Oceania

Flag of Fiji

Fiji is a South Pacific archipelago of more than 330 islands, of which about 110 are permanently inhabited, located northeast of New Zealand. The country is known for its crystal-clear lagoons, vibrant coral reefs, and a culture of warm hospitality centred around the greeting 'bula' (life, health, and happiness). Fiji has a diverse population of indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians descended from labourers brought by British colonial authorities, and has been independent since 1970.

CapitalSuva
RegionOceania
Current flag since1970
Main coloursBlue, White, Red
Populationabout 900,000
Areaabout 18,000 km²
GeographyIsland nation
Flags in history4

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of Fiji means

Fiji's light blue stands for the Pacific Ocean. The shield shows a lion holding a cocoa pod, with sugar cane, a coconut palm, bananas and a dove of peace below. The flag was adopted at independence in 1970; plans announced in 2015 to replace it and remove the Union Jack were dropped in 2016.

How to recognise it

Light blue with the Union Jack in the canton and the Fijian shield on the right.

Did you know?

Fiji is an archipelago of over 330 islands, of which about 110 are permanently inhabited.

Easily confused with

Fiji's flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:

Australia

New Zealand

Tuvalu

Flag history of Fiji

Every flag that has flown over Fiji, from today back through time.

1970–present

Flag of Fiji

Adopted at independence in 1970, the colonial dark blue was lightened to a sky blue for the Pacific Ocean, keeping the shield and the Union Jack. Fiji formally proposed removing the Union Jack in 2005 and 2015, but both efforts were abandoned.

1924–1970

Colonial Blue Ensign (no disc)

The white disc behind the badge was dropped in 1924, leaving the colonial arms directly on the dark blue ensign — Fiji's flag right up to independence.

1908–1924

Colonial Blue Ensign (with disc)

A British Blue Ensign defaced with Fiji's colonial coat of arms, granted in 1908, set on a white disc.

1871–1874

Kingdom of Fiji

Before Britain took over, the warrior chief Seru Epenisa Cakobau united much of the islands as the Kingdom of Fiji in 1871, flying a pale blue flag with a shield, a crown and a white dove of peace. Crippled by debt and unrest, Cakobau ceded Fiji to Britain in 1874 — the dove-and-shield motif lived on in the colonial and modern arms.