Singapore's flag is red over white, with a crescent and five stars in the upper hoist. It was designed for a self-governing colony and outlived that status within six years.
From self-government to independence
The flag was adopted on December 3, 1959, the year Singapore achieved self-governance under British colonial rule. It was one of the first pieces of a national identity that did not yet have a nation attached. When Singapore separated from Malaysia and became fully independent on August 9, 1965, the same flag carried over as the national emblem.
The design was chosen with a mixed population in mind, and it avoids anything that reads as belonging to one community rather than another.
Red, white, a crescent, and five stars
The top half is red, the bottom white. Red stands for universal brotherhood and equality among people. White stands for purity and virtue.
A white crescent moon sits in the upper hoist corner for a young nation on the rise, and five white stars are arranged in a circle beside it for democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality. The choices were political as much as aesthetic: the flag had to work for every community on the island at once.
Usage
The flag is displayed at government buildings and public institutions, and it is a common sight at private homes and public events. It is most visible around National Day on August 9 and at state occasions, where protocol governs how it may be shown. Singaporeans are encouraged to fly it at home during the National Day period, and handling guidelines are circulated widely.
Official variants exist for branches of the civil service and the military, each keeping the symbolism of the national flag while adapting it to a particular role. The flag is flown at half-mast during periods of mourning.
Similar flags or influences
Singapore's red and white put it close to Indonesia and Malaysia, which is a matter of shared regional history rather than borrowing. Crescents and stars appear on many flags in Southeast Asia, drawn from Islamic and regional iconography. What separates Singapore's is the particular arrangement of the two, and the meanings attached to them.
References
[1] "Singapore Infopedia." National Library Board. https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_542_2004-12-23.html
[2] "National Heritage Board." Singapore Government. https://www.nhb.gov.sg/