Quick answer
- Design: five equal horizontal stripes alternating red and white, with a blue isosceles triangle at the hoist bearing a single white five-pointed star.
- Origin: adopted as a revolutionary design in New York in December 1895 by Puerto Rican exiles, modeled on Cuba’s banner with the red and blue fields swapped.
- Today: the official flag of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
What the flag looks like
The flag of Puerto Rico has five equal horizontal stripes alternating red and white, and a blue isosceles triangle at the hoist that holds one white five-pointed star. That layout matches the Cuban flag with the red and blue fields swapped — a deliberate choice by Puerto Rican revolutionaries working with Cuban exiles in New York in the 1890s.
Short history
In September 1868, rebels in the Grito de Lares uprising used an earlier Lares flag. In December 1895, the Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico in New York replaced that emblem with the current design as the banner of an independent Puerto Rico. The flag flew again during the 1897 Intentona de Yauco. After the U.S. occupation in 1898, public display was restricted for decades; the design later became the official flag of the Commonwealth.
Shades of blue have varied in practice over time. Historical debate continues about whether early versions used a light or dark blue; modern official uses typically show a dark blue triangle.
What the colors are said to mean
Common explanations — popular rather than a single founding manifesto — say the red stripes recall the blood of warriors, white stands for victory and peace, the blue triangle for the sky and coastal waters, and the lone star for the island. Treat these as widely repeated interpretations, not a notarized 1895 color key.
See also
For political status context see Is Puerto Rico part of the US? For the capital and colonial forts see San Juan and Old San Juan.
Frequently asked questions
What do the colors of the Puerto Rico flag mean?
Popular explanations link red to the blood of warriors, white to peace and victory, blue to sky and sea, and the star to the island. These are common interpretations, not a single official 1895 color chart.
When was the Puerto Rico flag created?
The current design was adopted as a revolutionary flag by Puerto Rican exiles in New York in December 1895, modeled on Cuba’s banner with the red and blue fields swapped.
Is the Puerto Rico flag the same as Cuba’s?
Same layout, swapped red and blue. Puerto Rico’s triangle is blue with a white star; Cuba’s triangle is red.
Sources we checked
Checked in October 2026. Where a fact could not be confirmed against a primary source, we removed it or said so.
Originally published on PuertoRico.com (2026-10-28). Reviewed and updated October 2026: facts were checked against the sources above.