UNHCR Logo
The UNHCR logo uses 1 primary color. Its dominant color is Vanadyl Blue (#009EDB, closest Pantone 2171 C). UNHCR operates in the Law & Government industry.
- Color family
- blue
- Industry
- Law & Government
- Brand popularity
- Top 1% of indexed brands
- Website
- unhcr.org
Design analysis
The UNHCR logo is a combination mark consisting of the United Nations emblem — a polar azimuthal equidistant projection world map surrounded by two olive branches — paired with the "UNHCR" wordmark in a clean sans-serif typeface. The emblem is a direct inheritance from the parent UN visual identity system, ensuring immediate institutional credibility. The mark is constructed on a strict grid: the emblem sits left of the logotype with consistent clear-space rules defined by the height of the "U" in UNHCR. At small sizes the emblem remains legible because its line weight is substantial and the olive branches are simplified to continuous strokes; however, the world-map detail can blur below 12 mm width, so UNHCR provides a simplified "small-use" version where the map is reduced to a solid circle with latitude/longitude lines only. In the humanitarian sector, where trust and neutrality are currency, the logo's strength lies in its borrowed equity from the UN flag — it signals impartiality and global mandate without needing explanation.
Logo colors, measured
Colors extracted from the logo image itself (background removed), with share of the mark each color covers.
Click a chip to copy its hex code.
The single measured hue #009EDB (UN Blue) dominates the mark at roughly 9% of pixel area, with the remainder white/negative space. This specific cyan-blue is the UN system's prescribed corporate color (Pantone 2171 C / process 100C/50M/0Y/0K), chosen in 1946 to represent peace and contrast with military reds. In the law-and-government/humanitarian space it functions as a category signal: virtually every UN agency uses the same blue, so donors and partners instantly recognize the institutional family. The high luminance contrast against white ensures accessibility compliance (WCAG AA) on both digital screens and low-quality field printouts.
Variations & downloads
Color variants generated from the vector source — free to download for identification, editorial and research use.
Visually similar logos
Nearest neighbors in visual embedding space — marks that share shape and structure with the UNHCR logo, regardless of color or industry.
Brand web palette
Colors UNHCR uses across its website — the broader brand system around the logo.
About UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is an organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Established in 1950, it is a specialized agency of the United Nations mandated to protect and support refugees and find solutions to their displacement. The main focus of UNHCR is to ensure the safety, well-being, and fundamental rights of refugees. It works towards achieving this by providing emergency aid, shelter, and protection to those forced to flee their homes due to conflict or persecution. UNHCR also seeks to find durable solutions for refugees, including voluntary repatriation to their home countries, local integration in the host country, or resettlement in a third country. On a global scale, UNHCR operates in more than 130 countries, working closely with governments, NGOs, and other partners to provide protection and assistance to refugees and displaced persons. It has a vast network of field offices, where staff work directly with refugees to assess their needs and provide essential services. UNHCR has several notable partnerships and collaborations. It collaborates with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to address migration challenges and works closely with other UN agencies like UNICEF and WHO. It also partners with various NGOs to deliver assistance and support to refugees. In terms of global sales, UNHCR is primarily funded by voluntary contributions from governments, organizations, and individuals. In 2020, the agency had a total income of around $8. 6 billion. It relies heavily on donations to carry out its vital work. UNHCR has achieved many milestones throughout its history. Some significant achievements include the successful resettlement and voluntary repatriation of millions of refugees, the provision of essential services such as education and healthcare in refugee camps, and the advocacy for the rights of refugees on a global scale. As of the latest updates, UNHCR continues to respond to various ongoing crises,
Questions about the UNHCR logo
Does UNHCR have its own unique logo separate from the UN?
No, UNHCR uses the standard UN emblem combined with its acronym. All UN specialized agencies follow the same visual identity framework: the UN emblem plus the agency's abbreviation in the prescribed typeface and blue. This shared system reinforces the legal mandate and impartiality that come from being part of the UN.
Why does the logo use that specific shade of blue?
The color #009EDB is the official UN Blue (Pantone 2171 C), adopted in 1946 for the UN flag. It was chosen to symbolize peace and neutrality, contrasting with the reds associated with war. Every UN agency uses this exact blue to signal they operate under the same charter and humanitarian principles.
What color is the UNHCR logo?
The dominant color of the UNHCR logo is Vanadyl Blue (hex #009EDB). The closest Pantone match is 2171 C.
How many colors does the UNHCR logo have?
The UNHCR logo uses 1 primary color: #009EDB.
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The UNHCR logo is a trademark of its owner, shown here for identification and design research. Color data is measured from the public mark by LogoLabs; analysis is editorial commentary. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.