carry meaning agreed at the moment of the flag’s adoption. Re-readings happen across generations: a colour or a symbol that began with one meaning often picks up further layers as the country’s history unfolds.
Adoption & history
The current flag was adopted in 1918. It is credited to Eero Snellman & Bruno Tuukkanen. Earlier banners flown by Finland reflected the politics of their day; each redesign typically marked a moment of independence, regime change or constitutional reform. The current flag was chosen, debated and codified through the country’s official channels and is now protected by flag law.
Etiquette & protocol
The Flag of Finland should be flown with respect: never allowed to touch the ground, never used as drapery for ceremonies it was not made for, and lowered or removed at sundown unless illuminated. When flown alongside other national flags, it takes precedence on home soil and is hoisted first and lowered last. On days of national mourning, the flag is flown at half-mast in line with directives from the head of state. These conventions are common to most nations and are usually written into the flag’s founding statute.
Specifications
| Field | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Finland | — |
| Continent | Europe | — |
| ISO alpha-2 | FI | 2-letter code |
| ISO alpha-3 | FIN | 3-letter code |
| Adopted | 1918 | year of current design |
| Proportion | 11:18 | height : length |
| Colours | White, Blue | — |
| Designer | Eero Snellman & Bruno Tuukkanen | — |
| Emoji | 🇫🇮 | Unicode codepoint sequence |
Did you know?
Finland's flag day is 6 June, the birthday of Marshal Mannerheim and the Finnish Defence Forces.
