How To
How To
Time needed: 1 minute
How to copy and paste the Flag of Palau Emoji to any device.
- Copy the Palauan Flag Emoji
Go to flagemoji.com and press the copy button (above). This works on any device.
- Paste the Emoji
Go to your email/iMessage/SMS texting service/document and paste the emoji.
For mobile devices
— double-tap or tap-hold, then paste should appear. Tap it.
For desktop and laptops on Apple devices
— command-P / ⌘-P
For desktop and laptops on Windows devices
— control-p
Codes
Emoji Codes
Flag emojis are unicode symbols, like any other letter or number on your keyboard. This means you can copy and paste the emoji itself into your code, whatever the language (click the button above).
They actually count as two characters: the two-letter country code (the ISO international standard). The unicode and shortcode both represent country data which devices can interpret and display the emoji.
| Country Code | Unicode | Shortcode |
| PW | U+1F1F5 U+1F1FC | :flag_PW: :PW: |
Emoji shortcodes are used on some platforms as a way for users to type in emojis from the keyboard. If you type the emoji shortcode on Github or Slack, the emoji will appear.
*The official name of the emoji is only the country name, not ‘Palau Flag’, for example.
Description
Description
The flag of Palau is light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side. The blue color represents the ocean, while the disk represents the moon. Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity. It is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility.
Map
Map
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Weather
Anthem
National Anthem
| Title | Belau rekid (Our Palau) |
| Composer | Ymesei O. Ezekiel |
FAQ
FAQs
Palau gained independence on October 1, 1994.
The blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents the moon. Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity. It is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility
The flag of Palau was adopted in 1981.
Palau is governed by a presidential republic in free association with the US.
Discover more fun facts of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Printable
Printable Palauan Flag
Print another really cool flag. Why not the flag of Central African Republic?

3D Glossy Render — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau as a photorealistic 3D render. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag fabric hangs or drapes naturally but preserves exact proportions, colors, and all symbols perfectly — completely faithful to the real Palau flag. Dramatic studio lighting, glossy silk material, soft shadows, subsurface scattering, perfect specular highlights. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Chalk on Blackboard — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau drawn in chalk on a real blackboard. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Authentic blackboard — dark slate green surface with chalk dust and smudge marks. Soft, dusty white and colored chalk lines, imperfect edges, hand-drawn quality. Chalk dust particles visible in the air. The flag is immediately recognizable. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Embroidered Textile — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau as intricate embroidery on linen fabric. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Dense satin stitches, French knots, chain stitch detail. The flag design is completely faithful — exact colors, geometry, and all symbols faithfully stitched, immediately recognizable as the Palau flag. Visible thread texture, dimensional quality, warm handcrafted feel. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Flagpole in Capital — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Photorealistic photograph of the Palau flag flying on a tall flagpole in front of an iconic government building in the capital city. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag ripples naturally in the wind, colors vivid and exact. Documentary photography style, sharp and realistic. Grand architecture in the background. Blue sky, dramatic clouds. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Golden Hour Reflection — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Photorealistic photograph of the Palau flag reflected in still water at golden hour. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag flies on a pole at the water’s edge, its reflection shimmering on the surface below. Warm amber and orange sunset light. The flag colors and design are faithful and vivid. Serene, cinematic landscape photography. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Street Art / Graffiti — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau as vibrant street art spray-painted on a brick wall. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Bold spray paint, dripping edges, stencil layers, overspray halos. The flag design is faithful and immediately recognizable — exact colors and symbols, just rendered in spray paint on urban concrete. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind. No tags, no graffiti lettering.

Sci-Fi Hologram — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau projected as a futuristic holographic display. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Translucent blue-white projection with scan lines, floating in dark space. Glitching edges, particle effects, data streams. The flag design is completely faithful and recognizable. Cyberpunk HUD elements framing the projection. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Hyperrealistic Wind — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Ultra-hyperrealistic photograph of the Palau flag caught in a dramatic gust of wind. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Macro-level fabric detail — individual threads visible, fabric folds and tension lines crisp. Colors and design completely faithful to the real Palau flag. High-speed shutter, razor-sharp focus, studio lighting. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Impressionist Oil — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau painted in French Impressionist oil on canvas. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Thick impasto brushstrokes, dappled light, vibrant broken color technique in the style of Monet. The flag is instantly recognizable — colors and design faithful to the real Palau flag, interpreted with impressionist light and texture. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Lego Bricks — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau built from Lego bricks, photographed as a real physical construction. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Visible studs and brick seams, slight plastic sheen. Standard Lego colors approximate the flag’s palette. Built on a gray Lego baseplate. Dramatic angle showing the three-dimensional brick texture. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Low-Poly Geometric — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau constructed from low-polygon geometric triangles. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Aggressively faceted — each region broken into many visible triangular faces with subtle color variation across each polygon, creating real depth and dimensionality even in flat-color areas of the flag. Crystal-like, contemporary computational design. The flag is completely faithful and immediately recognizable. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Mosaic Tiles — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau assembled as a Roman-style mosaic. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag is completely faithful to the real Palau flag — exact proportions, colors, and all symbols, rendered in thousands of small stone and glass tesserae. Visible grout lines, rich earthy tones mixed with brilliant glass, slight historical weathering. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Native Landscape — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Photorealistic photograph of the Palau flag flying in an iconic natural landscape native to Palau — the terrain, flora, and environment characteristic of that country. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag is prominent and its colors are faithful and vivid. Remote, uninhabited wilderness. National Geographic photography style. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Neon Sign — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau recreated as a real neon sign mounted on a dark wall. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Glowing glass neon tubes bent into the flag’s shapes — the colors of the flag rendered in actual neon light. Visible glass tube bends, metal mounting brackets on the wall. Warm neon glow and light bloom. Real neon, not digital. Photographed in a dark room. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Pencil Sketch — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau as a bold, confident pencil sketch. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Strong graphite lines on cream paper — not delicate but bold and decisive. Heavy pressure on key outlines, dramatic cross-hatching for deep shadows and shading. Immediately recognizable as the Palau flag. Artist’s confident hand, not tentative. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Pixel Art — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau as detailed 16-bit pixel art. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Crisp pixel grid, limited palette with careful dithering, nostalgic retro game aesthetic. Clean grid-aligned design with subtle shading. Every element of the flag faithfully reproduced in pixels. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Stained Glass — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau rendered as an ornate stained glass window. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The design is completely faithful to the real Palau flag — exact colors, geometry, and all symbols preserved. Brilliant jewel-toned glass pieces separated by dark lead came lines. Warm sunlight streaming through, casting colored light. Gothic cathedral craftsmanship. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Ukiyo-e Woodblock — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau as a traditional Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Bold outlines, flat areas of rich color, flowing organic forms. Wind and waves incorporated into the composition. Printed on washi paper with visible wood grain texture. The flag is the central focus and instantly recognizable. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Vintage Postage Stamp — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau as a vintage 1950s postage stamp. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag fills most of the stamp — it is the primary subject, faithfully rendered in fine engraved intaglio style. Perforated edges, aged paper with slight foxing. The stamp may show a denomination numeral only — absolutely no other text or country names.

Watercolor — Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. The flag of Palau painted in loose, expressive watercolor. Light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle slightly offset toward the hoist. Wet-on-wet technique with soft color bleeds, visible brushstrokes, natural paper texture. Delicate splashes and drips at the edges. Luminous, translucent layers of pigment. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.
The Golden Moon and Blue Waters: Palau’s Symbol of Peace and Self-Governance
The flag of Palau stands as a strikingly simple yet profoundly meaningful national symbol, featuring a light blue field dominated by a large golden-yellow circle positioned slightly toward the hoist side. This elegant design emerged from Palau’s journey toward self-determination and independence from colonial administration, representing not just a nation’s emergence on the world stage but also the deep cultural values and lunar traditions that define Palauan identity. Unlike many flags that draw upon complex heraldic histories or ancient symbolism, Palau’s flag is a modern creation born from democratic participation and reflecting the aspirations of a newly independent Pacific island nation.
Palau’s Path to Self-Governance and Flag Adoption
Palau’s journey to sovereignty is inseparable from the adoption of its national flag. For much of the 20th century, the island nation was governed by external powers, beginning under Spanish colonial administration before being sold to Germany in 1899. After World War I, Japan assumed control, followed by American administration after World War II. When the United States established the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947, Palau became part of this international mandate under the United Nations framework. For more than three decades, Palau lacked a distinct national flag, instead represented by the flags of whatever colonial or trustee power held administrative control. The introduction of Palau’s own flag in 1981 coincided with the nation’s transition to the status of a freely associated state, though full sovereignty would not be achieved until October 1, 1994.
The creation of Palau’s flag was not decreed by government officials but rather emerged from a democratic national design contest. In 1979, as Palau prepared for self-governance, the Palau National Congress announced a competition inviting citizens to submit flag designs that would represent their nation. The response was overwhelming: more than 1,000 proposals were submitted by Palauan artists, designers, and citizens, each offering their own vision of what the flag should represent. Among these countless entries, the design by Blau J. Skebong emerged as the winner. Skebong’s creation was officially approved by the government on October 22, 1980, and was officially adopted on January 1, 1981, when Palau transitioned to the status of a republic within the Trust Territory. The democratic origin of the flag gave it special significance among Palauans, as it represented not the choice of a distant power or colonial authority but rather the will of the Palauan people themselves.
Design Elements and Artistic Vision
Palau’s flag is distinctive in its minimalist yet striking design. It comprises just two elements: a light sky-blue field and a large golden-yellow circle that occupies approximately three-fifths of the flag’s height. The aspect ratio of the flag is fixed at 5:8, giving it a specific dimensional relationship between width and length. What makes the flag particularly distinctive is the positioning of the golden circle: rather than being centered on the flag, the circle is deliberately offset toward the hoist side, the edge closest to the flagpole. This off-center placement is an intentional design decision that serves both aesthetic and cultural purposes.
The offset positioning of the moon was designed to create visual balance when the flag waves in the wind. When a flag moves with the breeze, a centered object can appear unbalanced or disproportionate to the eye. By placing the moon slightly toward the hoist, the designer ensured that when the flag unfurls and catches the wind, the moon appears more centrally positioned to an observer viewing the moving flag. This practical consideration demonstrates that Skebong’s design reflected not just artistic vision but also understanding of how flags function in real-world conditions.
The Symbolism of the Golden Moon
While the design is modern, the symbolism it embodies draws deeply from ancient Palauan culture and traditions. The golden-yellow circle that dominates Palau’s flag represents the full moon, a celestial body that holds extraordinary cultural and practical significance throughout Palauan history and society. In traditional Palauan culture, the full moon was not merely an astronomical phenomenon but a crucial guide for daily life and communal activity. The full moon marked the optimum time for fishing expeditions, when the increased moonlight illuminated the waters and traditional fishing practices were most productive. It was also traditionally considered the best time for planting crops, as Palauan agricultural practices were synchronized with lunar cycles. Beyond agriculture and fishing, the full moon was the occasion for major celebrations, traditional canoe carving, and other community gatherings.
The moon, in Palauan cultural consciousness, represents peace, love, and tranquility. These qualities are fundamental to the national identity that Palau sought to project to the world through its flag. By choosing the full moon as the central element of their national symbol, Palauans were asserting that their nation was founded upon principles of peaceful cooperation, love for their homeland, and the harmonious integration of their people with the natural rhythms of their Pacific environment.
The Blue Field and the Transition to Independence
The light blue field that forms the background of Palau’s flag carries dual symbolic meanings, both referring to the nation’s geography and its political status. On the most immediate level, the blue represents the Pacific Ocean that surrounds the island nation, embodying Palau’s essential relationship with the sea. The ocean is not merely the geographic context of Palauan life; it is the defining feature of national identity, providing sustenance, transportation routes, and spiritual significance.
However, the symbolism of the blue extends beyond geography into the realm of political and historical meaning. In official descriptions of the flag, the blue field is said to represent “the final passage of the foreign administering authority from our land.” Rather than depicting the ocean in abstract or purely geographic terms, the flag’s blue background symbolizes the transition from colonial and trustee administration to self-governance and eventual independence. The specific shade of light blue chosen by Skebong conveys a sense of clarity, openness, and hope for the future. Together with the peaceful moon, the blue background communicates that Palau’s independence was achieved not through violence or conflict but through peaceful transition and international cooperation.
Distinguished from Japan’s Rising Sun: A Matter of Clarification
One notable aspect of Palau’s flag is its geographic proximity in design to Japan’s national flag, which also features a centered red circle on a white field. The Japanese circle represents the rising sun and carries deep cultural meaning in Japan. Given Palau’s geographic location in the Pacific and its history of Japanese administration, some observers have noted the design similarity and questioned whether Skebong’s moon design was inspired by or intended to reference the Japanese flag. Skebong himself has explicitly denied any intended connection between the two designs, stating that the moon symbol was chosen independently to reflect Palauan cultural traditions and values rather than as any homage to or commentary on Japan. This clarification is important for understanding that Palau’s flag, though it superficially resembles Japan’s, is rooted entirely in Palauan cultural symbolism and represents a distinctly Palauan identity.
Continuity Through Independence and Beyond
When Palau achieved full independence on October 1, 1994, transforming from a freely associated state into a fully sovereign nation with UN membership, no changes were made to the national flag. This decision reflected the universal acceptance of the 1981 design among Palauans and its powerful representation of national values. The flag had successfully guided Palau through the transition to self-governance, and its continued use signified continuity with the aspirations and democratic process that had produced it. The original winning design, the very flag displayed during Palau’s independence ceremonies, is preserved and displayed at the Palau Museum in Koror, serving as a historical artifact of the nation’s sovereignty movement and the democratic contest from which it emerged.
Conclusion: A Symbol of Peace and Pacific Identity
Palau’s flag, with its serene light blue field and offset golden moon, represents a nation defined by peace, tranquility, and harmonious integration with the natural world. Born from democratic participation and rooted in ancient Palauan cultural traditions, the flag embodies the values that define Palauan identity: respect for the rhythms of nature, commitment to peaceful coexistence, and pride in hard-won independence. The moon that dominates the flag carries centuries of Palauan cultural significance, from guiding fishermen and farmers to inspiring celebrations and community gatherings. More than four decades after its adoption, the flag continues to represent not only the geographic reality of a Pacific island nation but also the aspirations, values, and peaceful determination of the Palauan people. Today, whether flying from government buildings, displayed during national celebrations, or carried by diaspora communities around the world, Palau’s golden moon remains a distinctive and meaningful symbol of a Pacific island nation’s enduring commitment to peace, cultural preservation, and national dignity.
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