Estonian Flag PNG
Estonia, a Baltic gem, gained independence in 1918, lost it in 1940, and reclaimed it in 1991. Its flag, a tricolor of blue, black, and white, symbolizes the sky, soil, and purity. Adopted in 1918, it reflects resilience and national pride, enduring decades of Soviet suppression.
| Colors | Pantone | RGB | CMYK | HEX Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 285 C | 0, 114, 206 | 91, 43, 0, 0 | #0072CE |
| Black | Black | 0, 0, 0 | 0, 0, 0, 100 | #000000 |
| White | White | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 | #FFFFFF |
History of the Flag
The Estonian flag, a blue-black-white tricolor, was first designed in 1881 by students inspired by national awakening, symbolizing sky, earth, and hope. Officially adopted in 1918 with independence, it was banned during Soviet rule but re-emerged in 1989 as a defiant emblem of freedom. Its history mirrors Estonia’s struggle and resilience.
1710 – 1918 (Governorate of Estonia (part of Russia))
The Governorate of Estonia was established after the Great Northern War, when Sweden ceded the territory to Russia under the 1710 Treaty of Nystad. This marked the beginning of Russian dominance, with Tallinn as the administrative center. The region, encompassing northern Estonia, retained some autonomy, as the Baltic German nobility maintained significant influence, preserving their privileges under Russian rule. They controlled local governance, land, and serfdom, while the Estonian peasantry endured harsh feudal conditions, laboring under oppressive landlords.
The 19th century brought gradual change. The abolition of serfdom in 1816 improved peasant life, though land ownership remained elusive. The National Awakening, starting in the 1860s, sparked a cultural revival, with Estonians reclaiming their language and heritage through literature, music, and education. The 1881 creation of the blue-black-white flag by students symbolized this growing identity. However, Russification policies under Alexander III intensified, pressuring Estonians to adopt Russian language and customs, fueling resentment. By 1918, as the Russian Empire collapsed amid World War I, Estonia seized the moment, declaring independence on February 24, ending over two centuries of foreign rule and ushering in a new era of self-determination.
The flag of the Governorate of Estonia, used during Russian rule from 1710 to 1918, featured three horizontal stripes of green, purple, and white. The green symbolized the lush forests, purple reflected the region’s historical ties to nobility, and white represented purity and hope. This design, distinct from the modern Estonian flag, marked the province’s identity within the Russian Empire.
1918 – 1940 (Republic of Estonia)
The Republic of Estonia emerged on February 24, 1918, amid the chaos of World War I and the Russian Revolution, as Estonians declared independence from a crumbling Russian Empire. The subsequent War of Independence (1918–1920) against Soviet Russia and Baltic German forces secured sovereignty, with the 1920 Treaty of Tartu recognizing Estonia’s borders. This marked the start of a vibrant, albeit brief, era of self-governance.
During the interwar period, Estonia established a democratic government, adopting a constitution in 1920. Land reforms redistributed estates from Baltic German nobles to Estonian peasants, fostering economic growth. Culturally, the nation flourished, with education and arts thriving—Estonian became the official language, and national identity solidified. However, the 1930s brought challenges: the Great Depression hit hard, and political instability led to Konstantin Päts’ 1934 coup, establishing an authoritarian regime. This period of independence ended in 1940 when the Soviet Union, under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, occupied Estonia, forcing the nation into a new era of suppression and struggle.
The flag of the Republic of Estonia from 1918 to 1940 was the blue-black-white tricolor, officially adopted on November 21, 1918. Blue symbolized the sky and loyalty, black the soil and past struggles, and white the snow and hope for freedom. This design, born in 1881, became a proud emblem of Estonia’s newfound independence.
1918 (United Baltic Duchy)
In 1918, Estonia faced a tumultuous period as World War I ended. After declaring independence on February 24, German forces occupied the region, proposing the United Baltic Duchy—a puppet state uniting Estonia and Latvia under Baltic German rule, tied to the German Empire. Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg was to lead it. However, the plan collapsed with Germany’s defeat in November 1918. Estonia’s War of Independence (1918–1920) followed, pitting Estonians against Soviet forces and German Freikorps. The 1920 Treaty of Tartu secured Estonia’s sovereignty, ending foreign designs like the Duchy and marking the start of an independent republic. This brief episode highlighted Estonia’s struggle for self-determination amid competing imperial ambitions.
The flag of the United Baltic Duchy, proposed in 1918, consisted of three horizontal stripes: green at the top, purple in the middle, and white at the bottom. Green represented the region’s forests, purple the nobility’s historical role, and white the hope for unity. This design aimed to symbolize a German-led union of Estonia and Latvia.
1918 – 1919 (Estonian Workers’ Commune)
The Estonian Workers’ Commune was a short-lived Soviet puppet state established on November 29, 1918, in Narva, following the Red Army’s invasion during the Estonian War of Independence. Led by Jaan Anvelt, it aimed to impose Bolshevik rule, nationalizing industries, closing churches, and unleashing a reign of terror, including massacres in Tartu. Recognized only by Soviet Russia on December 7, 1918, it controlled parts of Estonia until January 1919, when the Estonian People’s Force, under Johan Laidoner, launched a counteroffensive. By February, the Red Army and Commune were expelled, ending the experiment. This period highlighted Estonia’s fierce resistance to Soviet domination, setting the stage for the 1920 Treaty of Tartu, which secured Estonia’s independence. The Commune’s failure underscored the lack of local support for communism, as most Estonians rallied behind their national cause.
The flag of the Estonian Workers’ Commune (1918–1919) consisted of a striking red background, symbolizing the socialist revolution, with a yellow vertical stripe on the left bearing the Estonian text “EESTI TÖÖRAHWA KOMMUNA.” Bold white Russian text across the red field declared, “To the barricades, Estonian Proletariat!” and “For Soviet Estland, Great Volga, Ural, Siberia, in the name of the communist international,” embodying the era’s revolutionary fervor.
1940 – 1953 (Estonian SSR)
The Estonian SSR was established in 1940 after the Soviet Union, under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, forcibly annexed Estonia. The occupation began with a staged “revolution,” leading to the creation of a puppet government and integration into the USSR as a Soviet Socialist Republic. The blue-black-white flag was banned, and Soviet symbols dominated, marking a dark era of repression.
This period was marked by mass deportations, with tens of thousands of Estonians sent to Siberian gulags in 1941 and 1949, accused of anti-Soviet sentiment. The German occupation from 1941 to 1944 briefly interrupted Soviet rule, but brought its own horrors, including the Holocaust, which devastated Estonia’s Jewish population. After the Red Army’s return in 1944, Stalinist policies intensified—collectivization destroyed traditional farming, and Russification suppressed Estonian culture and language. Resistance persisted through the “Forest Brothers,” anti-Soviet partisans who fought into the early 1950s. Despite the oppression, Estonian identity endured in secret, laying the groundwork for future struggles for freedom.
The flag of the Estonian SSR from 1940 to 1953 was predominantly red, symbolizing communism, with a gold hammer and sickle in the top left corner alongside a red star outlined in white. A horizontal blue wavy line near the bottom represented the Baltic Sea, blending Soviet ideology with a nod to Estonia’s geography.
1953 – 1990 (Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic)
From 1953 to 1990, Estonia was under Soviet control as the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, following its annexation in 1940. After Stalin’s death in 1953, the period saw a slight easing of repression under Khrushchev’s thaw, though Russification policies intensified, aiming to suppress Estonian culture and language. The economy was collectivized, with heavy industry prioritized, often at the expense of local needs. Despite this, Estonians preserved their identity through underground movements and cultural resistance, such as the preservation of folk traditions. The 1980s brought Gorbachev’s reforms—glasnost and perestroika—sparking the Singing Revolution, a series of mass protests using music to demand independence. By 1990, Estonia began transitioning to sovereignty, culminating in full independence in 1991. This era was marked by resilience amid Soviet oppression, laying the groundwork for Estonia’s modern democratic state.
The flag of the Estonian SSR (1953-1990) features a bold red field, symbolizing the Soviet revolution, with a golden hammer and sickle topped by a red star outlined in gold in the upper left corner. A wavy blue and white pattern at the bottom represents the Baltic Sea, reflecting Estonia’s maritime identity. The design merges Soviet ideology with a nod to local geography.
1990 – Today
From 1990, Estonia began its journey to independence, officially restored in 1991 after the Soviet Union’s collapse. The Singing Revolution (1987-1991) had galvanized national unity through peaceful protests, leading to the re-adoption of the blue-black-white flag. The 1990s were marked by rapid reforms: Estonia transitioned to a market economy, joined NATO and the EU in 2004, and adopted the euro in 2011. The country embraced digital innovation, becoming a global leader in e-governance with initiatives like e-Residency. Despite challenges, such as integrating its Russian-speaking minority and navigating geopolitical tensions with Russia, Estonia has flourished as a democratic, tech-savvy nation. Today, it stands as a symbol of resilience, blending its rich cultural heritage with modernity while maintaining a strong national identity.
The national flag of Estonia, used from 1990 to the present, consists of three horizontal stripes: blue at the top, black in the middle, and white at the bottom. The blue symbolizes the sky and loyalty, black represents the soil and past struggles, and white stands for purity and hope, embodying Estonia’s enduring spirit.
Meaning of Symbols and Colors
The Estonian flag, known as the “sinimustvalge” (blue-black-white), is a powerful symbol of national identity, resilience, and aspiration. Its origins trace back to the late 19th century, during a period of growing national consciousness among Estonians under Russian imperial rule. The flag was conceived in 1881 by members of the Estonian Students’ Society at the University of Tartu, a hub of intellectual and cultural awakening. Seeking a unifying emblem, they drew inspiration from their surroundings and values, crafting a design that would endure through turbulent times. It was first flown publicly in 1884 and officially adopted on November 21, 1918, after Estonia declared independence following World War I.
The colors of the flag carry deep, layered meanings, reflecting both the natural world and the spirit of the Estonian people. Blue, at the top, represents the vast sky above Estonia, evoking freedom, loyalty, and the nation’s historical connection to the Baltic Sea. It’s a nod to the enduring hope that sustained Estonians through centuries of foreign domination. Black, in the middle, symbolizes the dark, fertile soil of the homeland, as well as the hardships endured under oppressive regimes—most notably Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule. It stands as a testament to the struggles that shaped the nation’s character. White, at the bottom, signifies purity, peace, and the snow that blankets Estonia in winter, while also embodying the people’s pursuit of enlightenment and a brighter future.
The flag’s creation was not just an act of design but a bold statement of identity during the National Awakening, a cultural movement that sought to reclaim Estonian language, heritage, and autonomy. Though banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1989, it remained a clandestine symbol of resistance, hidden in homes or flown in secret defiance. Its reappearance in 1988, during the Singing Revolution, marked a turning point, galvanizing the push for independence restored in 1991. Today, the flag stands as a bridge between Estonia’s past and its aspirations, a reminder of both the cost of freedom and the strength found in unity.
Use of the Flag
The Estonian flag is proudly flown on public buildings, schools, and homes, especially on national holidays like Independence Day (February 24) and Victory Day (June 23). According to the Flag Act of 1992, it must be hoisted at sunrise and lowered at sunset, unless illuminated. Citizens are encouraged to display it respectfully, avoiding commercial misuse or desecration, which is legally penalized. The flag’s use reflects Estonia’s deep reverence for its hard-won sovereignty.
Official proportions for the flag are 7:11 (height to width), with three equal horizontal stripes of blue, black, and white. Standard sizes vary—1×1.65 meters for public buildings—but smaller versions are common for personal use. It must be clean and undamaged, with vertical displays requiring the blue stripe on the left. These rules ensure the flag remains a dignified symbol of national pride and unity.
Coat of Arms
The Estonian coat of arms features three blue lions passant on a golden shield, framed by two golden oak branches. Adopted on June 19, 1925, it draws from the 13th-century Danish coat of arms, reflecting Estonia’s historical ties to Denmark, which ruled northern Estonia until 1346. The lions symbolize courage, strength, and nobility, while the oak branches represent resilience and the enduring spirit of the Estonian people. Banned during Soviet occupation, it was restored in 1990 as a marker of reclaimed identity. This emblem encapsulates Estonia’s medieval heritage and its unyielding quest for independence.
