A geometric design with a navy blue hoist representing the shape of usa-state/minnesota/" data-it-autolink="1">Minnesota and a blue fly bearing a white eight-pointed star.
The design
The Flag of Minnesota is a national emblem rendered in the colours and proportions defined by the country’s flag law. Its official aspect ratio is 3:5, the height-to-length ratio that fixes how the flag should be cut and flown. The colour scheme uses navy blue, blue, white, with each shade specified to particular Pantone or RGB values for official reproduction.
Colour palette
| Colour | Name | Common symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| Navy blue | navy blue | A nationally significant colour for this flag — see the symbolism section below for the country-specific meaning. |
| Blue | blue | Frequently symbolises sky, sea, freedom, vigilance or perseverance. |
| White | white | Commonly represents peace, purity, honesty or snow-capped landscapes. |
| Source | Official flag law | The country’s own statute or constitutional appendix specifies exact shades and proportions. |
Symbolism & heraldry
The dark blue shape recalls the silhouette of Minnesota. The white star on the blue field represents the North Star (the state motto is L'Étoile du Nord — "the star of the north"). The blue field references the state's lakes and waterways — Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Heraldic elements on the Flag of Minnesota — 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 2024. It is credited to Andrew Prekker. Earlier banners flown by Flag of Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 | Flag of Minnesota | — |
| Continent | North America | — |
| ISO alpha-2 | 2-letter code | |
| ISO alpha-3 | 3-letter code | |
| Adopted | 2024 | year of current design |
| Proportion | 3:5 | height : length |
| Colours | navy blue, blue, white | — |
| Designer | Andrew Prekker | — |
| Emoji | Unicode codepoint sequence |
Did you know?
Adopted 11 May 2024 after a year-long State Emblems Redesign Commission process — replaced an earlier design containing imagery widely viewed as outdated.
