Tuvalu Flag

Description

The Tuvalu flag is available from Flags Online in full-size and desk formats, printed on both sides and made to last outdoors.

About the Tuvalu Flag

The Tuvalu flag is a light blue field with the Union Jack in the canton and nine yellow stars scattered across the fly, each one standing for an island or atoll in this small Pacific nation. It has represented Tuvalu, one of the smallest and lowest-lying countries in the world, since independence from Britain in the late 1970s, apart from one brief interruption.

Colours and Symbolism

The pale blue background is widely read as a reference to the Pacific Ocean that surrounds, and increasingly threatens, the low-lying islands of Tuvalu. The nine five-pointed yellow stars are arranged in the fly in a layout that mirrors the actual geographic position of Tuvalu’s nine islands and atolls in relation to one another, rather than in a simple decorative pattern. The Union Jack in the canton reflects Tuvalu’s history as a British colony and its continued place within the Commonwealth as a constitutional monarchy.

History of the Tuvalu Flag

Tuvalu became independent from Britain on 1 October 1978, having previously been administered jointly with the Gilbert Islands as the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony, and the current design was adopted around independence. In 1995, the government of the day replaced it with a different flag that removed the Union Jack and rearranged the stars around the national emblem, a change that proved unpopular with much of the public. Following a change of government, Tuvalu reverted to the original blue ensign design, restoring the Union Jack and the nine-star layout, in 1997, and the Tuvalu flag has remained unchanged since.

Flying and Displaying the Flag

The Tuvalu flag is flown at government buildings on the main atoll of Funafuti and across the outer islands, and is a centrepiece of Independence Day celebrations each October. It is displayed with the Union Jack canton at the upper hoist corner and the nine stars spread across the pale blue field of the fly. Given international attention on Tuvalu’s vulnerability to rising sea levels, the flag has also become a recognisable symbol used in discussions of climate change and small island states, well beyond its everyday role as a national emblem.

Tuvalu Flag Sizes and Pricing

• 180 x 120cm — R860
• 22 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R800
• 10 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R650
• 90 x 60cm — R400

Material and Construction

Made from 100% polyester bunting material and digitally printed on both sides. Hemmed all around with two rows of stitching and finished with a polyester webbing heading. Rope and toggle for hoisting included.

Supplied in packs of 10. Printed on both sides onto polyester and supplied with a black plastic stick and removable base — take the base off and it doubles as a hand waving flag.

Ordering and Delivery

Every Tuvalu flag is printed to order and dispatched from our Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Johannesburg branches, with courier delivery nationwide. Bulk and school orders are welcome — contact us for volume pricing on quantities of 10 or more.

Additional information