Flag of the Marshall Islands

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Marshall Islands

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The flag of the Marshall Islands was adopted on May 1, 1979, in conjunction with the country's Constitution and the establishment of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The flag was designed by Emlain Kabua, the wife of the first President of the Marshall Islands, Amata Kabua.

Design and symbolism

The flag features a blue field with two diagonal stripes extending from the lower hoist-side corner to the upper fly-side corner. The top stripe is orange, and the bottom stripe is white. In the upper hoist-side corner, there is a white star with four large rays and twenty small rays.

The blue field represents the Pacific Ocean, which surrounds the islands. The two diagonal stripes symbolize the equator, with the Marshall Islands located just north of it. The orange stripe represents the Ralik Chain (sunset), and the white stripe represents the Ratak Chain (sunrise). The star signifies the cross of Christianity, with the four large rays representing the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Ebeye, Jaluit, and Wotje. The twenty small rays symbolize the electoral districts of the Marshall Islands.

History

Before the adoption of the current flag, the Marshall Islands were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and used the flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The current flag was chosen through a design competition held in 1978, and it was officially adopted the following year when the Marshall Islands gained self-governance.

Usage

The flag is used as the national flag and ensign of the Marshall Islands. It is flown on government buildings, schools, and other public institutions. The flag is also used during official ceremonies and international events to represent the Marshall Islands.

Related pages

• Marshall Islands
• President of the Marshall Islands
• Constitution of the Marshall Islands
• Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
• Ralik Chain
• Ratak Chain