The national flag of Tuvalu was instated when the country became independent in 1978, after the separation from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands in 1976.

The stars represent the nine islands which compose Tuvalu; the arrangement is geographically correct, with the east towards the top (i.e. north to the left).

The islands came within the British Empire's sphere of influence in the late 19th century.

This flag, however, was not liked by the inhabitants, who felt that it was a move towards replacing the popular Tuvaluan monarchy with a republic.

In one incident, the people of Niutao, one of Tuvalu's nine atolls, chopped down the flagpole as soon as the new flag was raised.