Buy Fiji Flags

Flag of Fiji

The modern flag of Fiji has been in use for less than half of a century, but the history of all Fiji flags stretches back for more than one hundred years. The flag has changed several times since the first one was adopted, and it seems likely that there will be a new flag of Fiji at some point in the near future.

• Capital of Fiji: Suva
• Area of Fiji: 18,270 sq. km
• Languages used in Fiji: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
• Religions in Fiji: Christian, Hindu, Muslim

Colors and Symbolism of Fiji Flags

Current Fiji flags feature a bright blue field with the nation's coat of arms in the fly and the Union Jack in the canton. The design is similar to that of British colonial flags, which reflects Fiji's history as a part of the British Empire. The blue field is meant to represent the Pacific Ocean, which surrounds the island of Fiji and dominates the nation's economy. The Union Jack is a symbol of Britain and the historical link that it has with Fiji. The coat of arms is a symbol of the nation itself, and its design emphasizes both the nation's peaceful atmosphere and the crops that dominate its agricultural sector. The coat of arms is also a symbol of the nation's time as a British colony, since it was granted to Fiji by the British government and includes a red lion, which is a traditional symbol of Britain.

History of Fiji Flags

Fiji adopted its first flag in 1871. The flag was a white and blue bicolor with a red shield that displayed a dove centered on the flag's division. The flag was only used for three years before Fiji became a British colony and stopped using the national flag in 1874. The British flag then became the symbol of Fiji on the world stage until the colony gained a new flag in 1908. The design was slightly amended in 1924. Both of the colonial flags followed the standard practice of the British Empire. They were British blue ensigns with the Union Jack in the Canton and the colonial coat of arms in the fly. They differed from the modern flag in that they used a different form of the coat of arms and a darker shade of blue for the field.

Fiji adopted the modern flag in 1970 and has used it ever since, but that may change in the future. The government of Fiji announced plans to design and adopt a new flag in 2013, although the design has yet to be chosen.