Tuvalu's National Flag Adopted

Date: October 1, 1978 • Location: Rome, Italy

Tuvalu adopted its national flag (pictured) on the day that the country gained its independence.

The national flag of Tuvalu is a light blue field with the Union Jack in the canton and nine yellow five-pointed stars on the fly (right) half of the flag. The nine stars represent the nine islands of Tuvalu, while the Union Jack symbolises the country's connections to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. The flag was originally adopted on 1 October 1978, the day Tuvalu became independent.