Flag of Samoa
| Use | National flag and ensign |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Adopted | 24 February 1949 |
| 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 |
The flag of Samoa (Samoan: fu‘a o Sāmoa) was adopted on 24 February 1949. It consists of a red field with a blue rectangle in the canton. The blue rectangle bears the Southern Cross, which is a common symbol on the flags of countries in the Southern Hemisphere, where the constellation can be seen. The flag was originally designed in 1948 by Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole and Malietoa Tanumafili II, who would later become the heads of state of Samoa when it gained independence in 1962.
The flag is officially defined by the Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994. When it is being raised or lowered in public, people and vehicles must stop and remain stationary until the performance is complete. Those who deface the flag or who willfully insult it can be imprisoned for up to six months.