Africa · Hoist triangle
How to draw the flag of South Sudan
The flag of South Sudan is a triangle at the hoist over horizontal bands in black, red, green, blue and yellow, with gold star. It flies at a ratio of 1:2.
Step by step
- Start with the right shape. South Sudan flies at 1:2 — for every 2 units of width the flag is 1 tall. Sketch that rectangle first; a flag drawn too square is the fastest way to lose layout points.
- Block in the background. Fill the whole flag with black first, then build the rest on top of it. Working from the largest area to the smallest keeps the proportions honest.
- Add the red, green, blue and yellow. A triangle at the hoist over horizontal bands. Place these shapes by eye against the edges of the flag, not against each other.
- Finish with the gold star. Detail is the last ten percent of the score, so leave it until the colour blocks are down. Size and position count for more than drawing every line of it.
South Sudan flag colours
The colour codes below are the ones to reach for if you are recreating the flag digitally.
| Colour | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| Black | #000000 | rgb(0, 0, 0) |
| Red | #DA121A | rgb(218, 18, 26) |
| Green | #078930 | rgb(7, 137, 48) |
| Blue | #0F47AF | rgb(15, 71, 175) |
| Yellow | #FCDD09 | rgb(252, 221, 9) |
What the flag means
Black for the people, red for the blood shed for freedom, green for the land, with a blue triangle for the Nile and a gold star for unity.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the thin white lines between the bands, or drawing the hoist triangle in black instead of blue.
- Watch out for Kenya and Malawi — they are close enough to South Sudan that people draw the wrong one from memory.
A trick for remembering it
Kenya’s colours plus a blue Nile wedge and a single gold star.
Flags that look like this one
Side-by-side breakdowns of the pairs people mix up:
Questions about the South Sudan flag
What colours are on the flag of South Sudan?
South Sudan uses 5 colours: black (#000000), red (#DA121A), green (#078930), blue (#0F47AF), yellow (#FCDD09).
What are the proportions of the South Sudan flag?
It flies at 1:2 (height to width). Drawing it at the wrong shape is one of the quickest ways to lose layout marks in the game.
What does the South Sudan flag mean?
Black for the people, red for the blood shed for freedom, green for the land, with a blue triangle for the Nile and a gold star for unity.
Which flags look like the South Sudan flag?
Kenya, Malawi. Watch out for Kenya and Malawi — they are close enough to South Sudan that people draw the wrong one from memory.
How hard is the South Sudan flag to draw from memory?
PlayVexle rates it 3 out of 5. The colours are simple; the arrangement is what catches people out.
