Flag of Solomon Islands

The flag of Solomon Islands was adopted on November 18, 1977 and consists of two triangles of blue and green, separated by a diagonal yellow stripe, with five white stars in a canton on the blue half of the flag in the shape of the letter “X”.

Meaning of the flag of Solomon Islands

• The blue color represents the Pacific Ocean surrounding Solomon Islands, symbolizing the nation's connection to the sea and the importance of marine resources to the country's economy;
• The green color symbolizes the land, rich in natural resources, as agriculture is the backbone of the country's economy;
• The yellow diagonal stripe represents the sun, which symbolizes the warm climate and optimism of the nation. The stripe itself, which separates the blue and green fields, illustrates the separation of sea and land;
• Five white stars in the upper left corner represent the five main island groups of Solomon Islands (provinces): Guadalcanal, Malaita, Central Islands, Western Province, and Makira-Ulawa. The white stars symbolize peace, harmony, and the islands' commitment to unity among all island groups. Although the Solomon Islands now consists of nine provinces and the administrative unit of Goniara, the number of stars on the flag has not changed as they represent the 5 main island groups that had historical and cultural significance when the flag was created in 1977.

Solomon Islands provinces

At the time of independence in 1978, Solomon Islands consisted of six provinces: Central, Choisul, Guadalcanal, Isabel, Malaita, and Western Provinces. At that time, the administrative division of the country still reflected the structure created by the British colonial administration. In line with the population growth and the need for more efficient management of the territory, the Solomon Islands government gradually created new provinces.

Thus, in 1981, the province of Temotu was separated from the Central Province, and in 1983, the province of Makira-Ulava. In 1993, the Rennel and Bellona province gained its own status by separating from the Western Province. Today, the country consists of nine provinces and the capital city of Goniara, which has a separate administrative status. 

Below is information about the 9 provinces of Solomon Islands, sorted from largest to smallest, with the percentage of the province's area of the total area of Solomon Islands, as well as its population. The tenth item is the capital, Goniara, as a separate administrative unit:

1. Western Province: area - 5,475 km² (19.28% of the total area of Solomon Islands), population - 76,649;
2. Guadalcanal Province: area - 5,336 km² (18.79%), population - 93,613;
3. Malaita Province: 4,225 km² (14.88%), population 137,596;
4. Isabel Province: 4,136 km² (14.56%), population 26,158;
5. Choiseul Province: 3,837 km² (13.51%), population 26,372;
6. Makira-Ulawa Province: area - 3,188 km² (11.23%), population - 40,419;
7. Temotu Province: area - 895 km² (3.15%), population - 21,362;
8. Rennell and Bellona: 671 km² (2.36%), population 3,041;
9. Central Province: area - 615 km² (2.17%), population - 29,921;
10. Honiara: 22 km² (0.08%), population 84,520.

The evolution of the Solomon Islands flag

The history of the Solomon Islands flag is closely tied to the colonial period and the path to independence. The Solomon Islands were discovered by Europeans in 1568, when Spanish explorer Alvaro Mendaña de Neira first arrived on the archipelago, but colonization began much later. In the nineteenth century, Britain established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands, and in 1893 the Solomon Islands officially became a British colony. During this period, the British flag, known as the Union Jack, was used on the islands.

Subsequently, starting in 1906, Britain began to use its usual version of the colonial flag, namely a blue cloth with the Union Jack in the canton and the national emblem on the right side. In general, colonial flags went through several stages of development, each of which reflected changes in the status of the territory and its relationship with the United Kingdom:

• 1906-1947:
  • The Union Jack symbolizes the sovereignty of the United Kingdom over the territory and the Solomon Islands as part of the British Empire;
  • The Tudor crown is a symbol of the British monarchy and is used on colonial emblems as a sign of power and authority;
  • The inscription “British Solomon Islands”: The official name of the colony.

• 1947-1956:
  • Union Jack: As with the previous flag, the Union Jack symbolized British control of the Solomon Islands;
  • The sea turtle symbolizes longevity, endurance, and a connection to the sea. For many Pacific cultures, including the Solomon Islands, the turtle is an important symbol, so its use by the British shows respect for local traditions and nature;
  • The black and white triangles above the turtle in the form of teeth symbolize protection and strength;
  • The inscription “British Solomon Islands” below the emblem clarifies that the flag represented the British colony of the Solomon Islands.
• 1956-1966:
  • Union Jack: Again, a symbol of British sovereignty;
  • The lion is a traditional symbol of strength and power;
  • The eagle symbolizes majesty, strength, and is also a symbol of observation and supervision of the territory;
  • The turtle, as on the previous flag, symbolizes the natural wealth and traditions of the islands;
  • The frigate bird is a symbol of speed and endurance;
  • The arms reflect the local military traditions and cultural heritage, as well as the readiness of the population to defend their land.
• 1966-1977: In terms of symbolism, it is no different from the previous flag, except that the shield with the elements was taken out of the round disk and placed directly on a blue background.

In 1975, when the Solomon Islands were preparing to gain independence from the United Kingdom, a competition was announced to create a national flag. It was open to all islanders, and as a result, more than two hundred designs were submitted. John Hazeldine played a key role in developing the final design of the Solomon Islands flag. He took ideas and elements from the entries and developed the final version of the flag, making it more harmonious and ensuring compliance with heraldic requirements. It was his final version of the flag that was officially approved and adopted as the national symbol of Solomon Islands.

The flag of Solomon Islands was officially adopted on November 18, 1977, a year before the official declaration of independence from the United Kingdom.