National Flag of Tuvalu (1997)

Formerly known as the Ellice Islands, Tuvalu comprises nine islands in the western Pacific Ocean and was once part of the British governed colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands from 1916 until 1975.

The Gilbert Islands are now known as Kiribati.

British administrative control over Tuvalu existed from the late 19th century until independence was declared in 1978.

In 1974, a referendum held on the Ellice Islands (Tuvalu) supported the separation of the British colonially constructed Gilbert and Ellice Islands union. 

This occurred in 1975 and at the same time the Ellice Islands were renamed Tuvalu, meaning 'eight standing alone'. Only eight of the nine Tuvalu islands were populated at the time the name was chosen.

The current national flag was first adopted at independence, in 1978. It was replaced for a short time in the 1990s and was re-adopted on the 11th of April 1997.

The Symbolic Meaning

Like many other countries in the British Commonwealth, Tuvalu maintains the Union Flag or Union Jack in the upper hoist, symbolizing the country's historical link to Great Britain.

The nine five-pointed stars represent the nine islands of Tuvalu and reproduce their geographical appearance on a map, with the top of the flag being East and the hoist being North.