The current flag of Eritrea was adopted on December 5, 1995, and uses the basic layout of the flag of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF). The colours of the EPLF flag  came from the blue and green of the Eritrea autonomous flag and revolutionary (socialist) red added in form of arrow, meaning that the socialist revolution will penetrate in Eritrea. The EPLF flag had a yellow star instead of the olive wreath, which represented revolutionary guide for the country. The socialist star in the flag was changed to a device adopted by UNO: an olive branch surrounded by two olive branches, one in each side. This symbolises the UN and its role in helping with that country's independence.

The current flag is dominated by a red triangle extending from the hoist to the fly with complementary green and blue triangles above and below. Green symbolises the agricultural and livestock economy of the country. The red triangle stands for the bloodshed in the struggle for independence and the blue represents the marine wealth. In the red triangle there is a yellow wreath symbol with 14 leaves on each side which derived from replacement of the yellow star of the EPLF flag in 1952. The yellow colour stands for the mineral wealth of Eritrea. The use of triangles is also important, because reading the flag from left to right it is important to note that the red shrinks which represents that in the end Eritrea will see peace and blood will no longer be spilled for the nation.

According to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (Traveler's Guide), extreme respect must be shown to the Eritrean national flag:

"Cultural specificities”

The national flag is subjected to a great respect. During the hoisting of the flag, car drivers must park and get out of their vehicle, whereas pedestrians must stop."