🇮🇩
Flag of Indonesia
flæg əv ɪn.dəˈniː.ʒə
Definitions
1
Flags · National
Common
The national flag of Indonesia, consisting of two horizontal stripes: red (top) and white (bottom). Represents the sovereign Republic of Indonesia in Southeast Asia.
Used to represent Indonesia, its people, culture, or language in digital communication. Often used by Indonesians to show national pride.
Just booked my flight to Jakarta 🇮🇩 Can't wait to explore!
Travel announcement on Instagram
Happy Independence Day to all my 🇮🇩 friends! 17 August 1945 🎉
Social media celebration post
Known as 'Sang Merah Putih' (The Red and White), the colors symbolize courage (red) and purity (white), derived from the banner of the 13th-century Majapahit Empire.
2
Communication · Language
Common
Indicates Indonesian language content or translation. Used in multilingual contexts to signify text written in Bahasa Indonesia.
Often placed at the beginning of text to indicate the language used, or in language selection menus.
🇮🇩 Selamat pagi! Apa kabar? (Good morning! How are you?)
Multilingual social media post
Indonesia is home to over 700 languages, but Bahasa Indonesia serves as the official national language and lingua franca.
Evolution Timeline
1945
Flag adopted upon Indonesian independence from the Netherlands, giving historical weight to its emoji representation.
Independence movement and declaration of sovereignty
2015
Emoji standardization allowed consistent digital representation of the Indonesian flag across platforms.
Unicode standardization of country flag emojis
2016
Increased usage during Rio Olympics as Indonesian athletes competed, particularly in badminton.
International sporting events driving national pride expression
Cultural Context
The Indonesian flag's design is deliberately similar to Monaco's flag but predates it in usage. This has occasionally led to confusion in international contexts.
The flag emoji serves as a digital identity marker for the Indonesian diaspora, connecting expatriates to their homeland across social media platforms.
In Western countries, the flag is often associated specifically with Bali tourism rather than Indonesia as a whole, reflecting tourism patterns.
Prior to Unicode standardization, Indonesians would type 'merah putih' (red white) or use creative ASCII art to represent their flag online.
Regional Variations
Australia
Commonly used in reference to Bali tourism, Indonesian restaurants, or Indonesian community events.
Indonesia
Used extensively during national holidays, sporting events, and in everyday communication. Often accompanied by patriotic phrases.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Primarily used on Facebook for formal national celebrations and to connect with Indonesian family members abroad.
Gen_Z: Frequently used in TikTok videos showcasing Indonesian culture, food, and travel. Often combined with trending sounds and Indonesian memes.
Older: Limited usage, mainly for formal patriotic expressions during national holidays or to identify Indonesian content.
Millennials: Common in Instagram posts about Indonesian travel, food, and cultural events. Used professionally when discussing Indonesian business or politics.
Common Combinations
🇮🇩❤️
Love for Indonesia or Indonesian pride
Commonly used by Indonesians to express patriotism, especially around Independence Day.
🇮🇩🙏
Prayers for Indonesia or gratitude for Indonesian culture
Used during national celebrations, disasters, or when expressing appreciation for Indonesian hospitality.
🇮🇩🏆
Indonesian victory or achievement, particularly in sports
Popular during international competitions, especially badminton tournaments where Indonesia excels.
🇮🇩🍲
Indonesian cuisine or food culture
Used to highlight Indonesian dishes like nasi goreng, rendang, or satay.