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The flag of Liberia or the Liberian flag bears a close resemblance to the flag of the United States, representing Liberia's founding by a group of free people of color and formerly enslaved black people primarily from the United States.
The Liberian flag has similar red and white stripes, as well as a blue square with a white star in the canton. It was adopted on August 24, 1847.
Symbolism[]
The eleven stripes symbolize the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence and the red and white symbolize courage and moral excellence. The white star represents the first independent republic in Africa, above the blue square representing the African continent. The Liberian flag is modeled after and resembles the United States flag because Liberia was founded, colonized, established, and controlled by free people of color and formerly enslaved black people from the United States and the Caribbean with the help and support of both the United States government and the American Colonization Society (ACS), a private organization dedicated to the removal of free people of color from across North America. Some time after the African Americans began arriving in Liberia in 1822, they came to be identified as "Americo-Liberians" in an effort to separate them from native groups and enslaved Africans rescued from illegal slaving ports and ships by the American navy.
The flag is seen on many ships around the world as Liberia offers registration under its flag. Shipping companies do this to avoid taxes and restrictions that other countries enforce. As the second most popular flag of convenience (after the flag of Panama), it is estimated that 1,700 foreign-owned ships fly the Liberian flag. This brings in much of the country's revenue.
Flag Redesigns[]
 Liberia V • T
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Counties
Cities and Towns
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Disputed areas
Dependencies and overseas territories
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