Flag of Fiji

What the flag looks like

A light blue field with the Union Jack in the upper hoist and the shield from Fiji's coat of arms in the fly: a golden lion holding a cocoa pod above a red St George's cross, with sugar cane, a coconut palm, a dove and a bunch of bananas in the quarters.

What it means

The light blue represents the Pacific Ocean and the Union Jack Fiji's links with Britain; the shield shows the country's main crops and a dove of peace.

How to remember it

Fiji's light-blue ensign carries a single shield with a lion, sugar cane, palm, bananas and a dove; Tuvalu's light-blue ensign has nine yellow stars instead.

Fun facts

• In 2015 the government announced it would replace the flag to drop the Union Jack, but abandoned the plan in 2016 after a design competition.
• Fiji's rugby sevens gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics was the country's first ever Olympic medal.
• The 180th meridian passes through Fiji, though the International Date Line bends around the islands so the whole country shares one date.

Fiji at a glance

Capital

Suva

Region

Melanesia

Population

928,784

Area

18,272 km²

Languages

English, Fijian, Fiji Hindi

Currency

Fijian dollar ($)

Flag adopted

1970

Flags often confused with Fiji

• Tuvalu: Fiji and Tuvalu both have the Union Jack on a light blue field. Fiji has a shield on the right; Tuvalu has nine scattered yellow stars.
• Australia: Australia and Fiji both have the Union Jack in the corner. Australia is dark blue with white stars; Fiji is light blue with a shield in the fly.
• New Zealand: Fiji and New Zealand both have the Union Jack in the corner. Fiji's field is light blue with a shield; New Zealand's is dark blue with four red stars.
• United Kingdom: Fiji uses the United Kingdom's Union Jack in its corner. The UK flag is the Union Jack alone; Fiji's has a light blue field with a shield on the right.