Burundi's national flag has three stars with six points each. The red stars are outlined in green and sit inside a white disk at the center of the flag, arranged as one star above two others.
The stars carry several layers of symbolism. Their triangular arrangement represents Burundi's three major ethnic groups: the Hutu, Twa, and Tutsi. They also reflect the three words of the national motto, “Unity, Work and Progress,” as well as citizens' pledged loyalty to God, the king, and the country.
Burundi adopted its first national flag after independence from Belgium on 1 July 1962. The design changed during the transition from monarchy to republic: the royal karyenda drum was removed after the monarchy ended in November 1966. The current version was adopted on 27 September 1982, with a revised 3:5 proportion.
A common mix-up is to remember the number of stars but not their shape. They are six-pointed, not five-pointed, and their green outlines can make the points less obvious in small reproductions.