Nauru facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Republic of Naoero Repubrikin Naoero  (Nauruan)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "God's will first"
Anthem: Nauru Bwiema (Nauruan) "Nauru, Our Homeland"
Capital	Yaren (de facto) 0°32′51″S 166°55′3″E / 0.54750°S 166.91750°E / -0.54750; 166.91750 (Government House)
Largest city	Denigomodu
Official languages	Nauruan English
Demonym(s)	Nauruan dei-Naoero (official)
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency under a non-partisan democracy
• President	David Adeang
• Vice President	Lionel Aingimea
• Speaker of the Parliament	Marcus Stephen
Legislature	Parliament
Independence  from Australia
• Nauru Independence Act 1967	31 January 1968
Area
• Total	21 km2 (8.1 sq mi) (193rd)
• Water (%)	0.57
Population
• 2025 estimate	12,025 (239th)
• 2011 census	12,000
• Density	480/km2 (1,243.2/sq mi) (20th)
GDP (PPP)	2025 estimate
• Total	$132 million (192nd)
• Per capita	$10,962 (119th)
GDP (nominal)	2025 estimate
• Total	$172 million (195th)
• Per capita	$14,274 (75th)
HDI (2023)	0.703 high · 124th
Currency	Australian dollar (AUD)
Time zone	UTC+12
Driving side	left
Calling code	+674
ISO 3166 code	NR
Internet TLD	.nr

Nauru, officially known as the Republic of Naoero, is a tiny island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It's located in the Micronesia part of Oceania. Nauru is so small, it's one of the smallest countries in the world, both in land area (only 21 square kilometers) and population (about 12,000 people). Because of its size, it's sometimes called a microstate.

This unique island was first settled by people from Micronesia around 1000 BCE. Over time, Nauru became a colony of Germany in the late 1800s. Later, it was looked after by Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom after World War I. During World War II, Japan occupied Nauru for three years. Nauru finally became an independent country in 1968.

For many years, Nauru was known for its rich deposits of phosphate, a mineral used in fertilizers. Mining this phosphate made the island wealthy for a while. However, most of the phosphate was mined away, which changed the island's landscape and led to economic challenges. Nauru's economy has been slowly improving since the 2010s. The country has also received support from the Australian Government, sometimes in exchange for hosting a facility for people seeking asylum.

Nauru's Name: What Does It Mean?

The name of Nauru in its own language is Naoero. No one is completely sure where the name "Nauru" came from. One idea was that it meant "I go to the beach" in the Nauruan language, but this isn't certain.

In the past, people spelled the island's name in different ways, like Naura or Onawero. When Germany took control in 1888, "Nauru" became the official spelling. Before that, English sailors called it "Pleasant Island" because it looked so nice. When Nauru became independent in 1968, its official English name was "Republic of Nauru." In May 2026, the country officially changed its English name to "Republic of Naoero" to match the Nauruan spelling.

Nauru's Past: A Journey Through Time

Early Settlers and Traditional Life

Nauru was first settled by Micronesians over 3,000 years ago. There might also have been some influence from Polynesians. The island was isolated for a long time. This allowed a special language to develop among the people.

Traditionally, Nauru had twelve clans or tribes. These are shown by the twelve points on the country's flag. Nauruans traditionally traced their family lines through their mothers. They were skilled at aquaculture, raising milkfish in Buada Lagoon for food. They also grew coconuts and pandanus fruit.

European Contact and Colonial Times

In 1798, a British sea captain named John Fearn was the first Westerner to see Nauru. He called it "Pleasant Island." From 1826, Nauruans met Europeans regularly from whaling and trading ships. These ships stopped for supplies and fresh water.

Later, some sailors left their ships and lived on the island. Islanders traded food for palm wine and firearms. These firearms were used in a 10-year conflict called the Nauruan Civil War, which started in 1878.

In 1888, Germany took control of Nauru. This helped end the civil war. Kings were then chosen to rule the island, with King Auweyida being well-known. Christian missionaries also arrived that year. Germany ruled Nauru for nearly 30 years.

Phosphate Discovery and World Wars

In 1900, phosphate was discovered on Nauru. A company called the Pacific Phosphate Company started mining it in 1906. They shipped their first load in 1907.

During World War I in 1914, Australian troops took control of Nauru. After the war, the League of Nations put Nauru under the care of Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. These countries worked together to manage the island and its phosphate mining.

Nauru faced challenges in the early 1900s, including an influenza epidemic. During World War II, German ships attacked Nauru's mining areas in 1940.

Japanese troops occupied Nauru in August 1942. They built airfields, which were later bombed by U.S. forces. The Japanese moved 1,200 Nauruans to work in the Chuuk Islands. Nauru was taken back from the Japanese in September 1945 by Australian forces. The 745 Nauruans who survived were returned home in January 1946.

Post-War and Path to Independence

After World War II, the United Nations set up a new arrangement in 1947. Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom continued to oversee Nauru. Australia managed the island's daily affairs.

In 1948, there was a strike by Chinese mining workers over pay. The Australian administration responded, and some workers were injured or killed. This led to official complaints from the Soviet Union and China at the United Nations.

By the 1960s, much of Nauru's land was damaged by phosphate mining. In 1964, there was a suggestion to move all Nauruans to Curtis Island in Australia. The Australian government offered land and citizenship. However, the Nauruan people wanted to be an independent country on Curtis Island, which Australia did not agree to. So, Nauruans chose to become an independent nation and manage their own mines on Nauru.

Nauru became self-governing in January 1966. It gained full independence from Australia on January 31, 1968. Hammer DeRoburt became the first president. In 1970, Nauru took full control of its phosphate mining through the Nauru Phosphate Corporation. The money from mining made Nauruans very wealthy for a time.

In 1989, Nauru took legal action against Australia. Nauru wanted Australia to help fix the environmental damage caused by phosphate mining. They reached an agreement to restore the mined areas.

In March 2020, Nauru declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nauru's Geography: A Small Island World

Nauru is a small, oval-shaped island, only 21 square kilometers in size. It's in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The island is surrounded by a fringing coral reef. This reef is visible at low tide and has many coral pillars. Because of the reef, Nauru doesn't have a large seaport. However, small boats can access the island through channels in the reef.

Inland from the beach, there's a fertile coastal strip about 150 to 300 meters wide. Coral cliffs surround Nauru's central plateau. The highest point, Command Ridge, is 71 meters above sea level.

The only fertile areas are along the coast and around Buada Lagoon. Here, you can find coconut palms, bananas, pineapples, vegetables, pandanus trees, and tamanu trees.

Nauru was one of three major phosphate rock islands in the Pacific. The phosphate reserves on Nauru are now almost gone. Phosphate mining on the central plateau has left a landscape of jagged limestone pillars up to 15 meters high. Mining has damaged about 80 percent of Nauru's land, making it hard to live on. It has also affected the ocean around the island. About 40 percent of marine life has been harmed by silt and phosphate runoff.

Nauru has no rivers.

Nauru's Climate: Warm and Wet

Nauru's climate is hot and very humid all year. This is because it's close to the equator and surrounded by the ocean. The island gets heavy monsoon rains between November and February. The amount of rain changes a lot each year, and Nauru has experienced several droughts. Temperatures usually range from 30 to 35 degrees Celsius during the day and stay around 25 degrees Celsius at night.

Since there are no rivers, people collect rainwater from their roofs. Water is also brought to Nauru on ships.

Nauru's Ecology: Plants and Animals

There aren't many animals on the island because there isn't much vegetation left due to phosphate mining. Many native birds have become rare or disappeared. There are about 60 types of vascular plants native to Nauru, but none are found only there. Coconut farming, mining, and introduced species have greatly changed the native plant life.

Nauru doesn't have native land mammals. However, it does have native insects, land crabs, and birds, including the unique Nauru reed warbler. Animals like the Polynesian rat, cats, dogs, pigs, and chickens were brought to Nauru by ships.

Nauru's Government and Politics

Nauru is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Asian Development Bank. It also takes part in the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games. Nauru joined the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and became the 189th member of the International Monetary Fund in April 2016.

Nauru is a republic with a parliamentary system of government. The president is both the head of state and head of government. The president needs the support of parliament to stay in power. All 19 parliament members are elected every three years.

The parliament chooses the president from its members. The president then appoints a cabinet of five to six members. After a vote in 2021, there are now rules about who can be a parliament member.

Nauru doesn't have strong political parties. Candidates usually run for office as independent members. In the current parliament, 15 out of 19 members are independents. When forming a government, alliances are often made based on family connections rather than party groups.

From 1992 to 1999, Nauru had a local government system called the Nauru Island Council. This council provided local services. It was later dissolved, and its responsibilities went to the national government.

Land ownership in Nauru is special. All Nauruans have rights to the land, which is owned by individuals and family groups. The government and companies cannot own land directly. They must lease land from the landowners. People who are not Nauruan cannot own land on the island.

Nauru's Supreme Court handles important legal matters, especially those about the constitution. Other cases can be appealed to the Appellate Court. Parliament cannot change court decisions. In the past, some cases could be appealed to Australia's High Court, but this arrangement ended in March 2018. There are also lower courts, like the District Court and Family Court.

Nauru's Foreign Relations: Working with Other Countries

After becoming independent in 1968, Nauru joined the Commonwealth of Nations. It became a full member in 1999. The country joined the Asian Development Bank in 1991 and the United Nations in 1999. Nauru is also part of several regional groups in the Pacific. In February 2021, Nauru, along with some other island nations, announced it was leaving the Pacific Islands Forum after a disagreement.

Nauru does not have armed forces. It has a small police force that is controlled by civilians. Australia is responsible for Nauru's defense through an informal agreement. Australia also provides financial aid and technical help to Nauru. This aid has sometimes been in exchange for Nauru hosting a facility for asylum seekers while their applications for entry into Australia are processed. Nauru uses the Australian dollar as its official money.

Nauru has sometimes changed its diplomatic recognition between Taiwan (Republic of China) and China (People's Republic of China). This has helped Nauru gain financial support from both countries. For example, in July 2002, Nauru established relations with China. Then, in May 2005, it re-established links with Taiwan. Most recently, on January 15, 2024, Nauru ended ties with Taiwan and re-established diplomatic relations with China.

In 2008, Nauru recognized Kosovo as an independent country. In 2009, Nauru also recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two regions that broke away from Georgia. Russia provided development aid to Nauru around this time. The Nauruan government stated this aid was not related to its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The US Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program has a climate-monitoring station on the island.

A large part of Nauru's income has come from aid from Australia. In 2001, Nauru hosted a facility for asylum seekers as part of Australia's "Pacific Solution." This facility provided jobs and income for Nauru. It closed in 2008 but reopened in August 2012. As of 2017, the facility's operations made up 35% of Nauru's economy.

Nauru's Administrative Divisions

Nauru is divided into fourteen administrative districts. These districts are grouped into eight electoral areas. The most populated district is Denigomodu, with 1,804 residents. Many of these residents live in a settlement for the Republic of Nauru Phosphate Corporation. The table below shows the population of each district from the 2011 census.

No. District Former name Area (ha) Population (2011) No. of villages Density (persons/ha) 1 Aiwo Aiue 110 1,220 8 11.1 2 Anabar Anebwor 150 452 15 3.0 3 Anetan Añetañ 100 587 12 5.9 4 Anibare Anybody 310 226 17 0.7 5 Baitsi Beidi, Baiti 120 513 15 4.3 6 Boe Boi 50 851 4 17.0 7 Buada Arenibok 260 739 14 2.8 8 Denigomodu Denikomotu 118 1,804 17 15.3 9 Ewa Eoa 120 446 12 3.7 10 Ijuw Ijub 110 178 13 1.6 11 Meneng Meneñ 310 1,380 18 4.5 12 Nibok Ennibeck 160 484 11 3.0 13 Uaboe Ueboi 80 318 6 3.0 14 Yaren Moqua 150 747 7 4.0 – Nauru Pleasant Island 2,120 10,084 169 4.8

Nauru's Economy: Challenges and Changes

Nauru's economy was strongest in the 1970s, mainly because of phosphate mining. However, mining started to decline in the early 1980s. Nauru has few other natural resources, so most things it needs are imported. A company called RONPhos still does some small-scale phosphate mining.

The government puts some of RONPhos's earnings into the Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust. This trust was meant to invest money to support citizens after the phosphate ran out. However, due to poor management, the trust's value decreased a lot. For example, the National Bank of Nauru closed in 2006.

Nauru does not have personal taxes. About 23% of people are unemployed, and the government employs 95% of those who have jobs. The country still relies on outside help. Tourism is not a big part of the economy.

In the 1990s, Nauru tried to attract businesses by offering easy ways to set up banks. International groups like the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) asked Nauru to create clearer rules to prevent illegal money activities. Nauru introduced new laws in 2003, and by 2005, FATF recognized Nauru's efforts.

From 2001 to 2007, the facility for asylum seekers provided a lot of income for Nauru. When it closed, many Nauruans lost their jobs. The facility reopened in August 2012, and by 2017, its operations made up 35% of Nauru's economy.

In 2017, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) improved Nauru's rating for tax transparency. This meant Nauru was doing better at meeting international standards.

In 2018, Nauru's government partnered with a company called Nauru Ocean Resources Inc (NORI). They plan to explore harvesting manganese nodules from the deep sea. These minerals can be used in sustainable energy technology.

In March 2025, Nauru announced a program to offer citizenship for a fee. This initiative aims to raise money to help relocate 90% of the island's population to a new community on higher ground.

Nauru's People: Demographics and Culture

As of July 2025, Nauru had about 12,025 residents. The population was once larger, but in 2006, about 1,500 immigrant workers left the island. This happened because of job reductions in phosphate mining.

The official languages of Nauru are Nauruan and English. Nauruan is a unique Micronesian language spoken by most ethnic Nauruans at home. English is widely used in government and business.

The main religion on the island in 2021 was Christianity. The largest groups were the Nauru Congregational Church (34.3%), the Catholic Church (33.9%), and the Assemblies of God (11.7%).

While the Constitution allows for freedom of religion, some religious groups have faced challenges. The Catholics on Nauru are part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru.

Nauru's Public Services

Education in Nauru

Most people in Nauru can read and write, with a Literacy rate of 96%. Education is required for children aged six to sixteen. Two more years of non-required schooling are also offered. Nauru has three primary schools and two secondary schools. These are Nauru Secondary School and Nauru College.

There is a campus of the University of the South Pacific on Nauru. Before it was built in 1987, students studied from a distance or went abroad. Since 2011, the University of New England in Australia has also helped Nauruan teachers study for education degrees.

The old public library was destroyed in a fire. As of 1999, a new one had not been built. However, the Nauru Community Library is now in the new University of the South Pacific Nauru Campus building, which opened in May 2018.

Health in Nauru

Nauru has one of the highest child mortality rates in the Pacific region. In 2020, it was 2.9%.

In 2009, the average life expectancy in Nauru was 60.6 years for males and 68.0 years for females.

Nauruans have one of the highest rates of being overweight or obese in the world. About 97% of men and 93% of women are overweight or obese. In 2012, the obesity rate was 71.7%.

Nauru also has the world's highest level of type 2 diabetes, affecting over 40% of the population. Other health problems related to diet include kidney disease and heart disease.

Nauru has the world's highest tobacco smoking rate, at 48.3% in 2022.

Nauru's Transport

The island is served by Nauru International Airport. Nauru Airlines provides passenger flights four days a week to Brisbane, Australia. There are also some flights to other places like Nadi (Fiji) and Bonriki (Kiribati).

Nauru has about 30 kilometers of roads. It also has about 4 kilometers of railway, which was built for mining a century ago. Nauru can also be reached by sea through the Nauru International Port. A project to modernize and expand the port was expected to finish in 2021 but faced delays.

Food, Farming, and Diet in Nauru

Plants and Farming

Historically, Nauruans grew many of their own foods in household gardens. Common plants included coconuts, breadfruit, bananas, pandanus, papaya, and guavas.

The soil on Nauru's central plateau, called "Topside," was very rich. However, phosphate mining has removed most of this soil. The soil on the coastal areas, where most Nauruans now live, is poor. It is shallow and has a coarse texture from the coral. In 2011, only 13% of households had a garden or grew crops.

Because most of the original soil is gone, Nauruans often have to import soil. The reduction in plant types due to mining has also affected the cultural connection Nauruans feel to their land. Plants are a big part of their identity and have many uses in Pacific Island cultures.

Food and Nutrition

Today, almost all food for Nauru residents must be imported. This is because 90% of the farming land was lost to phosphate mining. This means people often eat mostly processed foods like rice and sugar. While people are trying to save the soil they can, some experts believe the soil may not fully recover even after mining stops.

Nauru's reliance on processed and imported foods, along with other factors, has greatly affected the health of its citizens. Despite importing all food, a survey in 2012–2013 found that Nauruans generally have enough calories.

Basic Needs Beyond Food

While Nauru is doing well with food availability, about 24% of the population lives below the basic needs poverty line. This line includes things like clothing, shelter, education, transport, communication, water, sanitation, and health services. This is the highest poverty rate among Pacific nations. In 2017, half of Nauruans lived on about US$9,000 a year.

Water resources are very limited. The island provides about 32 liters of fresh water per person per day, which is less than the 50 liters recommended by the WHO. Much of the groundwater is contaminated by mining runoff and waste. This means Nauruans rely on imported water and rainwater storage.

Access to proper sanitation facilities is also limited, with only 66% of residents having reliable toilets. Some areas lack proper sanitation. Schools sometimes have to close because they don't have working toilets or drinking water for students. There are also challenges in school attendance and access to education for all children.

Nauru's Culture

Angam Day, celebrated on October 26, remembers the recovery of the Nauruan population after the two world wars and the 1920 influenza epidemic. Modern Western influences have largely replaced traditional Nauruan culture. However, some older customs, like traditional music, arts and crafts, and fishing, are still practiced.

Music and Dance

Nauruan folk songs still exist, with "Oh Bwio Eben Bwio" being a well-known one. Rhythmic singing and traditional dances are often performed at celebrations. Historical photos show a Nauruan "fish dance." Today, popular dances include the frigate bird dance and the dogoropa.

The national anthem of Nauru is "Nauru Bwiema" (meaning "Song of Nauru").

Media and News

Nauru does not have daily newspapers. However, it has a publication called Mwinen Ko that comes out every two weeks. There is a state-owned television station, Nauru Television (NTV), which shows programs from New Zealand and Australia. Radio Nauru, a state-owned radio station, broadcasts programs from Radio Australia and the BBC.

Sports in Nauru

Australian rules football is the most popular sport in Nauru. It is considered the country's national team sport. Nauru has an Australian rules football league with eight teams. Nauru's national teams often rank among the top in the world.

Other popular sports in Nauru include weightlifting (a national pastime), volleyball, netball, fishing, and tennis. Nauru competes in the Commonwealth Games and has sent athletes to the Summer Olympic Games for weightlifting and judo.

Rugby union in Nauru is also growing in popularity. The Nauru national rugby sevens team played its first international game at the 2015 Pacific Games.

Soccer in Nauru has been a minor sport, but a Nauru national soccer team was forming as of 2024.

See also

In Spanish: Nauru para niños

• Index of Nauru-related articles
• Outline of Nauru