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 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: 219

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

6,800 (2012) country comparison to the world: 213

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.) country comparison to the world: 195

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 - 1.031 (2013) 0.9658 (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: 224

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 6.1% industry: 33% services: 60.8% (2009 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$5,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

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]

$NA (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

NA% (2011 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

most of the labor force is employed in phosphate mining, public administration, education, and transportation

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

90% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

168,800 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - consumption [time series]

32.55 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

1,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 211

Electricity - production [time series]

35 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

1,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

1,075 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

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]

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 [time series]

NA

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 20% other: 80% (2011)

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

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]

effective 29 January 1968; amended 1968, 2009; note - in early 2013, further amendments were introduced (2013)

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, currently Ambassador Frankie A. REED, is accredited to Nauru

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Marlene Inemwin MOSES (since 10 February 2006) 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 Baron WAQA (since 11 June 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Baron WAQA (since 11 June 2013) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of Parliament (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held on 11 June 2013 (next to be held in 2016) election results: Baron WAQA elected president on 11 June 2013

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]

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 1 judge) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president to serve until age 65 subordinate courts: District Court, Family 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 (19 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held on 8 June 2013 (next to be held in 2016) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 19

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

Background [time series]

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.

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)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 32.5% (male 1,359/female 1,720) 15-24 years: 16.9% (male 828/female 773) 25-54 years: 42.7% (male 2,013/female 2,040) 55-64 years: 6% (male 228/female 343) 65 years and over: 1.8% (male 73/female 111) (2014 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

25.61 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

4.8% (2007) country comparison to the world: 91

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

35.6% (2007)

Death rate [time series]

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 96.3% of population total: 96.3% of population unimproved: urban: 3.7% of population total: 3.7% of population (2012 est.)

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]

9.8% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 28

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 8.21 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 153 male: 10.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages [time series]

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%) note: percentages represent main language spoken at home; Nauruan is spoken by 95% of the population, English by 66%, and other languages by 12% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 66.4 years country comparison to the world: 169 male: 62.3 years female: 69.83 years (2014 est.)

Literacy [time series]

NA

Median age [time series]

total: 25.3 years male: 25.6 years female: 25 years (2014 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

22.1 note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2007 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Nauruan(s) adjective: Nauruan

Net migration rate [time series]

-14.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 218

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

71.1% (2008) country comparison to the world: 2

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.71 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population [time series]

9,488 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 227

Population growth rate [time series]

0.56% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Religions [time series]

Protestant 60.4% (includes Nauru Congregational 35.7%, Assembly of God 13%, Nauru Independent Church 9.5%, Baptist 1.5%, and Seventh Day Adventist .7%), Roman Catholic 33%, other 3.7%, none 1.8%, unspecified 1.1% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 65.6% of population total: 65.6% of population unimproved: urban: 34.4% of population total: 34.4% of population (2012 est.)

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 0-14 years: 0.79 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.93 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 100% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 0.59% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Airports [time series]

1 (2013) country comparison to the world: 229

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Nauru

Roadways [time series]

total: 30 km country comparison to the world: 219 paved: 24 km unpaved: 6 km (2002)