The national flag of Georgia, known as the Five-Cross Flag, ხუთჯვრიანი დროშა (khutjvriani drosha), features a white field with a large red cross extending to all edges and four smaller red Bolnur-Katskhuri crosses. The Georgia flag became Georgia’s official national flag symbol in 2004 after parliamentary adoption and presidential endorsement.
In standard references, the Georgian flag is described as a 2:3 proportion banner featuring a central St. George cross and four Jerusalem-style crosses positioned symmetrically. The red and white color scheme is widely cited as expressing Christian heritage and historical continuity with medieval Georgian kingdoms. These interpretations appear across vexillological, historical, and official Georgian sources that treat the flag as a primary national identifier linked to religious and cultural traditions.
Georgia flag design showing the red St. George cross and four Bolnur-Katskhuri crosses on a white field.
This article outlines the technical design of the Georgia flag country, its documented meanings, historical background, public presence, etiquette for visitors, and practical travel connectivity related to recognizing and understanding the flag across contemporary Georgia.
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Flag of Georgia: Key Takeaways
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Status: The Georgia flag is the legally defined national flag and primary state symbol of Georgia, adopted in 2004.
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Visibility: The flag appears on government buildings, religious sites, educational institutions, and military installations throughout Georgian territory.
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Specification: The Georgian flag design is a white rectangular field with a centered red cross and four red Bolnur-Katskhuri crosses in a 2:3 ratio.
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Identification: The Georgia flag is recognized globally by its five-cross pattern with no additional stripes, emblems, or color variations.
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Interpretation: Standard sources describe the central cross as representing Christ and the four smaller crosses as symbolizing the Four Evangelists or historical Georgian regions.
Public Presence of the Georgian Flag
Visitors to Georgia often see the national flag upon arrival at Tbilisi International Airport and border crossing points, where flagpoles mark customs halls and official entry corridors. At government complexes, including the Parliament Building and Presidential Administration offices in Tbilisi, the Georgian flag is typically displayed on exterior masts near main entrances.
The Georgia flag is flying at the Parliament Building in Tbilisi, representing national identity and statehood.
Major transport hubs display the Georgian flag on terminal buildings and departure platforms, particularly at central railway stations and intercity bus terminals serving regional routes from Tbilisi. Religious sites, including Orthodox churches and monasteries across Georgia, display the flag during national holidays and liturgical celebrations, although daily practices vary by location and clergy.
Public schools and state universities raise the Georgia flag during official ceremonies, entrance examinations, and national commemoration events, but the frequency of outdoor display depends on local administrative decisions and weather conditions. Municipal buildings in provincial cities such as Batumi, Kutaisi, and Gori use the flag on indoor stands during civic meetings and official press briefings rather than as continuous outdoor installations.
Within Georgia, the flag appears on military bases and border guard stations, indicating official state presence at security and administrative sites. Tourist information centers operated by the Georgian National Tourism Administration display the flag alongside regional and municipal symbols at visitor reception areas.
Design and Layout of the Georgia Flag
National legislation defines the design and layout of the Georgia flag, including its proportions, cross dimensions, and field specifications. The Georgia flag colors consist exclusively of red and white, with official specifications defining their use across digital, print, and ceremonial applications. The table below summarizes the main technical parameters.
| Aspect | Specification |
| Orientation | Hoist vertical; fly horizontal |
| Colores | White field, red crosses |
| Digital colors | Red: RGB (218, 41, 28), HEX #DA291C; White: RGB (255, 255, 255), HEX #FFFFFF |
| Print colors | Red: CMYK (0, 95, 100, 0), Pantone PMS 485 C; White: CMYK (0, 0, 0, 0) |
| Color arrangement | Central red cross extending to edges, four red Bolnur-Katskhuri crosses in quadrants |
| Emblem placement | Large St. George cross centered, four smaller crosses centered within each white quarter |
| Official proportions | 2:3 ratio; cross width proportional to field dimensions |
Technical sources note that state agencies and flag manufacturers follow codified color standards and dimensional proportions when producing official versions of the Georgia flag country for ceremonial and administrative use.
Detailed Bolnur-Katskhuri cross from the Georgian flag inspired by ancient 5th-century Christian architecture.
Flag of Georgia: Meaning and Symbolism
Georgia flag symbolism is commonly interpreted through religious, cultural, and historical contexts rather than political ideology. Academic and historical works note that interpretations of the Georgia flag’s meaning vary by source, particularly in religious and regional readings of the cross pattern. Many accounts focus on Christian associations and medieval precedent rather than political allegory. Reference materials present these interpretations as documented traditions rather than official legal definitions.
Frequently cited interpretations explain that the central cross represents Christ or St. George, the patron saint of Georgia, while the four smaller crosses are often linked to the Four Evangelists in Christian tradition. Some historical commentaries highlight connections to medieval Georgian banners used during the Golden Age kingdoms, noting that similar five-cross patterns appeared on royal standards and church iconography between the 11th and 13th centuries.
What the Georgia Flag Represents
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The central red cross commonly represents Christ or St. George as a Christian symbol in Georgian cultural heritage.
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The four smaller Bolnur-Katskhuri crosses are often described as representing the Four Evangelists or Georgia's historical regions.
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The white field is widely cited in reference sources as symbolizing purity, innocence, and peace in Georgian interpretations.
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The red color is frequently associated with courage, strength, and the blood of martyrs in documented Georgian symbolic readings.
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In many surveys, the Georgian flag is reported as evoking collective pride in Christian identity among Georgian citizens.
How to Identify the Flag of Georgia
At airports, international borders, and customs signage, the Georgian flag often appears among rows of national flags next to country codes. Public transport maps and official information counters may display the flag as an indicator for Georgia-specific services.
Puntos clave:
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Look for a white rectangular field with a single large red cross extending fully to all four edges.
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Confirm that four smaller red crosses are positioned centrally within each of the white quadrants created by the main cross.
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Distinguish the Georgia state flag from similar cross designs by checking for the distinctive Bolnur-Katskhuri cross shape in the corners.
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Use the two-color scheme, red and white only, to differentiate the Georgian flag from other European national flags featuring additional colors or emblems.
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Verify the equal-armed cross pattern rather than the asymmetrical or offset cross placement seen on other flags.
Comparison between the Georgia flag and the flag of England, showing the additional four crosses on the Georgian flag.
Similar Flags Commonly Confused With the Georgian Flag
When displayed in international contexts, the flag of Georgia, Europe, is often used as a geographic identifier to distinguish it from the U.S. state of Georgia in official listings and visual references. Some flags and emblems share cross elements or similar colors and can occasionally be confused with the Georgia flag, in stylized or partial views. The table highlights neutral visual comparisons without historical or political commentary.
| Commonly confused with | Shared visual elements | Key difference |
| England Flag | Central red cross on a white field | No corner crosses; plain cross of St. George only |
| Jerusalem Cross Flag | Five-cross pattern with central and corner crosses | Gold color on a white field; different cross proportions |
| Swiss Flag | Red and white color scheme with a cross | White cross on red field; square proportions |
| Denmark Flag (Dannebrog) | Nordic cross design in red and white | Off-center cross extending to edges; no corner crosses |
History of the Flag of Georgia
The flag history of Georgia traces five-cross patterns to the medieval period, with documented use in the Kingdom of Georgia between the 11th and 13th centuries.
Vexillologists have identified a red-on-white Jerusalem cross displayed as the flag of Tbilisi in a 14th-century Pizzigano map. This is often cited as evidence of continuity with later five-cross designs.
Following independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Georgia initially adopted a tricolor flag with dark red, black, and white stripes. This design referenced the short-lived Democratic Republic of Georgia from 1918 to 1921. Public support for the historical five-cross design grew during the 1990s, supported by the Georgian Orthodox Church and nationalist movements seeking symbols distinct from Soviet-era imagery.
The former Georgia flag, used from 1991 to 2004 featuring dark red field with black and white stripes.
Puntos clave:
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In 1999, the Georgian Parliament voted to adopt the five-cross flag, but President Eduard Shevardnadze declined to endorse the legislation.
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During the Rose Revolution in 2003, opposition groups led by Mikheil Saakashvili adopted the five-cross flag as a symbol of political opposition.
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On 14 January 2004, Parliament formally adopted the flag following the installation of a new government after the Rose Revolution.
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President Saakashvili signed Presidential Decree No. 31 on 25 January 2004, officially endorsing the Georgia flag as the national standard.
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14 January is annually observed as Flag Day in Georgia, commemorating the 2004 adoption with ceremonies and public events.
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Some historians also cite numismatic evidence showing cross motifs similar to later five-cross designs.
Georgia Flag Etiquette for Visitors: Common Dos and Don'ts
Public guidance on flag etiquette for visitors focuses on watching how residents treat the flag during official and ceremonial events, rather than following strict written rules. General practice reflects broader norms of respect at government offices, religious sites, and memorial locations.
As travelers explore the top things to do in Georgia, the following table summarizes commonly observed behaviors and typical avoidances.
| Commonly observed | Typically avoided |
| Displaying the flag correctly oriented and unfolded | Using the Georgia flag as casual clothing or improvised decor |
| Raising the flag on national holidays and ceremonies | Printing commercial slogans or graphics over the crosses |
| Using clean, intact flags on official flagpoles | Displaying visibly damaged or faded flags in public spaces |
| Positioning the Georgian flag alongside other national flags | Placing the flag in situations appearing mocking or disrespectful |
| Including the flag on official documents and state signage | Treating historical flags as interchangeable with the current national flag |
Flag of Georgia: Practical Travel Tips for Tourists
Travel-related references often show the Georgia flag as a visual marker for navigation, official buildings, and government services that visitors encounter upon arrival. Recognition of the five-cross flag often helps visitors identify government information points, public operators, and Georgia-linked services in multilingual environments.
Puntos clave:
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Navigation: Airports, railway stations, and regional bus terminals display the Georgian flag on signage and maps, helping distinguish state-operated transport services and information desks among multiple regional options.
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Language: Public transport systems in Tbilisi and Batumi provide Georgian and English labels, while smaller towns rely more on Georgian script, meaning visitors may use visual cues, including the flag, for orientation.
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Payments: Urban areas, including the capital of Georgia, support card payments at major establishments, but cash remains common in rural regions, with national branding and the flag appearing on tourism and public-utility materials.
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Connectivity: Veon and Silknet JSC operate major mobile networks in Georgia, with broad 4G coverage across cities and expanding rural coverage, making app-based maps and translation tools practical for tourists. Continuous connectivity also helps travelers check the time difference in Georgia and coordinate communications with contacts abroad.
Staying Connected in Georgia with SimCorner
On arrival in Georgia, reliable data access supports real-time maps, translation, and transport schedules. It is especially useful when traveling between Tbilisi International Airport, city centers, and regional destinations where the Georgia flag marks official facilities. Mobile connectivity proves essential for accessing ride-sharing apps, restaurant reservations, and navigating border crossing procedures.
SimCorner offers eSIM Georgia and Georgia SIM cards that connect to top networks such as Veon and Silknet JSC, with data plans structured for short and extended stays without roaming charges. These services offer digital setup, transparent pricing, hotspot functionality, and online customer support, with activation available before or after arrival.
The Georgia state flag functions as a precise visual standard supporting recognition of Georgian institutions, spaces, and services. Understanding its design helps visitors interpret signage, ceremonies, and official settings while traveling across contemporary Georgia.
