Flags With the Union Jack: 7 Nations That Include It

Seven independent countries fly the Union Jack in the canton of their national flag: the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tuvalu, the Cook Islands and Niue. Many sub-national and territory flags, including Hawaii, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the Falkland Islands, also carry it.

The Union Jack in the Canton

The canton is the upper corner of a flag nearest the flagpole, and it is the place of honour. Placing the Union Jack there was the standard way the British Empire marked its dominions, colonies and territories. The design usually pairs the Union Jack in the canton with a blue or light blue field and a local badge or set of stars on the fly, the half of the flag farthest from the pole.

This layout is descended from the British Blue Ensign, a naval flag with the Union Jack in the canton. Colonies were permitted to add their own emblem to the fly, and many kept that arrangement after independence, turning a colonial marker into a familiar national symbol.

Independent Nations With the Union Jack

• United Kingdom: The Union Jack itself, combining the red cross of St George for England, the white saltire of St Andrew for Scotland and the red saltire of St Patrick for Ireland. The current design dates from 1801.
• Australia: Blue field with the Union Jack in the canton, the large white Commonwealth Star below it, and the Southern Cross constellation on the fly.
• New Zealand: Blue field with the Union Jack in the canton and four red, white-bordered stars forming the Southern Cross on the fly. A 2016 referendum kept this design over a proposed silver fern alternative.
• Fiji: Light blue field with the Union Jack in the canton and a shield from the national coat of arms on the fly. Fiji retained the flag after becoming a republic and after debating a redesign.
• Tuvalu: Light blue field with the Union Jack in the canton and nine yellow stars arranged to match the geographic layout of the country's nine islands.
• Cook Islands: Blue field with the Union Jack in the canton and fifteen white stars in a ring on the fly, one for each island. The Cook Islands are self-governing in free association with New Zealand.
• Niue: Yellow field with the Union Jack in the canton, unusually modified to include a small yellow star on a blue disc at its centre and stars on the crosses.

Sub-National and Territory Flags

• Hawaii (US state): The only US state flag with the Union Jack, placed in the canton over eight red, white and blue stripes for the main islands. It dates to Hawaii's kingdom era and its ties with Britain.
• Australian states: Several state flags, such as those of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, use the British Blue Ensign with the Union Jack in the canton and a state badge on the fly.
• Canadian connections: British Columbia's flag includes a version of the Union Jack across its top, and Ontario and Manitoba fly Red Ensigns with the Union Jack in the canton.
• Bermuda: A rare red field British Red Ensign with the Union Jack in the canton and the territory's coat of arms on the fly.
• Cayman Islands: Blue field with the Union Jack in the canton and the islands' coat of arms, including a turtle and a pineapple, on the fly.
• Falkland Islands: Blue field with the Union Jack in the canton and the territory's coat of arms showing a ram and the ship Desire.

What the Union Jack Represents on These Flags

On every flag in this list the Union Jack signals a historical or continuing link to the United Kingdom. For Australia, New Zealand and Fiji it reflects their past as British colonies and their present membership of the Commonwealth. For overseas territories such as Bermuda and the Cayman Islands it marks their ongoing constitutional relationship with Britain. Hawaii is the outlier, keeping the Union Jack from the era when its independent kingdom maintained close ties with the British. In each case the local badge or stars on the fly assert a distinct identity beside the shared British emblem.

Common Questions

How many national flags contain the Union Jack?

Seven sovereign states fly the Union Jack on their national flag: the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tuvalu, the Cook Islands and Niue. Counting territories, dependencies and sub-national flags adds many more.

Why is the Union Jack in the top corner?

The upper hoist corner, called the canton, is the flag's place of honour. The British Empire used ensigns with the Union Jack in the canton and a local badge on the fly, and former colonies kept that layout after independence.

Which US state flag has the Union Jack?

Hawaii is the only US state whose flag includes the Union Jack. It sits in the canton above eight stripes, reflecting the close relationship between the Kingdom of Hawaii and Britain in the early 19th century.