Flag of Laos

Lao People's Democratic Republic
Thong dwang deaen (the white moon flag) Sam si (tricolour)
UseNational flag and ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion2:3
Adopted12 October 1945; 2 December 1975 (re-adopted)
DesignA horizontal triband of red, blue (double height) and red; charged with a white circle in the centre (the diameter of white circle is four-fifths the height of blue band)
Designed byMaha Sila Viravong
Lao flag in Luang Prabang

The flag of Laos (ທຸງຊາດລາວ thungsad Lāo) consists of three horizontal stripes, with the middle stripe in blue being twice the height of the top and bottom red stripes. In the middle is a white disc, the diameter of the disc is 45 the height of the blue stripe. The flag ratio is 2:3.

The flag was first adopted in 1945 under the short-lived Lao Issara government of 1945–46, then by the Pathet Lao. It is one of the two flags of a country currently governed by a communist party (the other being Cuba) that currently does not use any communist symbolism. The current flag was adopted on December 2, 1975, when it became a socialist state. The royal flag before 1975 remains in use by a number of Laotian diaspora.