2018 Edition

Background

The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear since their language does not resemble any other in the Pacific region. 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

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

0 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean

note

70 highest point: Command Ridge

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, 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

world's smallest island country; 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

0 km

Land Use

arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 20% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

20% (2011 est.)

forest

0% (2011 est.)

other

80% (2011 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

31.18% (male 1,323 /female 1,699)

15-24 years

16.37% (male 764 /female 823)

25-54 years

43.08% (male 2,112 /female 2,063)

55-64 years

6.51% (male 249 /female 382)

65 years and over

2.86% (male 101 /female 176) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

23.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 96.5% of population

total: 96.5% of population

unimproved: urban: 3.5% of population

total: 3.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

NA

Ethnic Groups

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

Health Expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

NA

Hiv Aids Deaths

NA

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

NA

Hospital Bed Density

5 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

9.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

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

percentages 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

71.2 years (2018 est.)

male

63.6 years (2018 est.)

total population

67.8 years (2018 est.)

Median Age

female

25.8 years (2018 est.)

male

27.4 years

total

26.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Nauruan

noun

Nauruan(s)

Net Migration Rate

-12.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

61% (2016)

Physicians Density

1.39 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

9,692 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.51% (2018 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: urban: 65.6% of population (2015 est.)

total: 65.6% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 34.4% of population (2015 est.)

total: 34.4% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

10 years (2008)

male

9 years (2008)

total

9 years (2008)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

0.77 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.64 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.63 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

0.83 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.89 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.76 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.06% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

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

Capital

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

Constitution

amendments

proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the Parliament membership; 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 1968, 2009, 2014 (2018)

history

effective 29 January 1968 (2018)

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

note

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, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Marlene Inemwin MOSES (since 13 March 2006)

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 Baron WAQA (since 11 June 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Baron WAQA reelected president; Parliament vote - Baron WAQA (independent) 13, Roland KUN (Nauru First) 5

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by Parliament (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 June 2013 (next to be held in 2016)

head of government

President Baron WAQA (since 11 June 2013)

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 announced its intention to form 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 9 July 2016 (next to be held in 2019)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS

name

"Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru)

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

Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]Nauru First (Naoero Amo) PartyNauru Party (informal)

note

loose multiparty system

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture Products

coconuts

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

$5 million (2017 est.)

$2 million (2016 est.)

Debt External

$33.3 million (2004 est.)

Economy 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

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

1.311 (2017 est.)

1.3452 (2016 est.)

1.3452 (2015 est.)

1.3291 (2014 est.)

1.1094 (2013 est.)

Exports

$125 million (2013 est.)

$110.3 million (2012 est.)

Exports Commodities

phosphates

Exports Partners

Nigeria 38.6%, Japan 16.6%, Australia 15.9%, South Korea 13.7%, NZ 5.7% (2017)

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.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$12,300 (2017 est.)

$11,800 (2016 est.)

$11,600 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$160 million (2017 est.)

$153.9 million (2016 est.)

$139.4 million (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2015 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

4% (2017 est.)

10.4% (2016 est.)

2.8% (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$64.9 million (2016 est.)

$143.1 million (2013 est.)

Imports Commodities

food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery

Imports Partners

Australia 67.5%, Fiji 9.2%, India 8.1%, Singapore 5.4% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

NA

Industries

phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

5.1% (2017 est.)

8.2% (2016 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

62% of GDP (2017 est.)

65% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

90.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

23% (2011 est.)

90% (2004 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

76,540 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 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.)

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.)

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 (2009)

Internet Country Code

.nr

Internet Users

percent of population

53.5% (July 2016 est.)

total

5,100 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

general assessment

adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities

international

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

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

14 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

1,900 (July 2016 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

87 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

9,900 (July 2016 est.)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2017)

total

1 (2017)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

C2 (2016)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

7,793,474 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

38,858 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

5 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

1 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

major seaport(s)

Nauru

Roadways

paved

24 km (2002)

total

30 km (2002)

unpaved

6 km (2002)

Military Branches

no regular military forces (2012)

Military Note

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

Disputes International

none