How many stars form the circle on the Cook Islands flag?

Fifteen stars form the circle on the Cook Islands flag.

The stars represent the 15 islands that make up the Cook Islands: Tongareva, Rakahanga, Manihiki, Pukapuka, Nassau, Suwarrow, Palmerston, Aitutaki, Manuae, Takutea, Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke, Rarotonga and Mangaia. Their circular arrangement expresses the islands’ unity.

The modern flag is a blue ensign with the Union Jack in the upper hoist and the white-star circle in the fly. Blue represents the surrounding ocean and the peaceful character associated with the islands. The flag was adopted on 4 August 1979, replacing an earlier green design with 15 gold stars.

A common mix-up is to count the stars as a generic Southern Hemisphere or Christian symbol. On this flag, the number is specifically tied to the Cook Islands’ 15 constituent islands. The Cook Islands’ flag history also includes a 1973–1979 version, and proposals to restore that design were discussed in the 2020s.