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 (2019)

Internet country code [time series]

.nr

Internet users [time series]

total: 5,100 | percent of population: 53.5% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 thus the South Pacific Islands economy; mobile technology is booming (2018) | domestic: fixed-line 14 per 100 and mobile-cellular 87 per 100 (2018) | international: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

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

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 9,900 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 87 (July 2016 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coconuts

Budget [time series]

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

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-9.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$5 million (2017 est.) | $2 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$33.3 million (2004 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

$125 million (2013 est.) | $110.3 million (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

phosphates

Exports - partners [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$114 million (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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

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

$12,300 (2017 est.) | $11,800 (2016 est.) | $11,600 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$64.9 million (2016 est.) | $143.1 million (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery

Imports - partners [time series]

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

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA

Industries [time series]

phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.1% (2017 est.) | 8.2% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA

Public debt [time series]

62% of GDP (2017 est.) | 65% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

90.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

23% (2011 est.) | 90% (2004 est.)

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

76,540 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

22.32 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

86% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

7,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

24 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

470 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

449 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 21 sq km | 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 [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

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]

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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 [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 | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

periodic droughts

Natural resources [time series]

phosphates, fish

Population distribution [time series]

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 [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, Baitsi, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

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 (2018)

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

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]

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 [time series]

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 (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

parliamentary 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, ICCt, IFAD, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Judicial branch [time series]

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 [time series]

mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

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(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)

National symbol(s) [time series]

frigatebird, calophyllum flower; national colors: blue, yellow, white

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG] Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party Nauru Party (informal) | note: loose multiparty system

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.

Military - note [time series]

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

Military and security forces [time series]

no regular military forces (2019)

Age structure [time series]

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.) | population pyramid: 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 [time series]

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

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

11.1% (2016)

Death rate [time series]

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

Drinking water source [time series]

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 expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

NA

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Hospital bed density [time series]

5 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births

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%) (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 [time series]

total population: 67.8 years (2018 est.) | male: 63.6 years | female: 71.2 years

Median age [time series]

total: 26.7 years (2018 est.) | male: 27.4 years | female: 25.8 years

Nationality [time series]

noun: Nauruan(s) | adjective: Nauruan

Net migration rate [time series]

-12.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

61% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.24 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population [time series]

9,692 (July 2018 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

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 [time series]

0.51% (2018 est.)

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 0.7%), 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 (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) [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.76 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

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

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 100% of total population (2019) | rate of urbanization: -0.06% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Airports [time series]

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

C2 (2016)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 (2015) | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 38,858 (2015) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7,793,474 mt-km (2015)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Nauru

Roadways [time series]

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