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Formerly part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, administered by the United States of America, the Marshall Islands gained self-government and adopted the current national flag on the 1st of May 1979.
The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was formed after the Second World War, in 1947 and incorporated more than 2000 islands in the west and
north-west Pacific Ocean; it included the Caroline, Marianas and Marshall Islands. |
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The Marshall Island’s flag states its geographical position in the world;
a country just north of the equator (the stripes) in the central
north-west Pacific Ocean (the blue field), slightly west of the international dateline (the star is off centred towards the hoist of the flag).
The dark blue field represents the Pacific Ocean. Orange is a traditional colour of the Marshall Islands connoting bravery and wealth, while white symbolises peace and brightness.
The orange and white stripes running diagonally across the flag symbolise the
two main island chains of the Marshall Islands, the Ralik chain of islands (orange) and the Ratak chain of islands (white).
The expanding thickness of the stripes connotes the growth and vitality of the Marshall Islands.
The star in the upper hoist has 24 points, representing each of the 24 municipalities of the Marshall Islands. The
four longer points represent the capital of the Marshall Islands, Majuro and the administrative districts of Kwajalein, Wotji and Jaluit.
The four longer points of the star also form a cross and symbolise the Christian faith of the Marshall Islands. |
