Flag of the Cayman Islands
What the flag looks like
A Blue Ensign with the coat of arms in the fly: a shield with a gold lion on red above three green stars on wavy blue and white bars, topped by a green turtle and a pineapple, with a motto scroll beneath.
What it means
The three stars are Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman on the Caribbean Sea, the lion represents England, the turtle the islands' seafaring past and the pineapple their historic link with Jamaica.
How to remember it
Spot the turtle: the Cayman Islands
' badge is crowned by a green turtle and a pineapple, above three green stars floating on the waves.
Fun facts
- The motto on the scroll, "He hath founded it upon the seas", comes from Psalm 24.
- The Spanish first called the islands Las Tortugas after the many turtles in their waters, which is why a turtle sits on top of the arms.
Cayman Islands at a glance
- Status
- British Overseas Territory
- Sovereign state
- United Kingdom
- Capital
- George Town
- Region
- British Overseas Territory
- Population
- 90,577
- Area
- 264 km²
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Cayman Islands dollar ($)
- Flag adopted
- 1999
Flags often confused with the Cayman Islands
- Turks and Caicos Islands: The Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos are both Blue Ensigns with a coat of arms in the fly. The Cayman badge has a turtle and pineapple on top and three green stars on waves; Turks and Caicos has a plain yellow shield with a conch, a lobster and a cactus.
- British Virgin Islands: The Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands are both Blue Ensigns with a coat of arms in the fly. The Cayman badge has a lion, three green stars and a turtle on top; the BVI shield is green with a woman in white surrounded by lamps.
- Falkland Islands: The Falklands and the Cayman Islands are both Blue Ensigns with a coat of arms in the fly. The Falklands badge has a white ram above a sailing ship; the Cayman badge has a green turtle and pineapple above three green stars.