Telling One Green-White-Orange Flag From Another

The Indian flag is one of only a small handful of nations that fly a flag with white, orange and green. The flag of India also includes a deep blue symbol at the center. anand purohit / Getty Images

Flags are more than just colors and shapes; they're symbols of identity, pride and history. Four countries proudly fly a green, white, and orange flag — and each draws that color scheme from its rich history and distinctive symbolism as nations.

In India, for instance, green stripes celebrate agricultural prosperity, while the orange band represents bravery and sacrifice. Meanwhile, Côte d'Ivoire and Niger's distinctive flags highlight the natural and cultural wealth of their lands.

Without any further ado, let's dive into these tricolor flags.

1. Ireland

Irleand flag. SimpleImages / Getty Images

The Irish flag — known as the national flag of Ireland or Irish tricolour" — features three vertical stripes of green, white and orange.

Green represents Irish Catholics and the spirit of Irish nationalism, while the orange stripe stands for Irish Protestants. White, sandwiched between the two, symbolizes the desire for lasting peace between the two communities.

This Irish tricolour has become a powerful emblem of unity and pride in Irish culture and Ireland's rich cultural heritage. The green flag stripe also evokes images of Ireland's lush landscapes. The design has inspired other distinctive flags, making it an enduring symbol of peace and coexistence.

2. Ivory Coast

The Ivory Coast flag, or Côte d'Ivoire's national flag, also has three vertical stripes of orange, white and green. In this case, the orange represents the land's savanna and national growth, white stands for peace, and green symbolizes the country's lush forests and agricultural wealth.

Though it shares colors with the Irish flags, the order of the stripes is reversed, creating a unique identity for this West African nation.

3. India

India flag. Kryssia Campos / Getty Images

India's national flag features horizontal stripes of deep saffron (a warm orange), white and green, with a navy-blue symbol (the Ashoka Chakra) at the center.

Here, green represents the fertility and prosperity of the land, while saffron (in this case, a shade of orange) symbolizes courage and sacrifice. The white band signifies peace, and the blue Ashoka Chakra with 24 spokes represents justice and motion.

4. Niger

Niger flag. Elizabeth Fernandez / Getty Images

The flag of Niger consists of three horizontal stripes in orange, white and green, with an orange circle imprinted in the center of the white stripe. Orange represents the northern Sahara Desert, white stands for purity and peace, and green symbolizes the fertile lands along the Niger River.

The orange circle, a standout feature of this distinctive flag, reflects the sun's presence and the spirit of the Nigerien people. While the green flag design links Niger to other nations with tricolor flags, the unique combination of elements ensures its individuality.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.