Oceania · PW / PLW
Flag of Palau
The Palau flag is a light blue field with a golden-yellow disc, the full moon, placed slightly toward the hoist. It was adopted on 1 January 1981, when the islands separated from the United Nations Trust Territory, before becoming fully independent in 1994.
What the flag of Palau looks like
The flag of Palau has a sky blue field with a ratio of 5:8. A large golden-yellow circle sits on it. The circle is off center: it is moved toward the hoist, so that more blue shows on the fly side than on the pole side.
The flag has no other detail. It looks a little like the flag of Japan at first glance, but the colors are different and the disc is off center, as on the flag of Bangladesh. For an emoji version, see the Palau flag emoji.
Palau flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#0099FFRGB
0, 153, 255CMYK
100, 40, 0, 0HEX
#FFFF00RGB
255, 255, 0CMYK
0, 0, 100, 0Palau flag meaning and symbolism
The disc is a full moon. The Palauans consider the full moon the best time for human activity: celebrations, fishing, sowing, harvesting, tree-felling and the carving of traditional canoes are carried out then. The full moon is a symbol of peace, love and tranquility.
The blue field stands for the Pacific Ocean, and also represents the transition from foreign domination to self-government.
The disc sits slightly off center toward the hoist. One Japanese scholar has suggested that the moon pays tribute to the Japanese flag, but the flag's designer, John Blau Skebong, denied any special connection between the two flags.
History of the Palau flag
Palau was controlled by Spain until 1899, then by Germany, and from 1914 by Japan. After the Second World War it became part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which was administered by the United States. The trust territory flag was light blue with a ring of white stars.
A flag with the moon design was chosen for the new government and raised on 1 January 1981, when Palau separated from the Trust Territory and became a republic. In 1994, under a Compact of Free Association with the United States, Palau became fully independent on 1 October, keeping the same flag. Each of the sixteen states of Palau also has its own flag.
Palau flag facts
| Country | Palau |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | January 1, 1981 |
| Proportions | 5:8 |
| Colors | #0099FF, #FFFF00 |
| Symbols | full moon, roundel |
| Flag emoji | 🇵🇼 |
| Country code | PW, PLW (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Ngerulmud |
| Continent | Oceania |
| Population | 21,729 |
| Area | 466 km² |
| Currency | United States dollar |
| National anthem | Belau rekid |
Palau flag: frequently asked questions
Why is the Palau flag off center?
The golden moon sits slightly off center toward the hoist. Official sources give the position but no reason for it.
Why does the Palau flag look like Japan's?
Both have a circle on a plain field. The Japanese disc is red, on white and in the center, while Palau's is a yellow moon on blue and off center. The designer of the Palau flag denied that it was meant to be linked to Japan's flag.
Is Palau a part of America?
No. Palau is an independent country in the western Pacific Ocean. It has a Compact of Free Association with the United States, which handles its defense.
When was the Palau flag adopted?
It was adopted on 1 January 1981.
What is the capital of Palau?
The capital is Ngerulmud, on the island of Babeldaob. It replaced Koror as the capital in 2006.
Where is Palau located in the world?
Palau is an island country in the western Pacific Ocean, in the Micronesia region of Oceania. It forms the western part of the Caroline Islands, with the Philippines to the northwest and Indonesia to the south.
What do the colors of the Palau flag mean?
The light blue field stands for the Pacific Ocean and the move from foreign rule to self-government. The golden-yellow disc is the full moon, which Palauans see as the best time for fishing, planting and carving canoes, and a symbol of peace, love and tranquility.
