The flag of Vanuatu (Bislama: flaeg blong Vanuatu) was adopted on 18 February 1980.
In 1977 a flag of almost the same colours and symbolism as the future national flag was designed by local artist Kalontas Malon and adopted by the Vanua'aku Pati. When the party led the New Hebrides to independence as Vanuatu in 1980, the colours of the party flag (red, green, black and yellow) were chosen to be the basis for the national flag on Independence Day, 30 July 1980. A parliamentary committee chose the final design based on submissions from local artists.
Symbolism
The green represents the richness of the islands, the red symbolises blood which unites humanity as humans, and the black the ni-Vanuatu people. The Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Father Walter Lini, requested the inclusion of yellow and black fimbriations to make the black stand out. The yellow Y-shape represents the shape of Vanuatu islands on the map and the light of the gospel going through the pattern of the islands in the Pacific Ocean (approximately 83% of the people of Vanuatu profess Christianity).
The emblem in the black is a boar's tusk — the symbol of customs and tradition but also prosperity. Its worn as a pendant on the islands – along with two leaves of the local namele tree. These leaves are supposed to be a token of peace, and their 39 leaflets represent the original 39 members of the Parliament of Vanuatu.
Construction
With a flag width of 180 units, the width of the triangle, from hoist to point, should be 84 units. The height of the flag will thus be 95 units, with the yellow band being 5 units tall, the gold fimbriations are each 6 units tall and the upper and lower (red and green) parts of the field are, thus, 39 units tall each.
Other flags of Vanuatu
Government flag
| Flag |
Date |
Use |
Description |
|
1980-Present |
Presidential Standard |
A green field with a red border and the national coat of arms in the center. |
Military flags
| Flag |
Date |
Use |
Description |
|
1980-Present |
Naval Ensign |
A white field with the national flag in the canton. |
|
|
Flag of Vanuatu Mobile Forces |
|
|
|
Flag of Vanuatu Police Force |
|
Political flags
| Flag |
Date |
Use |
Description |
| Link to file |
1966-Present |
Flag of the Nagriamel Movement |
|
| Link to file |
1971-Present |
Flag of the Vanua'aku Pati |
|
Subnational flags from Vanuatu
Provincial flags
| Flag |
Date |
Use |
Description |
|
?-Present |
Flag of the Malampa Province |
|
|
?-Present |
Flag of the Penama Province |
|
|
?-Present |
Flag of the Sanma Province |
|
|
?-Present |
Flag of the Shefa Province |
|
|
?-Present |
Flag of the Tafea Province |
|
|
?-Present |
Flag of the Torba Province |
|
Secessionist Group Flags
| Flag |
Date |
Use |
Description |
|
1980 |
Reconstructed secessionist flag of the Tafea Nation |
|
|
1980 |
Flag of the island of Tanna, in Tafea Province, and of its secessionist movement |
|
City flags
| Flag |
Date |
Use |
Description |
|
2020-Present |
Flag of Port Vila |
|
|
?-2020 |
Previous flag of Port Vila |
|
|
?-Present |
Flag of Luganville |
|
Historical flags of the New Hebrides
| Flag |
Date |
Use |
Description |
|
1887-1906 |
Flag of the Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission |
a vertical bicolour of red and white with a blue square in the center and 5 5-pointed stars inside the square. |
|
1906-1953 |
Flag of the British New Hebrides |
A blue ensign with the emblem of New Hebrides (with The Tudor Crown). |
|
1906-1953 |
Flag of the British Resident Commissioner |
The Union Jack defaced with the emblem of New Hebrides (with The Tudor Crown). |
|
1953-1980 |
Flag of the British New Hebrides |
A blue ensign with the emblem of New Hebrides (with The St Edward's Crown) |
|
1953-1980 |
Flag of the British Resident Commissioner |
The Union Jack defaced with the emblem of New Hebrides (with The St Edward's Crown). |
|
1906-1940 1944-1980 |
Flag of the French New Hebrides |
A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 3:2). |
|
1940-1944 |
Flag of the Free French administration of New Hebrides |
A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red with The Cross of Lorraine. |
|
1963-1966 |
Flag attested as being used in the 1963 South Pacific Games |
A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red with The Flags of France and U.K. in the Center. |
|
1966-1969 1971-1980 |
Flag attested as being used in the 1966 and 1971 South Pacific Games |
A blue field with The Emblem of The New Hebrides in the center. |
|
1969-1971 |
Dark blue version attested at the time of the 1969 South Pacific Games |
Similar to the Previous Flag. |
|
1980 |
Flag of the ephemeral Republic of Vemerana |
A Blue field with a green 5-pointed star in the center. |
|
1980 |
Flag of People's Provisional Government of Vanuatu led by Vanua'aku Pati |
|
