Introduction

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.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`0 32 S, 166 55 E`
Map references: |  |
`Oceania`
Area: |  |
`total: 21 sq km country comparison to the world: 238 land: 21 sq km water: 0 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`30 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm`
Climate: |  |
`tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)`
Terrain: |  |
`sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed elevation along plateau rim 61 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`phosphates, fish`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`NA`
Natural hazards: |  |
`periodic droughts`
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: |  |
`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`
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`

People

Population: |  |
`9,322 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 224`
Age structure: |  |
`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.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 24.2 years male: 24.4 years female: 23.9 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.611% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 143`
Birth rate: |  |
`27.78 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 46`
Death rate: |  |
`6.11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 160`
Net migration rate: |  |
`-15.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 217`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 100% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 0.837 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 8.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 156 male: 11.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 65.35 years country comparison to the world: 167 male: 61.27 years female: 68.75 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`3.08 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 61`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 90% of population total: 90% of population unimproved: urban: 10% of population total: 10% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 50% of population total: 50% of population unimproved: urban: 50% of population total: 50% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Nauruan(s) adjective: Nauruan`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%`
Religions: |  |
`Nauru Congregational 35.4%, Roman Catholic 33.2%, Nauru Independent Church 10.4%, other 14.1%, none 4.5%, unspecified 2.4% (2002 census)`
Languages: |  |
`Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English (widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes)`
Literacy: |  |
`NA`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 9 years male: 9 years female: 10 years (2008)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`NA`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Republic of Nauru conventional short form: Nauru local long form: Republic of Nauru local short form: Nauru former: Pleasant Island`
Government type: |  |
`republic`
Capital: |  |
`no official capital; government offices in Yaren District time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren`
Independence: |  |
`31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 31 January (1968)`
Constitution: |  |
`29 January 1968; amended 17 May 1968`
Legal system: |  |
`mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and customary law`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`20 years of age; universal and compulsory`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President Marcus STEPHEN (since 19 December 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Marcus STEPHEN (since 19 December 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of parliament
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: president elected by parliament for a three-year term; election last held on 1 November 2010 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Marcus STEPHEN reelected in a parliamentary vote of 11 to 6
`

Legislative branch: |  |
`unicameral parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held on 19 June 2010 (next to be held in 2013) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18`
Judicial branch: |  |
`Supreme Court`
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)`
International organization participation: |  |
`ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, ICAO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Marlene I. MOSES chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074 FAX: [1] (212) 937-0079 consulate(s): Agana (Guam)`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru`
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`
National anthem: |  |
`name: "Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru) lyrics/music: Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS note: adopted 1968`

Economy

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.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$60 million (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 221`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$NA`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$5,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 149`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`note: employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation (1992)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`90% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 199`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`NA%`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $13.5 million expenditures: $13.5 million (2005)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`NA%`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`coconuts`
Industries: |  |
`phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
Electricity - production: |  |
`31 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 203`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`28.83 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 202`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193`
Oil - exports: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 194`
Oil - imports: |  |
`1,026 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 189`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 169`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 207`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174`
Exports: |  |
`$64,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 220`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`phosphates`
Imports: |  |
`$20 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 218`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery`
Debt - external: |  |
`$33.3 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 189`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.0902 (2010) 1.2822 (2009) 1.2059 (2008) 1.2137 (2007) 1.3285 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`1,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 224`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`1,500 (2002) country comparison to the world: 215`
Telephone system: |  |
`general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities domestic: NA international: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)`
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) country comparison to the world: 140`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 228`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 24 km country comparison to the world: 219 paved: 24 km (2002)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Nauru`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2009)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 2,542 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 1,823 females age 16-49: 2,034 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 74 female: 78 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`NA`
Military - note: |  |
`Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 25, 2011