ARCHIVE // NR // 2012

Nauru

2012 Edition — sovereign

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
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 [time series]
.nr
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
8,162 (2012) country comparison to the world: 138
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
1,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 218
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
6,700 (2011) country comparison to the world: 212
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
coconuts
Budget [time series]
revenues: $13.5 million expenditures: $13.5 million (2005)
Debt - external [time series]
$33.3 million (2004 est.) (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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.
Exchange rates [time series]
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 0.963 (2012) 0.9695 (2011 est.) 1.0902 (2010) 1.2822 (2009) 1.2059 (2008)
Exports [time series]
$64,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 221
Exports - commodities [time series]
phosphates
Fiscal year [time series]
1 July - 30 June
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$NA
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$60 million (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 222
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 6.1% industry: 33% services: 60.8%
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$5,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$20 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 220
Imports - commodities [time series]
food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
NA%
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
note: employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation (1992)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
90% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 200
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
219,700 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - consumption [time series]
30.69 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 209
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 170
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
11,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - production [time series]
33 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 209
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 179
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
1,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 210
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
1,044 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 21 sq km country comparison to the world: 240 land: 21 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)
Coastline [time series]
30 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed elevation along plateau rim 61 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
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
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
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 [time series]
0 32 S, 166 55 E
Geography - note [time series]
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 [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Location [time series]
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
periodic droughts
Natural resources [time series]
phosphates, fish
Terrain [time series]
sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Capital [time series]
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution [time series]
29 January 1968; amended 17 May 1968
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru conventional short form: Nauru local long form: Republic of Nauru local short form: Nauru former: Pleasant Island
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
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)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Sprent DABWIDO (since 15 November 2011); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Sprent DABWIDO (since 15 November 2011) 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 10 November 2011 (next to be held in 2014) 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
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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 [time series]
republic
Independence [time series]
31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, ICAO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and customary law
Legislative branch [time series]
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
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru) lyrics/music: Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS note: adopted 1968
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party; Nauru Party (informal); note - loose multiparty system
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Woman Information and News Agency (women's issues)
Suffrage [time series]
20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 2,542 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 1,823 females age 16-49: 2,034 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 74 female: 78 (2010 est.)
Military - note [time series]
Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no regular military forces (2012)
Military expenditures [time series]
NA
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 32.7% (male 1,374/ female 1,689) 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 3,032/ female 3,125) 65 years and over: 1.7% (male 69/ female 89) (2012 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
27.08 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 48
Death rate [time series]
5.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
12.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 10
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 8.51 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 153 male: 10.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Languages [time series]
Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English (widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 65.7 years country comparison to the world: 167 male: 61.62 years female: 69.11 years (2012 est.)
Literacy [time series]
NA
Median age [time series]
total: 24.6 years male: 24.8 years female: 24.3 years (2012 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Nauruan(s) adjective: Nauruan
Net migration rate [time series]
-15.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 216
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.714 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Population [time series]
9,378 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 226
Population growth rate [time series]
0.608% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Religions [time series]
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 [time series]
improved: urban: 50% of population total: 50% of population unimproved: urban: 50% of population total: 50% of population
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 9 years male: 9 years female: 10 years (2008)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 0.84 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.81 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
3.03 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 100% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2012) country comparison to the world: 215
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
Nauru
Roadways [time series]
total: 24 km country comparison to the world: 220 paved: 24 km (2002)