Panama Flag | Meaning, History & Symbolism

Panama is a small Central American nation known for its famous hats, biodiversity, and eponymous canal.

In this guide, you’ll learn all about the flag of Panama—including its history and the symbolism behind it. You’ll also discover some fun facts about Panama that you may not know.

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flag of panama

Key takeaways
  • Panama’s flag consists of a four-part red, blue, and white design with two five-pointed stars.
  • Blue and red represent Panama’s former Conservative and Liberal parties, white represents purity and peace, and the stars symbolize honesty and authority.
  • It was created around Panama’s independence in 1903 and officially adopted in 1925.
  • Get a quick look at Panama’s geography, biodiversity, and the Panama Canal, including fascinating facts about Volcán Barú, Panama City, and the country’s wildlife.

Panama flag overview

Learn the basics about the flag of Panama, including the year it was adopted, its colors, and official name.

Flag of Panama at a glance
Feature Details
Official name National flag of the Republic of Panama
Use National flag and ensign
Adopted 25 March 1925
Proportion 2:3
Colors Blue, red, and white

Panama flag history

Panama’s flag was designed by the artist Manuel E. Amador and stitched by María de la Ossa de Amador—the inaugural first lady of Panama. It was originally designed in 1903–04 when Panama became a separate, independent republic from Colombia, and officially adopted in 1925.

The initial 1903 design depicted the flag’s inverse, moving clockwise starting with a blue square, followed by a white square with a red star, a red square, and a white square with a blue star.

Before the adoption of the current version, the flag of Panama was inspired by the United States flag, and consisted of 13 red and yellow stripes, with these colors reflecting its connection to Colombia and Spain. In the upper left corner, the flag depicted two golden suns separated by an isthmus. This was meant to represent the fact that Panama geographically connects North and South America.

Panama flag meaning and symbolism

The flag of Panama consists of a rectangle divided into quarters. Moving clockwise, the first quarter is white with a blue star, the second one is red, the third is white with a red star, and the fourth is blue. Each element held significance at the time of the flag’s adoption.

Here’s what the components mean:

  • Blue square: Panama’s Conservative Party
  • Red square: Panama’s Liberal Party
  • White squares: Purity and peace
  • Blue star: Purity and honesty in the new republic
  • Red star: The law and authority governing Panama

Fun facts about Panama

Find out some fun facts about Panama’s geography, biodiversity, and more.

  • Geographically, Panama is an isthmus that connects North and South America.
  • From Panama’s highest peak, Volcán Barú, it’s possible to see both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
  • Finished in 1914, the Panama Canal connects the two oceans and is still in use today.
  • Panama uses the US dollar as its currency.
  • Panama City is the only world capital to contain protected rainforest, and Panama is home to remarkable biodiversity including 900 bird species and 10,000 plant species.

Frequently asked questions about the flag of Panama

What are some places that start with P?

Places that start with P include several countries and many cities.

  • Countries that start with P: Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal
  • Cities that start with P: Puyang (China), Pyongyang (North Korea), Pune (India), Paris (France), Perth (Australia), Patna (India), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Philadelphia (US), Phoenix (US), Port-au-Prince (Haiti), Prague (Czechia)

Quillbot’s AI Chat can show you even more words that start with P, and it’s completely free to try.

Which country flags are red, white, and blue with stars?

Country flags that are red, white, and blue with stars include:

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Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about colors, letters, or the meaning of emojis, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

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Lily Cichanowicz, M.A.

Lily holds a master's degree in Sociology and has been working as a writer for several years. Her work primarily focuses on AI, human geography, literature, and life as a freelancer.

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