Flag of the Marshall Islands

What the flag of the Marshall Islands looks like

The flag has a deep blue background. Two stripes begin at the lower hoist corner and rise diagonally toward the upper fly, getting wider as they go. The upper stripe is orange and the lower one is white. In the top left corner, above the stripes, is a white star with 24 points. Four of the points, at north, south, east and west, are longer than the rest. The flag is about 10:19 in proportion.

The diagonal stripes make this flag stand out among the many blue flags of the Pacific. A small version is also used as the Marshall Islands flag emoji.

Marshall Islands flag meaning and symbolism

The flag's symbols are explained as follows:

• Blue represents the Pacific Ocean.
• Orange represents courage, and the white stripe peace.
• The two stripes together are said to represent the Ratak (“sunrise”) and Ralik (“sunset”) island chains, with the diagonal line also suggesting the equator.
• The star has 24 points for the 24 municipalities, or electoral districts, of the republic. The four long rays are often said to stand for the main population centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje and Ebeye and are also described as forming a cross.

These readings are widely repeated but vary between sources. The star is often described as a symbol of Christianity, a faith practiced by most Marshallese, as well as a symbol of the nation.

History of the Marshall Islands flag

The islands were claimed by Germany in the 1880s, taken by Japan in 1914, and captured by the United States during World War II. From 1947 they were part of the US-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, flying the trust territory's own flag.

As the Marshall Islands moved toward self-government, a new national flag was needed. It was designed by Emlain Kabua, the wife of Amata Kabua, who became the first president. The flag was adopted on 1 May 1979, when the Marshall Islands gained a constitution and began governing itself. The Compact of Free Association with the United States took effect in 1986, giving the islands full control of their internal and foreign affairs, and the country joined the United Nations in 1991. The flag has not changed since 1979.

Why ships fly the Marshall Islands flag

The Marshall Islands runs one of the largest ship registries in the world. Many oil tankers, bulk carriers and some yachts are registered there for tax, regulation and cost reasons even though their owners are elsewhere, so the flag is seen at sea more often than on the islands. The Marshall Islands is a sovereign country in free association with the United States, not a US territory.