Oceania

Flag of Micronesia

The Federated States of Micronesia is an island group of 607 islands in the western Pacific, organised into four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. The islands were administered by the United States under a UN Trusteeship until independence in 1986. Micronesia is celebrated for its extraordinary marine biodiversity, particularly the Japanese WWII wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon, which attract scuba divers from around the world.

CapitalPalikir
RegionOceania
Current flag since1978
Main coloursBlue, White
Populationabout 110,000
Areaabout 700 km²
GeographyIsland nation
Flags in history3

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of Micronesia means

Light blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, and the four white stars for the four states of the federation: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap. The design is based on the flag of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which had six stars. It was adopted in 1978.

More about the flag

The Federated States of Micronesia is made up of about 600 islands spread across a vast area of the western Pacific. It was part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, administered by the United States, and became self-governing in 1979; in 1986 it signed a Compact of Free Association with the United States. The capital is Palikir, on Pohnpei.

How to recognise it

Light blue with four white stars in a diamond pattern in the centre.

Did you know?

Micronesia is made up of over 600 islands spread across the western Pacific Ocean.

Flag history of Micronesia

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

1978–present

Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia

Adopted in 1978, it keeps the light-blue field of the Trust Territory flag but reduces the stars from six to four — one for each FSM state: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae.

1962–1978

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

The light-blue flag bearing six white stars for the six districts of the US-administered Trust Territory, from which the current FSM flag was directly derived.

1914–1944

Japanese South Seas Mandate

After German rule (1885–1914), Japan administered these Caroline Islands as part of the South Seas Mandate under its own flag for thirty years, making them among the most heavily settled and developed parts of Japanese Micronesia. They became a US trust territory after the Pacific War.

Related historical states

Empires, kingdoms and republics that once covered part of Micronesia.

1947–1994

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

A US-administered UN trust territory across Micronesia after the Second World War, which split into the modern Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau and the Northern Marianas.