1987 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1987 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Climate
tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)
Coastline
24 km
Comparative area
about one-ninth the size of Washington, D.C.
Environment
only 53 km south of Equator
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Land use
0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
Special notes
one of three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific (others are Banaba or Ocean Island in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia)
Terrain
sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
20 km?; land area: 20 km?
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
58% Nauruan, 26% other Pacific Islander, 8% Chinese, 8% European
Language
Nauruan, a distinct Pacific Island language (official); English widely understood and spoken
Literacy
99%
Nationality
noun—Nauruan(s); adjective—Nauruan
Population
8,748 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 1.80%
Religion
Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Catholic)
Government
Administrative divisions
14 districts
Branches
President elected from and by Parliament for an unfixed term; popularly elected 18-member unicameral legislature (Parliament); four-member Cabinet to assist the President appointed by him from Parliament members
Capital
no capital city as such; government offices in Yaren District
Elections
last held in January 1987 Political parties and leaders: governing faction, President DeRoburt; opposition Nauru Party, Lagumot Harris
Government leader
Hammer DEROBURT, President (since May 1978)
Member of
Commonwealth (special member), ESCAP, ICAO, INTERPOL, ITU, South Pacific Commission, SPF, UPU
National holidays
Independence Day, 31 January; Constitution Day, 17 May; Angram Day, 26 October
Official name
Republic of Nauru
Suffrage
universal adult
Type
republic
Economy
Agriculture
negligible; almost completely dependent on imports for food and water
Budget
revenues, A$59.5 million (FY86/87 est.)
Electric power
13,250 kW capacity; 48 million kWh produced, 6,000 kWh per capita (1986)
Exports
$93 million (f.o.b., 1984)
Fiseal year
1 July-30 June
GNP
over $160 million, $20,000 per capita (1984)
Imports
$14 million (c.i.f., 1982); food, fuel, water
Major industries
mining of phosphates, about 2 million tons per year
Major trade partners
exports—75% Australia and New Zealand; imports— Australia, UK, New Zealand, Japan
Monetary conversion rate
1.50 Australian dollars=US$1 (February 1987)
Natural resources
phosphates
Communications
Airfields
1 total, 1 usable with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
8 major transport aircraft, one on order
Highways
about 27 km total; 21 km paved, 6 km improved earth
Inland waterways
none
Ports
1 minor
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
adequate intraisland and international radio communications provided via Australian facilities; 1,600 telephones (20.8 per 100 popl.); 4,000 radio receivers, 1 AM, no FM, no TV stations; 1 satellite ground station
Military and Security
Military manpower
males 15-49, 2,300; fit for military service, 1,200; 100 reach military age (18) annually