Kiribati

About the flag

Kiribati is correct: the flag’s iconic frigatebird soaring over a rising sun and ocean waves marks this equatorial Pacific nation. The 17 sun rays stand for the 16 Gilbert Islands plus Banaba, while the waves symbolize the surrounding Pacific and the three island groups—Gilbert, Phoenix, and Line. Unlike Australia or New Zealand (which feature the Southern Cross) or Nauru (a single star over a yellow stripe), Kiribati centers on the seabird and sun. Memory tip: “Kiri-birdy”—spot the frigatebird and think Kiribati. The design derives from the former Gilbert and Ellice Islands’ arms and was adopted at independence in 1979. Kiribati spans the Equator and shifted the International Date Line, making it among the first places on Earth to see each new day—and the first sunrise of the year 2000.