Nauru

Use	State flag and civil ensign
Proportion	1:2
Adopted	31 January 1968
Design	A blue field with the thin yellow narrow horizontal stripe across in the center and the large white twelve-pointed star on the bottom of the stripe and near the hoist-side.

Flag at the Parliament of Nauru

Following the independence of Nauru, the flag of Nauru (Nauruan: anidenin Naoero) was raised for the first time. The flag, chosen in a local design competition, was adopted on independence day, 31 January 1968. The design symbolically depicts Nauru's geographical position, with a star just south of the Equator.

Proportions and symbolism

The flag reflects the geographical location of the island nation.

The narrow gold stripe with a width of 1⁄12 of the length of the flag represents the Equator.^[1][2] The stripe along with the star signifies the location of the island in the Pacific Ocean one degree south of the Equator.^[3] The separation of the blue flag cloth into two equal parts recalls the saga, that the first inhabitants were to have been brought to Earth from two boulders.

Nauru itself is symbolised by a white 12-pointed star. The twelve points on the star represent the island's twelve original tribes.^[1] The following twelve tribes are:^[4]

• Deiboe
• Eamwidara
• Eamwit
• Eamwitmwit
• Eano
• Eaoru
• Emangum
• Emea
• Irutsi
• Iruwa
• Iwi
• Ranibok

The blue signifies the Pacific Ocean,^[1] while the white colour of the star represents phosphate,^[3] a former major natural resource of the country.

Construction Sheet

Creation and adoption

The flag was created by a resident employed by the Australian flag manufacturer Evans. It was officially adopted on 31 January 1968. Unlike some flags of Pacific nations (e.g., that of Tuvalu), Nauru's flag has evoked little controversy.

Other flags of Nauru

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1969–present	Flag of the Nauru Pacific Line	a blue field with a large white twelve-pointed star in the centre with an anchor inside the star.[5]
	1924	Proposal flag for Nauru	a white field with a blue field with 15 five-pointed stars in the canton.[6]

Historical flags of Nauru

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1888–1914	When Germany took control of the island in 1888, it was administered under German New Guinea, with the flag of the German New Guinea Company being flown in the island.[3]	A white field with the German tricolour on the canton and defaced with a black lion with a red sword.
	1919–1948	When Nauru was still under the trustee mandate of Australia and the United Kingdom, the Union Jack was flown in the island.[3]	A superimposition of the flags of England and Scotland with the Saint Patrick's Saltire (Representing Ireland).
	1942–1945	Flag of Nauru under the occupation of the Empire of Japan during World War II.[3]	A white field with a red disc in the centre.
	1948–1968	Flag of Nauru used during Trusteeship with Australia and the United Kingdom.[3]	A Blue Ensign defaced with the seven-point Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half.
	1968–present	Current flag of Nauru adopted on 31 January 1968 following its independence from the trusteeship.[3]	A blue field with the thin yellow narrow horizontal stripe across in the centre and the large white twelve-pointed star on the bottom of the stripe and near the hoist-side.

See also

• Coat of arms of Nauru
• Nauru graph, named after its resemblance to the 12-pointed star on the flag

References