Flag of French Polynesia

What the flag of French Polynesia looks like

The flag has three horizontal bands: red, white and red. The white band is twice as wide as each red band, so the proportions are 1:2:1. The flag itself has a 2:3 ratio.

In the middle of the white band is a circular emblem. Its upper half shows the sun, with gold and white rays. The lower half shows the sea, with a blue and white wave pattern. A Polynesian canoe rides on the waves, and its crew of five is represented by five stars.

French Polynesia flag meaning and symbolism

Red and white are traditional Polynesian colors, and the flag is inspired by the flag of the Kingdom of Tahiti (1788-1880), which is the same except for the emblem. The emblem is read as follows:

• The sun fills the upper half of the emblem, above the sea.
• The sea and waves in the lower half depict the sea that surrounds and links the islands.
• The canoe is a Polynesian canoe riding on the waves.
• The five stars, the canoe's crew, stand for the five archipelagos of French Polynesia: the Society Islands, the Tuamotus, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas and the Austral Islands.

History of the French Polynesia flag

The Kingdom of Tahiti (1788-1880) flew a red and white flag, and the current flag is inspired by it. The emblem was adopted by a letter of Governor Jean Chastenet de Géry dated 14 September 1939.

The current flag was adopted in 1984. It was designed by Alfred Chalons, a teacher at La Mennais high school who entered a competition with the support of his students, and it was presented to the Assembly of French Polynesia on 20 November 1984. The Assembly approved it on 23 November 1984 under law no. 84-820 of 6 September 1984 on the status of the territory, and a decree of 4 December 1985 regulates its use. The flag must be displayed with the French tricolor, to the left of it, so it is flown beside the French flag, not in place of it. The flag is also seen in the flag emoji used for Tahiti and the other islands.

Is French Polynesia a country?

French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France, not an independent country. It has a large degree of self-government, its own president and assembly, and its own flag. France is responsible for defense and certain other matters. Residents are French citizens, and the currency is the CFP franc. See the flag of France for the national flag.