Flag of Turkey Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Flag of Turkey


Name	Ay Yıldız ("moon star"), Al Bayrak ("red flag")
Use	National flag and ensign
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	1844 (Ottoman flag) 29 May 1936 (standardized)
Design	A red field charged with a white crescent and star slightly left-of-center.

The national flag of Turkey is a bright red banner showing a white crescent and star. In Turkish, people often call it al bayrak, which means the red flag. The famous design is also mentioned with pride in the Turkish national anthem.

History of the Red Banner
How the Flag Is Used
Flag Rules and Design
Images for kids
See also

History of the Red Banner

The star and crescent flag of the Ottoman Empire

The famous star and crescent symbol has a very long history. It was used on the flag of the Ottoman Empire starting in the late 18th century. In 1844, this government officially chose the white star and crescent on a red field.

When the modern Republic of Turkey began in 1923, leaders kept the beloved symbols of the Ottoman Empire. Leaders later wrote clear rules about the flag on 29 May 1936. These rules set the exact shapes, measurements, and bright red color that people see today.

How the Flag Is Used

The Turkish Flag in vertical format

The National Cockade of Turkey

The flag flies proudly all across the country. You can see it outside school buildings, airports, bridges, and government offices like the Parliament.

Soldiers and rescue teams wear small patches of the flag on their uniforms or helmets. Even special groups like the Jandarma and navy pilots wear it. On big holidays like Republic Day, crowds carry flags in the streets to celebrate. Pictures of the nation's first president, Atatürk, are often placed beside it during these special events.

Under the Constitution of Cyprus, people on the island can fly the Turkish flag along with the flag of Cyprus and the Greek flag.

Flag Rules and Design

Construction sheet

The flag's design follows very exact mathematical measurements. Turkish laws explain the size of the crescent moon, the size of the star, and where both shapes must sit. This careful design ensures that every flag looks the same whether it flies on a giant flagpole or decorates a classroom wall.