Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands

What the flag looks like

A blue field with a large white five-pointed star in front of a gray latte stone, encircled by a wreath of flowers.

What it means

The white star represents the United States, the latte stone the Chamorro people, and the flower wreath (mwarmwar) the Carolinian people.

How to remember it

The Northern Marianas put a white star on a gray stone pillar inside a ring of flowers; Guam has a red border and its name in red letters instead.

Fun facts

• Latte stones are stone pillars topped with cup-shaped capstones that once raised ancient Chamorro houses off the ground.
• The flower wreath was added in 1985; the earlier flag showed only the star and the latte stone.

Northern Mariana Islands at a glance

Status

Unincorporated U.S. territory (commonwealth)

Sovereign state

United States

Capital

Saipan

Region

U.S. territory

Population

47,329

Area

464 km²

Languages

English, Chamorro, Carolinian

Currency

United States dollar ($)

Flag adopted

1985

Flags often confused with the Northern Mariana Islands

• Guam: Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are both blue Pacific flags with a central emblem. Guam has a red border and an almond-shaped seal with GUAM written on it; the Northern Marianas show a white star on a gray stone inside a flower wreath.