The Swedish flag features a yellow Nordic cross on a blue field. The design dates to the 16th century, with the present specifications confirmed in 1906.
The design
The Flag of Sweden is a national emblem rendered in the colours and proportions defined by the country’s flag law. Its official aspect ratio is 5:8, the height-to-length ratio that fixes how the flag should be cut and flown. The colour scheme uses Blue, Yellow, with each shade specified to particular Pantone or RGB values for official reproduction.
Colour palette
| Colour | Name | Common symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Blue | Frequently symbolises sky, sea, freedom, vigilance or perseverance. |
| Yellow | Yellow | Usually denotes wealth, the sun, gold reserves, or a generous spirit. |
| Source | Official flag law | The country’s own statute or constitutional appendix specifies exact shades and proportions. |
Symbolism & heraldry
The yellow Nordic cross on blue dates back to the Middle Ages and recalls the colours of the Three Crowns coat of arms.
Heraldic elements on the Flag of Sweden — 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 1906. Earlier banners flown by Sweden 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 Sweden 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 | Sweden | — |
| Continent | Europe | — |
| ISO alpha-2 | SE | 2-letter code |
| ISO alpha-3 | SWE | 3-letter code |
| Adopted | 1906 | year of current design |
| Proportion | 5:8 | height : length |
| Colours | Blue, Yellow | — |
| Designer | — | |
| Emoji | 🇸🇪 | Unicode codepoint sequence |
Did you know?
Sweden has used variations of this flag design longer than any other Nordic country, with documentary evidence going back to the 1560s.
