The national flag of Turkmenistan (Turkmen: Türkmenistanyň baýdagy) features a white crescent and five stars representing the five regions of the country and the Five Pillars of Islam.

[1] It features a green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to those on the flag of the United Nations; a white waxing crescent moon, typical of Turkic and Islamic symbology, and five white five-pointed stars appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe.

Some such as the Russian Centre of Vexillology and Heraldry claim that the green field stands for life, land, grass, prosperity, and peace, while the crescent moon symbolizes the clear sky above Turkmenistan's people.

They claim the stars represent the five provinces (welaýatlar) of Turkmenistan: Ahal, Balkan, Daşoguz, Lebap and Mary.

[4] The five traditional carpet guls represent the five major tribes of Turkmenistan, and form motifs in the country's state emblem and flag.

The Turkmen tribes in traditional order (as well as top to bottom) are the Teke, Yomut, Saryk, Chowdur, and Ersari.

[1] The middle design may also represent the Salur, a tribe that declined as a result of military defeat before the modern period.

In early February 1992 an exhibition was held at the hall of the Union of Artists in Ashgabat, which displayed proposed flags and coats of arms from across the country.