Link to host page
This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

Indonesian provincial flags

Last modified: 2025-08-16 by zachary harden
Keywords: indonesia |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors


Some reports have been received of provincial flags from Indonesia. Some flags may have been proposed, but it seems no official provincial flag are commonly in use. In particular, it seem clear there are no Indonesian flags (not even provincial) designed with the national red and white charged with provincial coat of arms. Indonesian flag law strictly prohibits that.
Sammy Kanadi, 29 April 2000

I can confirm from a visit to the Interior Department the existence of Indonesian provincial flags. The flags (26 provinces, Maluku Utara and 2 would-be provinces that still have no arms and flags) all have the same basic design, a unicolor field defaced with the provincial coats of arms. The background colors are somewhat strange, ranging from very very light blue (must be B----- in the FOTW color Guide, maybe) to purple. They are official, because the officer in the Interior Department told me that the flags were made based on spec sheets sent directly from every Governor's offices.

One thing to be noted, the flags are used only ceremonially. They are displayed only in each of the governor's offices. I still have no information of the meaning of the background colors or the law that legislates the flags. Also, I have no information why the flags have never been intended for public use.
Sammy Kanadi, 10 July 2000

Second level units in Indonesia are regencies (kabupaten) and third level units are districts (kecamatan). There are additional municipalities (kodamadya) as second level units and administrative towns (kota administratif) as second and a half level units (less then municipality more than district). However, I have visited probably all websites of Regencies and Municipalities, or most of them, and I have never seen a flag of a regency or of a municipality. The only exception is Bandung municipality, which flag I sent last year. That makes me think that there is a process of adopting local flags, and probably we'll find them in the future.
Valentin Poposki, 7 April 2006

According to a 2007 law "GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA NUMBER 77 OF 2007 ABOUT REGIONAL SYMBOLS", the regional flags must be their emblem on a monocolored background. Said flags cannot contain emblems that could be confused with other provinces or other government agencies. The ratio is also set for 2:3.
Marcel Darmanto, 9 December 2020

The Province of Papua had twenty regencies split off and was formed into three new provinces on 30 June 2022. These three provinces are called South Papua (Papua Selatan), Central Papua (Papua Tengah) and Highland Papua (Papua Pegunungan). West Papua had parts of its province split off to form Papua Barat Daya (Southwest Papua) in December 2022.
Zachary Harden, 08 August 2022 and Sergei Besh, 17 June 2023

List of Provinces

[Ed. Note: The order of this list corresponds to standard ISO 3166-2:ID]

Legislation

As the region autonomy law was implemented on Jan 1, 2001, there's a good chance for Indonesian provincial flags to be de facto civil flags. The Central Government has yet to pass a law about regional symbols so that the usage of regional symbols will be allowed for non-state officials/ordinary citizens. Sammy Kanadi, 18 January 2001

According to a 2007 law "GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA NUMBER 77 OF 2007 ABOUT REGIONAL SYMBOLS", the regional flags must be their emblem on a monocolored background. Said flags cannot contain emblems that could be confused with other provinces or other government agencies. The ratio is also set for 2:3.
Marcel Darmanto, 9 December 2020

Regulation on Regional Flags and Emblems As Marcel Darmanto notes in 2020, a 2007 law notes the official recognition of regional symbols by the national government. Article 6 refers to the description of local/regional flags; Article 7 mentions the flags of regional heads, most importantly out of this text, but further regulation is provided on the flag as noted here. It should certainly be noted that there is great emphasis on the Indonesian National Symbols being greater than the regional symbol, as the legislation clearly restricts use. It certainly appears that the legislation does not outline use for individuals that wish to use their regional flag. According to https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/4805 (roughly translated):

Article 2 Regional symbols include: a. logo; b. flag; c. official flag of regional head; and d. anthem.

Article 6 (1) The regional flag design is a rectangular shape with a length-to-width ratio of 3 to 2, featuring the regional logo. (2) The regional logo design should reflect the area's potential, the community's aspirations, and the motto to achieve those aspirations. (3) The design of the regional logo and flag must not closely resemble or entirely match those of other regions, political parties, community organizations, or other countries. (4) The design of local logos and flags must not bear any resemblance, in essence or entirety, to those of prohibited organizations or separatist movements within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

Article 7 (1) The design of the regional head's official flag, as referred to in Article 2, letter c, is a long rectangle, measuring 30 centimeters in length and 20 centimeters in width, with the state emblem depicted in the center on a blue background. (2) The national emblem on the official flag for the regional head is gold with a gold border for governors, and silver with a silver border for regents/mayors.

Article 10 (1) Regional flags may be displayed alongside the national flag at official government buildings, gateways, provincial borders, and city boundaries, as well as used in badges or as attire accessories (2) When used alongside the national flag, regional flags must not be the same size or larger than the national flag (3) Regional flags can be displayed and placed during official meetings of regional heads with foreign partners or organizations [but not regional emblems as the law notes, strangely]. (4) The use and placement of regional flags during official meetings, as referred to in paragraph (3), are done as companions to the national flag.

Article 11 (1) The official flag of the regional head is displayed on their government vehicle, positioned centrally but not at the front. (2) The official flag of the regional head mentioned in paragraph (1) is used exclusively during national holiday ceremonies in the region and on regional anniversary celebrations.

Article 17 (1) The regional flag used on buildings as mentioned in Article 10 paragraph (1) can be placed either outside or inside official government buildings.

Article 18 (4) Placement of regional flags inside official government buildings, as mentioned in paragraph (1) and paragraph (2), is carried out in: a. the reception area and offices of the regional head and deputy regional head; b. the main meeting room at the regional head's office; c. the offices of leaders and meeting rooms of the Regional People's Representative Council, the Papua People's Assembly, the Papua People's Representative Council, the Aceh Ulama Consultative Assembly, the Aceh People's Representative Council, and the District/City People's Representative Council in Aceh; d. living room at the official residence of regional heads and deputy regional heads; e. office of the sub-district head or equivalent and village head or equivalent; f. office of the school principal/education institution leader in government-owned school buildings/educational facilities. (5) The placement of the regional flag inside official government buildings, as mentioned in paragraph (4), should not be higher than or level with the national flag. (6) If the regional flag is placed alongside the national flag, it should be positioned to the right.

Article 18 The regional flag is not raised during ceremonies commemorating national holidays, regional anniversaries, and/or other flag ceremonies

Article 19 The regional flag used at gateways marking boundaries between provinces, districts, and cities, as referred to in Article 10 paragraph (1), is placed higher than commercial banners or flags.

Article 20 (1) The regional flag used as a badge or image and/or part of attire as referred to in Article 10 paragraph (1) is placed on the upper left chest or collar of a shirt or cap. (2) Positioning the regional flag as a badge or image and/or part of attire as mentioned in paragraph (1) should not be higher or level with the emblem of the national symbol. CHAPTER VII: TRANSITORY PROVISIONS Article 22 (1) Regions that do not have a logo and flag may design their own regional symbols. (2) Regions that already have existing symbols can continue to use them as long as they do not conflict with this Government Regulation. from Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia No. 77 of 2007 Concerning Regional Symbols, published on 10 December 2007 and in force the same day.
Daniel Rentería, 5 July 2025

Kalimantan

 [Kalimantan 1971] by Jarig Bakker, 12 February 2001

I just saw an old ZDF (German TV) documentary dating from 1971, where the then new head of state of Indonesia, Suharto, visited Borneo (= Kalimantan). Clearly in sight a light blue-black-white horizontally striped flag.

Proposed province: East Sulawesi (Sulawesi Timur)

 [East Sulawesi flag] image located by Valentin Poposki, 31 March 2008

As far as I know, East Sulawesi province (Sulawesi Timur) is just a proposal, but it might be that it was created recently. It is reported at http://www.indonesialogue.com/destinations/east-sulawesi-to-become-a-new-province.html. However, the flag already exists. It can be seen on a photo here.
Valentin Poposki, 31 March 2008