Jamaica Flag

Jamaica's flag features a yellow diagonal cross (saltire) on a field divided into four triangles — black at top and bottom, green at hoist and fly. It is one of the few national flags with no red, white, or blue.

The motto "Hardships there are but the land is green and the sun shineth" is reflected in the design: black for hardships, gold for the sunshine, green for the land.

Jamaica became independent from Britain on 6 August 1962, and the flag was designed specifically for independence. A national competition resulted in 367 entries; the design committee then created a final version, formally adopting the saltire design.

The original design had horizontal black stripes but was changed to the diagonal cross to ensure it could not be confused with any existing national flag. It has remained unchanged since independence.