1988 Edition

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 km2; land area: 20 km2

Ethnic divisions

58% Nauruan, 26% other Pacific Islander, 8% Chinese, 8% European

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)

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

Agriculture

livestock raising (cattle and sheep) predominates; subsistence crops (millet, sorghum, corn, and some wheat) are raised, but most food must be imported

negligible; almost completely dependent on imports for food and water

Electric power

395,000 kW capacity; 692 million kWh produced, 610 kWh per capita (1986)

13,250 kW capacity; 48 million kWh produced, 6,000 kWh per capita (1986)

Exports

$93 million (f.o.b., 1984)

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March

Fishing

catch 341,000 metric tons (1983); processed mostly in Walvis Bay, South Africa

GNP

over $160 million, $20,000 per capita (1984)

Imports

$14 million (c.i.f., 1982); food, fuel, water

Major industries

(nearly all for export) meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, copper, lead, zinc, diamond, and uranium mining

mining of phosphates, about 2 million tons per year

Major trade partners

exports — 75% Australia and New Zealand; importsAustralia, UK, New Zealand, Japan

Monetary conversion rate

2.5 South African rands=US$l (29 January 1986)

Natural resources

diamonds, copper, uranium, lead, tin, zinc, salt, vanadium

phosphates

Airfields

154 total, 141 usable; 21 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 66 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air

3 major transport aircraft

Highways

54,500 km; 4,079 km paved, 2,540 gravel, remainder earth roads and tracks

Language

Nauruan, a distinct Pacific Island language (official); English widely understood and spoken

Literacy

' Stc regional map X

Military budget

for fiscal year ending 31 March 1984, $128.3; 8% of central government budget

Military manpower

males 15-49, 281,000; 167,000 fit for military service

Ports

1 minor (Luderitz); relies on Walvis Bay, South Africa

Railroads

2,340 km 1.067-meter gauge, single track

Telecommunications

good urban, fair rural services; radio-relay connects major towns, wires extend to other population centers; 62,800 telephones (5.5 per 100 popl.); 2 AM, 13 FM, 3 TV stations Defense Forces Defense is responsibility of Republic of South Africa; however, a SouthWest African Territory Force was established 1 August 1980 (includes an air element)