2011 Edition

Background

The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear since their language does not resemble any other in the Pacific. Germany annexed the island in 1888. A German-British consortium began mining the island's phosphate deposits early in the 20th century. Australian forces occupied Nauru in World War I; it subsequently became a League of Nations mandate. After the Second World War - and a brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN trust territory. It achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as the world's smallest independent republic.

Area

21 sq km 21 sq km 0 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 extremes

Pacific Ocean 0 m unnamed elevation along plateau rim 61 m

highest point

unnamed elevation along plateau rim 61 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural freshwater resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling none of the selected agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

0 32 S, 166 55 E

Geography - note

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; only 53 km south of Equator

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

0% 0% 100% (2005)

arable land

0%

other

100% (2005)

permanent crops

0%

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

periodic droughts

Natural resources

phosphates, fish

Terrain

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

Age structure

33% (male 1,398/female 1,682) 65.3% (male 2,996/female 3,093) 1.6% (male 68/female 85) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

33% (male 1,398/female 1,682)

15-64 years

65.3% (male 2,996/female 3,093)

65 years and over

1.6% (male 68/female 85) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

27.78 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

6.11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 90% of population total: 90% of population urban: 10% of population total: 10% of population (2008)

total

10% of population (2008)

urban

10% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

12.1% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

8.66 deaths/1,000 live births 11.15 deaths/1,000 live births 6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

8.66 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English (widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes)

Life expectancy at birth

65.35 years 61.27 years 68.75 years (2011 est.)

female

68.75 years (2011 est.)

total population

65.35 years

Literacy

NA

Median age

24.2 years 24.4 years 23.9 years (2011 est.)

female

23.9 years (2011 est.)

male

24.4 years

total

24.2 years

Nationality

Nauruan(s) Nauruan

adjective

Nauruan

noun

Nauruan(s)

Net migration rate

-15.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.714 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

9,322 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.611% (2011 est.)

Religions

Protestant 45.8% (Nauru Congregational 35.4%, Nauru Independent Church 10.4%), Roman Catholic 33.2%, other 14.1%, none 4.5%, unspecified 2.4% (2002 census)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 50% of population total: 50% of population urban: 50% of population total: 50% of population (2008)

total

50% of population (2008)

urban

50% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

9 years 9 years 10 years (2008)

female

10 years (2008)

male

9 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

0.837 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1 male(s)/female

at birth

0.837 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.08 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

100% of total population (2010) 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

no official capital; government offices in Yaren District UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

time difference

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

Constitution

29 January 1968; amended 17 May 1968

Country name

Republic of Nauru Nauru Republic of Nauru Nauru Pleasant Island

conventional long form

Republic of Nauru

conventional short form

Nauru

former

Pleasant Island

local long form

Republic of Nauru

local short form

Nauru

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Marlene I. MOSES 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017 [1] (212) 937-0074 [1] (212) 937-0079 Agana (Guam)

chancery

800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Marlene I. MOSES

consulate(s)

Agana (Guam)

FAX

[1] (212) 937-0079

telephone

[1] (212) 937-0074

Executive branch

President Sprent DABWIDO (since 15 November 2011); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government President Sprent DABWIDO (since 15 November 2011) Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of parliament president elected by parliament for a three-year term; election last held on 10 November 2011 (next to be held in 2014) a no-confidence vote on 15 November 2011 removed Frederick PITCHER as president after six days; Sprent DABWIDO elected in a parliamentary vote of 9 to 8

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of parliament

chief of state

President Sprent DABWIDO (since 15 November 2011); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

a no-confidence vote on 15 November 2011 removed Frederick PITCHER as president after six days; Sprent DABWIDO elected in a parliamentary vote of 9 to 8

elections

president elected by parliament for a three-year term; election last held on 10 November 2011 (next to be held in 2014)

head of government

President Sprent DABWIDO (since 15 November 2011)

Flag description

blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow 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 yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

Government type

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, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) last held on 19 June 2010 (next to be held in 2013) percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18

elections

last held on 19 June 2010 (next to be held in 2013)

National anthem

"Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru) Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS adopted 1968

lyrics/music

Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS

name

"Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru)

National holiday

Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party; Nauru Party (informal); note - loose multiparty system

Political pressure groups and leaders

Woman Information and News Agency (women's issues)

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

coconuts

Budget

$13.5 million $13.5 million (2005)

expenditures

$13.5 million (2005)

revenues

$13.5 million

Debt - external

$33.3 million (2004 est.) (2004 est.)

Economy - overview

Revenues of this tiny island 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. In 2005 an Australian company entered into an agreement to exploit remaining supplies. 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. 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. As a result of heavy spending from the trust funds, the government faced virtual bankruptcy. To cut costs the government has frozen wages and reduced overstaffed public service departments. Nauru lost further revenue in 2008 with the closure of Australia's refugee processing center, making it almost totally dependent on food imports and foreign aid. Housing, hospitals, and other capital plant are deteriorating. The cost to Australia of keeping the government and economy afloat continues to climb. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist with estimates of Nauru's GDP varying widely.

Electricity - consumption

29.76 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

32 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.0902 (2010) 1.2822 (2009) 1.2059 (2008) 1.2137 (2007) 1.3285 (2006)

Exports

$64,000 (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

phosphates

GDP - composition by sector

NA% NA% NA%

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$60 million (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$20 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation (1992)

note

employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation (1992)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

1,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

1,044 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

90% (2004 est.)

Broadcast media

1 government-owned television 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 (2009)

Internet country code

.nr

Internet hosts

4,158 (2010)

Telephone system

adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities NA country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

domestic

NA

general assessment

adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

1,900 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

6,200 (2010)

Airports

1 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2010)

total

1

Ports and terminals

Nauru

Roadways

24 km 24 km (2002)

total

24 km

Manpower available for military service

2,542 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,542 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

1,823 2,034 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

2,034 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,823

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

78 (2010 est.)

female

78 (2010 est.)

male

74

Military - note

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

Military branches

no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2009)

Military expenditures

NA

Disputes - international

none