Tuvalu’s flag (1 October 1978) is a light‑blue ensign with the Union Jack canton and nine yellow five‑pointed stars on the fly, arranged to reflect the islands’ positions (with east at the top). A 1995 republican variant dropped the Union Jack and altered the stars but was reversed in 1997 after public opposition; the original scheme was restored. Ratio 1:2; canton occupies the upper hoist quarter. Construction fixes star sizes and coordinates for cartographic legibility. The blue recalls the Pacific; stars denote the islands; the canton recognises Commonwealth ties. Protocol follows international norms, including precedence and half‑masting.
Adopted on Independence Day, 1 October 1978, Tuvalu’s national flag aligns a Commonwealth ensign layout with a cartographic motif of nine stars. It has twice served as a touchstone of constitutional debate—most notably during a 1995–1997 interlude—before the original design was reaffirmed.
Independence and Design Tuvalu separated from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony in the mid‑1970s and adopted its own symbols upon independence in 1978. The national flag follows the light‑blue ensign pattern: the Union Jack fills the upper hoist canton, and nine golden‑yellow stars occupy the fly. The stars represent Nanumea, Nanumanga, Niutao, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, Nukulaelae, and Niulakita, arranged to reflect the islands’ geography with east oriented at the top—turning the flag into a stylised map.
Geometry, Ratio, and Colour The flag’s ratio is 1:2. The canton occupies the upper hoist quarter as in British ensign practice. Government drawings set star diameters and coordinates so small flags retain legibility and the map‑like arrangement is preserved. The light, sky‑blue field distinguishes the flag from darker naval ensigns and reads clearly against tropical sky and sea; stars are rendered in a strong yellow for contrast.
1995–1997 Variant and Restoration In 1995 a republican‑leaning government replaced the design with a flag that omitted the Union Jack and altered the star treatment, briefly reducing star count to reflect only inhabited islands. The change met strong public resistance tied to respect for the Crown and to the inclusive symbolism of nine islands. In 1997 the prior flag was restored by law, reinstating both the Union Jack and the nine‑star arrangement.
Protocol
and Usage Protocol mirrors Commonwealth norms: respectful handling; sunrise‑to‑sunset display unless illuminated; precedence rules; and half‑masting during national mourning. The flag is displayed on public buildings, schools, diplomatic missions, and at sporting events. Ministries maintain vector artwork to prevent drift in star placement and to stabilise dye choices across textile batches.
Continuity
and Meaning Since 1997 Tuvalu has retained the restored design without alteration. The flag’s elements combine a practical map of the archipelago with recognition of constitutional history and external ties; the sky‑blue ground foregrounds the oceanic context in which Tuvalu lives. The design’s clarity and colour contrast have aided recognition from village greens to international arenas.
In sum, Tuvalu’s flag is a cartographic ensign: a sky‑blue field that holds a Commonwealth canton and nine stars set as islands—a compact statement of geography, history, and belonging.