Flag of Palau
Officially Republic of Palau
Locally Belau
What the flag looks like
A light blue field with a large yellow disc placed slightly towards the hoist.
What it means
The yellow disc is the full moon, considered the best time for fishing, planting and celebrations, and the blue is the Pacific Ocean.
How to remember it
A yellow full moon over a blue sea: Palau's
off-center disc echoes Bangladesh's
red sun on green and Japan's
centered red sun on white, but only Palau's is yellow on blue.
Fun facts
- Palau created the world's first shark sanctuary in 2009, banning commercial shark fishing in its waters.
- Since 2017 visitors must sign the 'Palau Pledge', stamped in their passport, promising to protect the environment.
- Ngerulmud became the capital in 2006, replacing Koror, the largest town.
Palau at a glance
- Capital
- Ngerulmud
- Region
- Micronesia
- Population
- 17,695
- Area
- 459 km²
- Languages
- English, Palauan
- Currency
- United States dollar ($)
- Flag adopted
- 1981
Flags often confused with Palau
- Bangladesh: Bangladesh and Palau both have a large disc placed slightly towards the hoist. Bangladesh is a red disc on dark green; Palau is a yellow disc on light blue.
- Japan: Japan and Palau both show a single disc. Japan's is a red disc centered on white; Palau's is a yellow disc on light blue, set slightly towards the hoist.