Following the independence of Nauru, the flag of Nauru (Nauruan: anidenin Naoero) was raised for the first time. The flag, chosen in a local design competition, was adopted on independence day, 31 January 1968. The design symbolically depicts Nauru's geographical position, with a star just south of the Equator.

The flag reflects the geographical location of the island nation.

The narrow gold stripe with a width of 1⁄12 of the length of the flag represents the Equator. The stripe along with the star signifies the location of the island in the Pacific Ocean one degree south of the Equator. The separation of the blue flag cloth into two equal parts recalls the saga, that the first inhabitants were to have been brought to Earth from two boulders.[citation needed]

Nauru itself is symbolised by a white 12-pointed star. The twelve points on the star represent the island's twelve original tribes. The following twelve tribes are:

Deiboe

Eamwidara

Eamwit

Eamwitmwit

Eano

Eaoru

Emangum

Emea

Irutsi

Iruwa

Iwi

Ranibok

The blue signifies the Pacific Ocean, while the white colour of the star represents phosphate, a former major natural resource of the country.