2021 Edition

Background

Nauru was inhabited by Micronesian and Polynesian settlers by around 1000 B.C. and the island was divided in 12 clans. Nauru developed in relative isolation because ocean currents made landfall on the island difficult. As a result, the Nauruan language does not clearly resemble any other in the Pacific region. In 1798, British sea captain John FEARN became the first European to spot the island. By 1830, European whalers used Nauru as a supply stop, trading firearms for food. In 1878, a civil war erupted on the island, reducing the population by more than a third. Germany forcibly annexed Nauru in 1888 by holding the 12 chiefs under house arrest until they consented to the annexation. Germany banned alcohol, confiscated weapons, instituted strict dress codes, and brought in Christian missionaries to convert the population. Phosphate was discovered in 1900 and heavily mined, although Nauru and Nauruans earned about one tenth of one percent of the profits from the phosphate deposits.Australian forces captured Nauru from Germany during World War I, and in 1919, it was placed under a joint Australian-British-New Zealand mandate with Australian administration. Japan occupied Nauru during World War II and used its residents as forced labor elsewhere in the Pacific while destroying much of the infrastructure on the island. After the war, Nauru became a UN trust territory under Australian administration. Recognizing the phosphate stocks would eventually be depleted, in 1962, Australian Prime Minister Robert MENZIES offered to resettle all Nauruans on Curtis Island in Queensland, but Nauruans rejected that plan and opted for independence, which was achieved in 1968. In 1970, Nauru purchased the phosphate mining assets, and income from the mines made Nauruans among the richest people in the world. However, Nauru subsequently began a series of unwise investments in buildings, musical theater, and an airline. Nauru sued Australia in 1989 for the damage caused by mining when Australia administered the island. Widespread phosphate mining officially ceased in 2006.Nauru went nearly bankrupt by 2000 and tried to rebrand itself as an offshore banking haven, although it ended that practice in 2005. In 2001, Australia set up the Nauru Regional Processing Center (NRPC), an offshore refugee detention facility, paying Nauru per person at the center. The NRPC was closed in 2008 but reopened in 2012. The number of refugees has steadily declined since 2014, and the remaining people were moved to a hotel in Brisbane, Australia, in 2020, effectively shuttering the NRPC. In a bid for Russian humanitarian aid, in 2008, Nauru recognized the breakaway Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Area

land

21 sq km

total

21 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)

Coastline

30 km

Elevation

highest point

Command Ridge 70 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

0 32 S, 166 55 E

Geography - note

Nauru is the third-smallest country in the world behind the Holy See (Vatican City) and Monaco; it is the smallest country in the Pacific Ocean, the smallest country outside Europe, the world's smallest island country, and the the world's smallest independent republic; situated just 53 km south of the Equator, Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

20% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 20% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

80% (2018 est.)

Location

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

periodic droughts

Natural resources

phosphates, fish

Population distribution

extensive phosphate mining made approximately 90% of the island unsuitable for farming; most people live in the fertile coastal areas, especially along the southwest coast

Terrain

sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center

Age structure

0-14 years

30.87% (male 1,337/female 1,684)

15-24 years

16.35% (male 734/female 866)

25-54 years

42.57% (male 2,115/female 2,050)

55-64 years

6.72% (male 262/female 396)

65 years and over

3.48% (male 122/female 219) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

21.49 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

9.6% (2018)

Death rate

6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

NA

potential support ratio

NA

total dependency ratio

NA

youth dependency ratio

NA

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Nauruan 88.9%, part Nauruan 6.6%, I-Kiribati 2%, other 2.5% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

5.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

10.25 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.96 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Nauruan 93% (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English 2% (widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes), other 5% (includes I-Kiribati 2% and Chinese 2%) (2011 est.)

note

note: data represent main language spoken at home; Nauruan is spoken by 95% of the population, English by 66%, and other languages by 12%

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.3 years (2021 est.)

male

64.06 years

total population

67.62 years

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases

malaria

Median age

female

25.9 years (2020 est.)

male

28.2 years

total

27 years

Nationality

adjective

Nauruan

noun

Nauruan(s)

Net migration rate

-11.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

61% (2016)

Physicians density

1.35 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

9,770 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution

extensive phosphate mining made approximately 90% of the island unsuitable for farming; most people live in the fertile coastal areas, especially along the southwest coast

Population growth rate

0.42% (2021 est.)

Religions

Protestant 60.4% (includes Nauru Congregational 35.7%, Assembly of God 13%, Nauru Independent Church 9.5%, Baptist 1.5%, and Seventh Day Adventist 0.7%), Roman Catholic 33%, other 3.7%, none 1.8%, unspecified 1.1% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 96.3% of population

improved: urban

urban: 96.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 3.7% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 3.7% of population

Sex ratio

0-14 years

0.79 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.85 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.66 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.56 male(s)/female

at birth

0.84 male(s)/female

total population

0.88 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.65 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

37.5% (2013)

male

20.9%

total

26.6%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.18% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baitsi, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren

Capital

name

no official capital; government offices in the Yaren District

time difference

UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

amendments

proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; amendments to constitutional articles, such as the republican form of government, protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the executive and legislative branches, also requires two-thirds majority of votes in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018

history

effective 29 January 1968

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Nauru

conventional short form

Nauru

etymology

the island name may derive from the Nauruan word "anaoero" meaning "I go to the beach"

former

Pleasant Island

local long form

Republic of Nauru

local short form

Nauru

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

800 2nd Avenue, Third Floor, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Marlene Inemwin MOSES (since 13 March 2006)

email address and website

nauru@onecommonwealth.orghttps://www.un.int/nauru/

FAX

[1] (212) 937-0079

telephone

[1] (212) 937-0074

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of Parliament

chief of state

President Lionel AINGIMEA (since 27 August 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Lionel AINGIMEA elected president; Parliament vote - Lionel AINGIMEA (independent) 12, David ADEANG (Nauru First) 6

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by Parliament (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27 August 2019 (next to be held in 2022)

head of government

President Lionel AINGIMEA (since 27 August 2019)

Flag description

blue with a narrow, horizontal, gold stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the gold stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru; the star's white color represents phosphate, the basis of the island's wealth

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICCt, IFAD, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Judicial branch

highest courts

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and several justices); note - in late 2017, the Nauruan Government revoked the 1976 High Court Appeals Act, which had allowed appeals beyond the Nauruan Supreme Court, and in early 2018, the government formed its own appeals court

judge selection and term of office

judges appointed by the president to serve until age 65

subordinate courts

District Court, Family Court

Legal system

mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral parliament (19 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by majority vote using the "Dowdall" counting system by which voters rank candidates on their ballots; members serve 3-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 19; composition - men 17, women 2, percent of women 10.5%

elections

last held on 24 August 2019 (next to be held in 2022)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS

name

"Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru)

note

note: adopted 1968

National holiday

Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

National symbol(s)

frigatebird, calophyllum flower; national colors: blue, yellow, white

Political parties and leaders

Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party [David ADEANG]

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agricultural products

coconuts, tropical fruit, vegetables, pork, eggs, pig offals, pig fat, poultry, papayas, cabbages

Budget

expenditures

113.4 million (2017 est.)

revenues

103 million (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-9.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

$2 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

$5 million (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2004

$33.3 million (2004 est.)

Economic overview

Revenues of this tiny island - a coral atoll with a land area of 21 square kilometers - traditionally have come from exports of phosphates. Few other resources exist, with most necessities being imported, mainly from Australia, its former occupier and later major source of support. Primary reserves of phosphates were exhausted and mining ceased in 2006, but mining of a deeper layer of "secondary phosphate" in the interior of the island began the following year. The secondary phosphate deposits may last another 30 years. Earnings from Nauru’s export of phosphate remains an important source of income. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist; estimates of Nauru's GDP vary widely.The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. In anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts of phosphate income were invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's economic future.Although revenue sources for government are limited, the opening of the Australian Regional Processing Center for asylum seekers since 2012 has sparked growth in the economy. Revenue derived from fishing licenses under the "vessel day scheme" has also boosted government income. Housing, hospitals, and other capital plant are deteriorating. The cost to Australia of keeping the Nauruan government and economy afloat continues to climb.

Exchange rates

currency

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

1.1094 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

1.3291 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

1.3452 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

1.3452 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

1.311 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2012

$110.3 million (2012 est.)

Exports 2018

$30 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, calcium phosphates, low-voltage protection equipment, air conditioners, leather apparel (2019)

Exports - partners

Thailand 34%, Australia 16%, United States 13%, South Korea 10%, Philippines 9%, Japan 7%, France 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

11.2% (2016 est.)

government consumption

37.6% (2016 est.)

household consumption

98% (2016 est.)

imports of goods and services

-89.1% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

42.2% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

6.1% (2009 est.)

industry

33% (2009 est.)

services

60.8% (2009 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$114 million (2017 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2016

$64.9 million (2016 est.)

Imports 2018

$90 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, construction vehicles, tug boats, poultry meats, cars (2019)

Imports - partners

Taiwan 52%, Australia 28% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

8.2% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

5.1% (2017 est.)

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

note: most of the labor force is employed in phosphate mining, public administration, education, and transportation

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

Public debt 2016

65% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

62% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2015 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017

$137 million (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$150 million note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$150 million note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

2.8% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

10.4% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

4% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2015 US dollars

Real GDP per capita 2017

$10,667 (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2018

$13,600 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$13,500 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

90.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2004

90% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate 2011

23% (2011 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

37.5% (2013)

male

20.9%

total

26.6%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

22.32 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

86% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

7,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

24 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

98.7% (2018)

electrification - total population

99.8% (2018)

electrification - urban areas

99.4% (2018)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

470 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

449 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

9.5 (2018)

total

950 (2010)

Broadcast media

1 government-owned TV station broadcasting programs from New Zealand sent via satellite or on videotape; 1 government-owned radio station, broadcasting on AM and FM, utilizes Australian and British programs (2019)

Internet country code

.nr

Internet users

percent of population

57% (2019 est.)

total

6,771 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line 14 per 100 and mobile-cellular 95 per 100 (2019)

general assessment

adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities; geography is a challenge for the islands; there is a need to service the tourism sector and the South Pacific Islands economy; mobile technology is booming (2018)

international

country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0 (2018 est.)

total subscriptions

0 (2018 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

94.58 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions

10,000 (2018)

Airports

total

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2019)

total

1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C2

Merchant marine

by type

oil tanker 1, other 2 (2021)

total

3

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

7.94 million mt-km (2018)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

45,457 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

5

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Nauru

Roadways

paved

24 km (2002)

total

30 km (2002)

unpaved

6 km (2002)

Military - note

Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; the police force, under the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, maintains internal security and, as necessary, external security

Disputes - international

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

140 (2020)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.05 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.01 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

12.53 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)

Environment - current issues

limited natural freshwater resources, roof storage tanks that collect rainwater and desalination plants provide water; a century of intensive phosphate mining beginning in 1906 left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland; cadmium residue, phosphate dust, and other contaminants have caused air and water pollution with negative impacts on health; climate change has brought on rising sea levels and inland water shortages

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

20% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 20% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

80% (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases

malaria

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

10 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.18% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

6,192 tons (2016 est.)