Flag of Vanuatu

What the flag looks like

Red over green horizontal halves with a black triangle at the hoist, separated by a yellow horizontal Y edged in black; the triangle holds a yellow curled boar's tusk around two crossed namele fern leaves.

What it means

Red stands for the blood of boars and people, green for the islands' richness and black for the Ni-Vanuatu people; the yellow Y traces the shape of the archipelago, the tusk symbolises prosperity and the namele leaves peace.

How to remember it

A yellow sideways Y plus a curled boar's tusk in the black triangle: South Africa has a similar Y but no tusk, and adds blue.

Fun facts

• Before independence in 1980 the islands were the New Hebrides, jointly ruled by Britain and France.
• The land-diving ritual of Pentecost Island, leaping from tall towers with vines tied to the ankles, inspired modern bungee jumping.

Vanuatu at a glance

Capital

Port Vila

Region

Melanesia

Population

327,777

Area

12,189 km²

Languages

Bislama, English, French

Currency

Vanuatu vatu (Vt)

Flag adopted

1980

Flags often confused with Vanuatu

• South Africa: Vanuatu and South Africa both have a sideways Y around a black triangle at the hoist. South Africa's Y is green with blue below; Vanuatu's Y is yellow with green below and a tusk emblem.