Oceania

Flag of Tuvalu

Tuvalu is one of the world's smallest, most remote, and most threatened nations — a Polynesian island group in the central Pacific with a highest point of just 4.6 metres above sea level. The country faces an existential threat from rising sea levels caused by climate change, with much of its land at risk of flooding and saltwater intrusion. Tuvalu licences its highly sought-after '.tv' internet domain extension for significant revenue, providing crucial income for this tiny nation.

CapitalFunafuti
RegionOceania
Current flag since1997
Main coloursBlue, Yellow, Red, White
Populationabout 11,000
Areaabout 26 km²
GeographyIsland nation
Flags in history4

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of Tuvalu means

Light blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, and the nine yellow stars for the islands of Tuvalu, set out as they appear on a map. The Union Jack shows the country's links with Britain. In 1995 a new flag without the Union Jack was adopted, but it was unpopular and the original was restored in 1997.

More about the flag

Tuvalu's name means eight standing together, after the eight traditionally inhabited islands, but the flag shows nine stars, including Niulakita, which was settled later. The stars are arranged as the islands appear on a map, with north at the top. Tuvalu, formerly the Ellice Islands, separated from the Gilbert Islands in 1975 and became independent on 1 October 1978.

How to recognise it

Light blue with the Union Jack in the canton and nine yellow stars representing the nine atolls.

Did you know?

Tuvalu is the world's fourth-smallest country and one of the most threatened by rising sea levels.

Easily confused with

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

Australia

Fiji

Flag history of Tuvalu

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

1997–present

Flag of Tuvalu (restored)

In 1997 Tuvalu reverted to its original 1978 design — a light-blue ensign with the Union Jack and nine yellow stars mapping the geographic positions of the nine islands.

1996–1997

1996 republican variant

Following a 1995 push to end the monarchy, a new flag introduced in 1996 removed the Union Jack in favor of the national coat of arms on a red field. It proved unpopular and short-lived.

1978–1995

Independence flag

Adopted at independence in 1978, the original light-blue ensign with the Union Jack and nine stars — the same design restored in 1997.

1937–1976

Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony

The Ellice Islands (now Tuvalu) were governed with the Gilberts (now Kiribati) as a single British colony, flying the Blue Ensign with the 1937 colonial badge of a frigatebird over a rising sun. The Ellice Islanders voted to separate in 1975, and Tuvalu became independent in 1978.

Other flags in blue, yellow, red and white

4 other national flags use the same main colours as Tuvalu's.

Play Globalio and learn Tuvalu's flag