thumb|Marshall Islands flag at the [[Majuro Cooperative School.]]
The flag of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, an island nation in the Pacific, was adopted upon the start of self-government, May 1, 1979. The flag was designed by Emlain Kabua, who served as the first First Lady of the republic.
Rules and specifications regarding the flag are set forth in the Official Flag of the Marshall Islands Act 1979 (Public Law 1979–1).
History
The Marshall Islands were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands administered by the United States, from which the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia split. In common with other island nations in the region, this flag features the symbolic representation of the islands' place within the ocean. The rising diagonal band represents the equator, the star above representing this Northern Hemisphere archipelago. The white and orange portions of the band represent, respectively, the Ratak Chain ("sunrise") and the Ralik Chain ("sunset"), as well as symbolizing peace and courage. The star's 24 points represent the number of electoral districts, while the four elongated points represent the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje and Ebeye. The flag is also the national flag with the most points on a star, at 24.
This flag placed ninth out of 72 - the best flag of an independent nation that isn't Canada or the United States, instead being in a free association with the United States - in a North American Vexillological Association poll that was held in 2001.
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Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg| Flag used during Spanish colonial rule in 1529
Flag of Great Britain (1707–1800).svg| Flag used during British colonial rule in 1788
Flag of Spain (1785–1873, 1875–1931).svg| Flag used during Spanish colonial rule from 1874 to 1885
Flagge der Ralik-Inseln.svg| Flag used during German colonial rule from 1878 to 1894
Jaluit Gesellschaft Var2.svg| Flag of The Jaluit Company from 1885 to 1906
Flag of Germany (1867–1918).svg| Flag of The German New Guinea from 1906 to 1914
Reichskolonialflagge.svg| Colonial Flag of New Guinea from 1906 to 1914
Flag of Japan (1870–1999).svg| Flag used during Japanese colonial rule from 1914 to 1944
Flag of the Governor of the South Pacific Mandate.svg| Flag of Governor of the South Seas Mandate from 1920 to 1944
flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg| Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; was used in the RMI from 1965 to 1979
Flag of the United Nations.svg| The flag of the United Nations was also used in the RMI from 1947 to 1965
US flag 48 stars.svg| The flag of the United States with 48 stars was also used in the RMI from 1944 to 1959 (see Timeline of the flag of the United States for more information on the stars on this flag increasing in number)
US flag 49 stars.svg| The flag of the United States with 49 stars was also used in the RMI from 1959 to 1960
Flag of the United States (Web Colors).svg| The flag of the United States with 50 stars was also used in the RMI from 1960 to 1986
Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg|Current flag, from 1979 to the present
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Subnational flags
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File:Flag of Ailuk Atoll, Marshall Islands.svg|Flag of Ailuk Atoll
File:Flag of Bikini Atoll.svg| Flag of Bikini Atoll from 1987 to the present
File:Flag of the Ebon Atoll (Unofficial).svg|Flag of Ebon Atoll
File:Kwajalein Atoll Flag.svg|Flag of Kwajalein Atoll
File:Majuro Atoll Flag.svg|Flag of Majuro Atoll
File:Flag of Namdrik Atoll.svg|Flag of Namdrik Atoll
File:Ujae Atoll Flag.svg|Flag of Ujae Atoll
File:Flag of Wotho Atoll, Marshall Islands.svg|Flag of Wotho Atoll
</gallery>
Specifications
450px|thumb|right|Construction sheet
The flag has a ratio of 10:19. The star is situated such that its center is equidistant from the left edge, the top edge, and the top of the orange ray.