The national flag of Indonesia, commonly called the Indonesia flag, is a horizontal bicolour of red on top and white on the bottom in a 2:3 proportion. The national flag is constitutionally named Sang Merah Putih (the Red and White) and is recognized as the state and civil flag of the Republic of Indonesia under the 1945 Constitution and subsequent legislation. It was first hoisted as the national flag during the Proclamation of Independence on 17 August 1945 and has remained the Indonesia country flag since sovereignty was consolidated.
Indonesian references frequently use Bendera Merah Putih (Red and White Flag) and Sang Merah Putih for the flag of Indonesia, while the term Bendera Pusaka Sang Saka Merah Putih refers specifically to the historic heirloom raised red-and-white horizontal bicolor without additional emblems in its standard form, distinguishing it from historical or organizational flags used within the archipelago.
This article describes the design and proportions of the Indonesia flag, outlines commonly cited interpretations of its colors, explains where flags of Indonesia are typically displayed, and clarifies how the flags of Indonesia and Monaco differ despite their visual similarity. It also connects the flag to travel, navigation, and connectivity details relevant to visitors moving across Indonesia’s main islands and transport corridors.
📌 重要なポイント
- Status: The Indonesia flag is the official national flag of the Republic of Indonesia, named Sang Merah Putih in the Constitution and used by the state and the public as the main flag of Indonesia.
- Visibility: Indonesian flags appear on government buildings, schools, military bases, border posts, airports, ports, and diplomatic missions and are widely displayed during national ceremonies and independence commemorations.
- Specification: The flag of Indonesia is a horizontal bicolor with a red upper band and a white lower band, with the height of the flag set at two-thirds of its length (height:length = 2:3).
- Identification: The Indonesia flag can be recognized by two equal horizontal stripes of red above white with no emblem on the standard national version, making it one of the simplest national flags.
- Interpretation: The commonly cited Indonesia flag meaning presents red as symbolizing courage or the physical aspect of life and white as symbolizing purity or the spiritual aspect, together expressing a balanced view of human existence in many explanations.
Public Presence of the Indonesia Flag
At major international gateways, the Indonesia flag is a prominent part of the arrival environment. Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, and Juanda International Airport in Surabaya display flags of Indonesia on tall flagpoles near terminal access roads, parking zones, and immigration and customs facilities. Land and sea border points, including ferry terminals and official crossings, use the flag of Indonesia on mastheads, gate structures, and office façades to signal Indonesian jurisdiction.
In Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, the Red and White is prominently flown at Merdeka Palace, the Presidential Palace complex, the House of Representatives building, and key ministries located around Merdeka Square and other administrative districts.
Provincial capitals and regency seats across Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and other islands display Indonesian flags at governor’s and regent’s offices, local parliaments, and municipal halls, while private buildings often add the flag more visibly during the August independence period.
National events, such as Independence Day ceremonies, state visits, and high-profile sports fixtures, feature extensive use of flags of Indonesia on banners, handheld flags, and stadium decorations.
On ordinary days, regular display is concentrated at official buildings, police and military facilities, schools, and some transport hubs, rather than being equally visible on every street in all neighborhoods throughout the archipelago.
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Design and Layout of the Indonesia Flag
Formal descriptions define the flag of Indonesia as a horizontal bicolor with two equal bands and a fixed ratio between height and length. The following table summarizes the core design features and commonly used digital and print approximations.
| Aspect | Specification |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Two equal horizontal bands |
| Colors | Red (upper), white (lower) |
| Digital colors | Red: RGB(206,17,38), HEX #CE1126; White: RGB(255,255,255), HEX #FFFFFF |
| Print colors | Red: CMYK(0,92,82,19); White: CMYK(0,0,0,0) |
| Color arrangement | Upper band red, lower band white |
| Emblem or symbol placement | None on the standard national flag |
| Official proportions | Height:length = 2:3 |
Indonesian law specifies that the Indonesia flag consists of two horizontal stripes of equal height, with red occupying the top half and white the bottom half. The legal proportion states that the flag’s height is two-thirds of its length, aligning with the conventional 2:3 national flag ratio. In manufacturing and digital media, color codes like HEX and CMYK are useful, but they are not as important as the legal color descriptions.
Flag of Indonesia: Meaning and Symbolism
Standard Indonesian educational references and many explanatory texts indicate that interpretations of the Indonesia flag’s colors vary but share recurring themes. A widely cited explanation holds that red stands for courage, bravery, or the physical or bodily aspect of life, while white stands for purity, honesty, or the spiritual aspect. Together, red and white are often described as representing a complete human being, with both physical and spiritual components in balance.
Further contextual interpretations link red to the blood of the Indonesian people and white to their spirit or noble intentions, emphasizing shared identity during historical struggles. Some historical narratives point out that red and white combinations appeared in pre-colonial banners, including those associated with the Majapahit era, and that nationalist movements adopted these colors as unifying symbols. However, official legal texts primarily define the flag by its name, colors, and proportions rather than by detailed symbolic doctrine.
What the Indonesia Flag Represents
- Red is often described as symbolizing courage, bravery, or the physical aspect of human life.
- White is widely interpreted as representing purity, honesty, or the spiritual side of life.
- Together, red and white are commonly said to symbolize a complete human being in Indonesian explanations.
- The bicolour is frequently presented as echoing historical red–white banners used in earlier Javanese and Indonesian contexts.
How to Identify the Flag of Indonesia
At airports, ports, and border crossings, the Indonesia flag appears among many national flags on mastheads, façades, and information boards that may also indicate where Indonesia is located on regional maps. Accurately identifying the flag of Indonesia in such settings and in digital icon sets involves confirming color order, stripe count, and presence or absence of emblems.
- Look for two equal horizontal stripes with red on the top and white on the bottom, with no other colors or design elements.
- Confirm that the flag is a horizontal rectangle with a height-to-length ratio of approximately 2:3, rather than resembling a square, especially when comparing simplified icons.
- Check that there are no additional stars, shields, or coats of arms on the main Indonesia country flag, which is a plain bicolor in its standard form.
- Distinguish the flag of Indonesia from similar red–white flags where the colors are reversed, vertically arranged, or combined with additional symbols.
- Use the combination of red above white, lack of emblem, and 2:3 ratio to separate Indonesian flags from other two-color flags in international displays.
Similar Flags Commonly Confused With the Indonesia Flag
Several national flags share red and white color schemes or two-band layouts, leading to frequent comparisons between the flags of Monaco and Indonesia and between other red–white flags. The table below provides a neutral overview of commonly mentioned visual overlaps and the main differences.
| Commonly confused with | Shared visual elements | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Monaco Flag | Two horizontal bands of red and white | Similar layout, different proportion (Monaco commonly cited as 4:5) and distinct historical context |
| Poland Flag | Horizontal red and white arrangement | The color order reversed; Poland flag has white on top and red on the bottom. |
| Singapore Flag | Red and white bicolour structure | Additional white crescents and stars on the upper red band |
| Latvia Flag (stylized comparisons) | Use of red and white | Different shades of red and a narrow white band between two red bands |
History of the Flag of Indonesia
The modern Indonesia flag emerged from longstanding red and white color traditions in the archipelago and became a key symbol of the independence movement. Historical commentary often points to the Majapahit Empire, based in eastern Java, as a prominent earlier state that used red and white banners and notes that the same color combination appeared in other regional flags and royal insignia. In the early 20th century, Indonesian nationalist groups revived red and white as a unifying visual motif under colonial rule.
The red and white bicolor was used by nationalist youth organizations before it was publicly raised at the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence in Jakarta on 17 August 1945. The ceremony hoisted the historic flag, later known as Bendera Pusaka Sang Saka Merah Putih, as the symbol of the new republic. After the Netherlands recognized Indonesian sovereignty in 1949, Sang Merah Putih was confirmed as the national flag in constitutional and statutory provisions. The design has remained unchanged, and the proclamation flag itself is preserved as a national heritage object.
- Pre-colonial context: Red and white color combinations appear in banners linked to historical polities in the Indonesian archipelago.
- Early 20th century: Nationalist youth and student groups adopt red and white as an emblem of unity and resistance.
- 1920s–1930s: The red and white flag is used at meetings and events, attracting colonial attention and episodic restrictions.
- 17 August 1945: The red-over-white bicolor is formally hoisted at the independence proclamation in Jakarta.
- 1949: Following sovereignty recognition, Sang Merah Putih is enshrined as the national flag in Indonesian constitutional and statutory law.
- Present: The Indonesia flag continues unchanged as the official state and civil flag in domestic and international contexts.
Indonesia Flag Etiquette for Visitors: Common Dos and Don’ts
Public guidance on the Indonesian flag highlights respect, correct display, and proper condition, especially at official sites and during national ceremonies. Visitors can observe practices at government offices, schools, and public events to understand how Indonesian flags are typically handled and displayed.
Commonly observed
- Keeping the Indonesia flag clean, undamaged, and correctly oriented.
- On national holidays, particularly Independence Day on 17 August, people hoist the flag.
- Government offices, schools, and military facilities display Indonesian flags.
- We lower and replace worn flags with accurately proportioned new ones.
- Using correct Indonesia flag images in educational, informational, and ceremonial contexts.
Typically avoided
- Displaying the flag when it is torn, badly faded, or stained.
- Using the Indonesia flag as casual clothing or improvised decorative fabric.
- Large advertising slogans are printed directly over the red and white bands of the flag.
- The flag should not be intentionally placed in positions that appear disrespectful or mocking.
- Reversing the color order or altering the 2:3 proportion in official settings.
Flag of Indonesia: Practical Travel Tips for Tourists
In travel contexts, the Indonesia flag functions as a clear visual reference for official facilities and national institutions, particularly useful when moving through crowded urban areas and transport hubs across multiple islands. Recognizing the flag helps visitors distinguish state-managed infrastructure from private services when navigating large cities and regional centers.
- Transport: International airports, major seaports, and intercity bus and train stations commonly display flags of Indonesia on flagpoles near entrances, security checkpoints, and customs areas, indicating official transport infrastructure and border-related services.
- Wayfinding: Government offices, provincial governorates, regency headquarters, and local administrative buildings usually fly the Indonesian flag near main doors or courtyards, helping visitors identify public institutions in dense urban districts of Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, and other cities.
- Language: While many central locations offer signage in Indonesian and some English, smaller towns may rely mainly on Indonesian, so the Indonesia flag can act as a quick marker for public offices and schools even when text requires closer reading.
- Connectivity: Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IM3 and 3), XL Axiata and AXIS, and Smartfren operate major mobile networks, with broad 4G coverage and growing high-speed capacity along main routes, supporting navigation, translation, and booking apps for tourists.
Reliable mobile data also allows travelers to check the time difference in Indonesia for each of the country’s official time zones when coordinating calls or online meetings with contacts in other regions.
Staying Connected in Indonesia with SimCorner
On arrival in Indonesia, stable mobile connectivity is valuable for navigating large cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung, as well as tourist hubs like Bali, Yogyakarta, and Lombok. A local data connection supports real-time use of map services, translation tools, ride-hailing applications, and digital booking platforms, reducing reliance on scattered public Wi-Fi networks.
SimCorner offers eSIM Indonesia solutions and Indonesia SIM cards that make use of leading local networks, including Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, XL Axiata, AXIS, and Smartfren. These options prioritize affordability, allow for quick activation through QR codes or SIM swaps, and provide hotspot functionality, enabling multiple devices to connect. When using international roaming from home providers, transparent plans with zero roaming fees minimize unexpected costs.
For itineraries that include several islands and a mix of transport options, including routes often highlighted among the top things to do in Indonesia, such as visiting temples, volcanoes, and coastal areas, wide network coverage supports ongoing access to navigation, messaging, and booking tools. SimCorner’s 24/7 support provides a single contact point for addressing activation or connectivity questions during a stay in Indonesia.
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