There are nine stars on the flag of Tuvalu. The nine yellow stars represent the country’s nine islands and atolls, and their arrangement broadly follows their geographical positions.
Tuvalu’s flag is a light-blue ensign based on the British Blue Ensign, with the Union Jack in the canton and the stars on the fly side. The blue field evokes the surrounding Pacific Ocean. Tuvalu became independent in 1978 after separating from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, and the original national flag included all nine stars.
The number briefly changed during the 1990s. In 1995, one star was removed, partly to reflect the meaning of the name Tuvalu, commonly explained as “eight together.” A replacement design used eight stars and abandoned the British-based layout, but it was unpopular with many Tuvaluans. The nine-star flag was restored in 1997.
That short-lived change explains why some references or quiz-takers may recall eight stars. The current national flag has nine. The stars are not a constellation, nor do they represent provinces or political parties; they symbolize the nine island communities that make up Tuvalu.