Nauru

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 (2019)

Internet country code

.nr

Internet users

total: 5,524 | percent of population: 57% (July 2018 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities; geography is a challenge for the islands; there is a need to service the tourism sector and the South Pacific Islands economy; mobile technology is booming (2018) | domestic: fixed-line 14 per 100 and mobile-cellular 95 per 100 (2019) | international: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1,900 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (July 2016 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 9,212 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 94.58 (2019 est.)

Agriculture - products

coconuts

Budget

revenues: 103 million (2017 est.) | expenditures: 113.4 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.)

Economic 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 (official exchange rate)

$114 million (2017 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity) - real

$160 million (2017 est.) | $153.9 million (2016 est.) | $139.4 million (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2015 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 98% (2016 est.) | government consumption: 37.6% (2016 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 42.2% (2016 est.) | exports of goods and services: 11.2% (2016 est.) | imports of goods and services: -89.1% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 6.1% (2009 est.) | industry: 33% (2009 est.) | services: 60.8% (2009 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 real growth rate

4% (2017 est.) | 10.4% (2016 est.) | 2.8% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA | highest 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 (2018 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.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 99.8% (2018) | electrification - urban areas: 99.4% (2018) | electrification - rural areas: 98.7% (2018)

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.)

Area

total: 21 sq km | land: 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

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: Command Ridge 70 m

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

Nauru is the third-smallest country in the world behind the Holy See (Vatican City) and Monaco; it is the smallest country in the Pacific Ocean, the smallest country outside Europe, the world's smallest island country, and the the world's smallest independent republic; 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

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

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | contiguous zone: 24 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

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

Constitution

history: effective 29 January 1968 | amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; 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

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 | etymology: the island name may derive from the Nauruan word "anaoero" meaning "I go to the beach"

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Marlene Inemwin MOSES (since 13 March 2006) | chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017 | telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074 | FAX: [1] (212) 937-0079

Executive branch

chief of state: President Lionel AINGIMEA (since 27 August 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Lionel AINGIMEA (since 27 August 2019) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of Parliament | elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27 August 2019 (next to be held in 2022) | election results: Lionel AINGIMEA elected president; Parliament vote - Lionel AINGIMEA (independent) 12, David ADEANG (Nauru First) 6

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 formed 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) | elections: last held on 24 August 2019 (next to be held in 2022) | election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 19; composition - men 17, women 2, percent of women 10.5%

National anthem

name: "Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru) | lyrics/music: Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS | 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) Party Nauru Party (informal) | note: loose multiparty system

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal and compulsory

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 became one of the richest countries in the world because of its extensive phosphate stocks; however, the phosphate was depleted in the early 1980s and the quality of life began to decline. In 2001, an Australian offshore refugee processing center was opened in Nauru, providing an economic lifeline. Nauru is one of Taiwan's few remaining diplomatic partners, and in 2008, Nauru recognized the breakaway Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Military - note

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

Military and security forces

no regular military forces (2019)

Age structure

0-14 years: 30.87% (male 1,337/female 1,684) | 15-24 years: 16.35% (male 734/female 866) | 25-54 years: 42.57% (male 2,115/female 2,050) | 55-64 years: 6.72% (male 262/female 396) | 65 years and over: 3.48% (male 122/female 219) (2020 est.) | population pyramdi: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Australia - Oceania :: Nauru Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Nauru. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate

21.9 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

11% (2017)

Death rate

6 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | unimproved: urban: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

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

total: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 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

total population: 68.4 years | male: 64.3 years | female: 71.9 years (2020 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high (2020) | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea | vectorborne diseases: malaria

Median age

total: 27 years | male: 28.2 years | female: 25.9 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

noun: Nauruan(s) | adjective: Nauruan

Net migration rate

-11.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

61% (2016)

Physicians density

1.35 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

11,000 (2019 est.)

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

Population growth rate

0.46% (2020 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: 96.3% of population | total: 96.3% of population | unimproved: urban: 3.7% of population | total: 3.7% of population (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years | male: 9 years | female: 10 years (2008)

Sex ratio

at birth: 0.84 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 0.79 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.85 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.66 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.56 male(s)/female | total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.68 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 26.6% | male: 20.9% | female: 37.5% (2013)

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: -0.06% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Disputes - international

none

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 (2019) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C2 (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 2 | by type: oil tanker 1, other 1 (2019)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 45,457 (2018) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7.94 million mt-km (2018)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Nauru

Roadways

total: 30 km (2002) | paved: 24 km (2002) | unpaved: 6 km (2002)