On 17th August, 1871 the current national Guatemalan flag was officially adopted. It consists of three vertical stripes- two light blue on the outside and one white stripe in the middle. On the white stripe is the Guatemalan coat of arms which is the Quetzal bird (Guatemala's national bird) sitting on the Declaration of Independence (The day Central America got independence from Spain - 15th September, 1821), crossed swords, crossed rifles and a bay laurel crown. The Quetxal bird represents liberty, the crossed swords, honour, the crossed rifles represent how willing Guatemala was to use force to defend its country and the bay laurel crown represents Guatemala's victory.

The design of the Guatemalan flag is based upon the United Provinces of Central America flag. Unlike the flag of Guatemala which has three vertical stripes, the flag of United Provinces of Central America has three horizontal stripes. Also, the colour of the two outer stripes on the United Provinces of Central America flag is a darker blue than that of the Guatemalan flag, which is a lighter blue.

The white stripe that separates two blue stripes on the flag symbolises the land and the fact that Guatemala is surrounded by the Pacific and the Atlantic. The white also symbolises purity and peace.