# Flag of Samoa

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Samoa Use National flag and ensign Proportion 1:2 Adopted 24 February 1949; 77 years ago (1949-02-24) Design A red field with the blue rectangle on the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing the Southern Cross of four white larger five-pointed stars and the smaller star in the center. Designed by Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole and Malietoa Tanumafili II

Construction sheet

The **flag of [Samoa](/source/Samoa)** ([Samoan](/source/Samoan_language): *fu‘a o Sāmoa*) was adopted on 24 February 1949. It consists of a red field with a blue rectangle in the [canton](/source/Canton_(heraldry)). The blue rectangle bears the [Southern Cross](/source/Southern_Cross), which is a common symbol on the flags of countries in the Southern Hemisphere, where the constellation can be seen.[1][2] The flag was originally designed in 1948 by [Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole](/source/Tupua_Tamasese_Mea%CA%BBole) and [Malietoa Tanumafili II](/source/Malietoa_Tanumafili_II), who would later become the heads of state of Samoa when it gained independence in 1962.[3][4]

The flag is officially defined by the Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994.[5] When it is being raised or lowered in public, people and vehicles must stop and remain stationary until the performance is complete.[6] Those who [deface the flag](/source/Flag_desecration) or who willfully insult it can be imprisoned for up to six months.[7]

## Historical flags

Prior to the [First World War](/source/First_World_War), [Samoa](/source/German_Samoa) was a part of the [German colonial empire](/source/German_colonial_empire). German colonies used the flag of the [Imperial Colonial Office](/source/Imperial_Colonial_Office), which was the tricolour [flag of the German Empire](/source/Flag_of_the_German_Empire) defaced with the [Imperial Eagle](/source/Reichsadler). The Imperial German government intended to introduce specific flags for the colonies (also based on the tricolour) and several proposals were created, but the war and the subsequent loss of all overseas territories prevented their official adoption. [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) occupied [German Samoa](/source/German_Samoa) in 1914 and officially gained control of the territory in 1919.

From the capture by New Zealand forces on 29 August 1914, a defaced ensign with three palm trees encircled, and emblazoned on the fly were used.

The initial variation of the current Samoan flag adopted in 1948 depicted only four stars; a fifth smaller star was added to the flag in 1949.[3]

		- Flag of the [Kingdom of Samoa](/source/Kingdom_of_Samoa) as depicted in the Flags of Paradise chart, similar to the [Ottoman flag](/source/Ottoman_flag) (1858–1873)

		- Flag of the Kingdom of Samoa (1873–1875)

		- Flag of the Kingdom of Samoa (1875–1879)

		- Flag of the Kingdom of Samoa (1879–1887, 1889–1899). Flag was also used by the [Mau Movement](/source/Mau_movement)

		- Flag of the Tui A‘ana dynasty in the Kingdom of Samoa (1875–1887, 1889–1900).

		- Flag of the Tupua Tamasese in the Kingdom of Samoa (1887–1889)

		- Flag of the German Colonial Office (1899–1914)

		- The German colonial flag is raised, 1 March 1900

		- Proposal for a separate flag for German Samoa, never adopted

		- The flag of New Zealand was used under the occupation by [NZ forces](/source/New_Zealand_Army) (1914–1920)

		- Official flag of [Western Samoa](/source/Western_Samoa_Trust_Territory) under [Mandate](/source/League_of_Nations_Mandate) with New Zealand (17 December 1920 – 1 January 1962)

		- Initial flag of [Western Samoa](/source/Western_Samoa) acquired but not approved (26 May 1948)

		- Flag of Western Samoa, later renamed to Samoa (24 February 1949 – present)

## See also

- [Flags depicting the Southern Cross](/source/Flags_depicting_the_Southern_Cross)

- [Flag of the Republic of China](/source/Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China)

- [Flag of the Union of Burma (historical)](/source/Flag_of_Myanmar#1948_flag)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["W. Samoa's Flag Approved In NZ"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-317397656/view?sectionId=nla.obj-328460056). *Pacific Islands Monthly*. Vol. XIX, no. 8. 1 March 1949. p. 20. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210829053637/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-317397656/view?sectionId=nla.obj-328460056) from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["NEW FLAG FOR WESTERN SAMOA"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19490226.2.132). *[Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times)*. 26 February 1949. p. 9. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210829053640/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19490226.2.132) from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via Papers past.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) ["A brief history of Sāmoan flags: 'Uniting under what colonisers brought to us', says academic"](https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/523870/a-brief-history-of-samoan-flags-uniting-under-what-colonisers-brought-to-us-says-academic). *[RNZ](/source/RNZ)*. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Samoa PM opposes flag change proposal"](https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/198137/samoa-pm-opposes-flag-change-proposal). *[RNZ](/source/RNZ)*. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2024. [Tuilaepa](/source/Tuila%CA%BBepa_Sa%CA%BBilele_Malielegaoi) said the late Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II drew the flag and painted in the colours.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994"](http://www.paclii.org/ws/legis/consol_act_2019/ofanaosa1994308/). PACLII. 28 July 1994. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210812043306/http://www.paclii.org/ws/legis/consol_act_2019/ofanaosa1994308/) from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** *Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994*, section 5.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** *Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994 UFO*, section 7.

## External links

- [Samoa](https://www.fotw.info/flags/ws.html) at [Flags of the World](/source/Flags_of_the_World_(website))

- [World Statesmen – Samoa](http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Samoa.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Flag of Samoa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Samoa) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Samoa?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.