Light Blue, Dark Blue and White Flags

Which countries have white, blue and light blue flags?

No national flag uses only white, dark blue and light blue. Three flags include all three colors in more complex designs. Fiji has a light blue field with the Union Jack in the corner and a shield with a lion, sugar cane and palm. Tuvalu has a light blue field, a Union Jack in the corner and nine yellow stars. Montserrat is a blue ensign with a Union Jack in the corner and a harp, to recall the island's Irish heritage.

Flags with two different shades of blue are rare. The ones that do combine them often rely on the Union Jack, where dark blue is paired with a lighter field.

Why do some flags use two shades of blue?

Light blue is often used for the sea or sky. British overseas flags add the Union Jack, which already uses a dark blue, so the two tones appear together naturally.

Another reason is the historical template of the blue ensign. A blue field with the Union Jack in the corner was used for many British colonies, and later nations kept it when they changed the field shade.

How can you tell these flags apart?

Fiji and Tuvalu are both light blue ensigns with the Union Jack, but Fiji has a shield on the fly and Tuvalu has nine stars. Montserrat is a darker blue with a harp. Compare them in the grid above to see the shades side by side.