Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis

What the flag looks like

A black diagonal band edged in yellow runs from the lower hoist to the upper fly, carrying two white five-pointed stars; the upper hoist triangle is green and the lower fly triangle red.

What it means

Green represents the fertile land, yellow the sunshine, black the African heritage, and red the struggle against slavery and colonialism; the two stars stand for hope and liberty.

How to remember it

Saint Kitts and Nevis: a black diagonal sash with two white stars, one for each island, between green and red triangles.

Fun facts

• Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas by both area and population.
• The flag was designed by Edrice Lewis, whose entry won a national competition before independence in 1983.

Saint Kitts and Nevis at a glance

Capital

Basseterre

Region

Caribbean

Population

46,843

Area

261 km²

Languages

English

Currency

Eastern Caribbean dollar ($)

Flag adopted

1983

Flags often confused with Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Tanzania: Saint Kitts and Nevis and Tanzania both have a yellow-edged black diagonal band with green above it. Saint Kitts has red below and two white stars on the band; Tanzania has blue below and no stars.
• Trinidad and Tobago: Saint Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago both have a black diagonal band. Trinidad's runs down from the upper hoist on plain red; Saint Kitts' rises from the lower hoist, edged in yellow, with two stars and green and red triangles.