Nauru
Republic of Nauru
republic
Nauru as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 114 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Nauru's phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium; the island was occupied by Australian forces in World War I. Nauru achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999. Nauru is the world's smallest independent republic.
Geography
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands
18 fieldsLand useshare of 21 sq km
Environment - current issues
- limited natural fresh water 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
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
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
People
19 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2003 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 38.9% (male 2,517; female 2,368)
- 15-64 years:
- 59.3% (male 3,681; female 3,779)
- 65 years and over:
- 1.8% (male 116; female 109) (2003 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.97 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Languages
Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes
Government
Republic; President Rene HARRIS (since 8 August 2003) note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; President Rene HARRIS (since 8 August 2003) note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
18 fieldsParliament, 15 seats, elected 3 May 2003one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Nauru
- conventional short form:
- Nauru
- former:
- Pleasant Island
Administrative divisions
14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Rene HARRIS (since 8 August 2003) note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
- elections:
- president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held 29 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2006)
note: Ludwig SCOTTY was removed from the presidency in a no-confidence vote 8 August 2003; Rene HARRIS became president
- election results:
- Ludwig SCOTTY elected president 29 May 2003; Ludwig SCOTTY 10 parliamentary votes, Kinza CLODUMAR 7
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of Parliament
- head of government:
- President Rene HARRIS (since 8 August 2003) note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held not later than May 2006)
- election results:
- percent of vote - NA%; seats - Nauru First Party 3, independents 15
Political parties and leaders
- loose multiparty system;
- Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG];
- Nauru Party (informal) [leader NA];
- Naoero Amo (Nauru First) Party [leader NA]
International organization participation
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US
Nauru does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a UN office at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, New York 10017; telephone: (212) 937-0074; consulate(s): Hagatna (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru
Flag description
- blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side;
- 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
Economy
Revenues of this tiny island have come from exports of phosphates, but reserves are expected to be exhausted within a few years.
35 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Revenues of this tiny island have come from exports of phosphates, but reserves are expected to be exhausted within a few years. Phosphate production has declined since 1989, as demand has fallen in traditional markets and as the marginal cost of extracting the remaining phosphate increases, making it less internationally competitive.
While phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World, few other resources exist with most necessities being imported, including fresh water from Australia. 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 have been invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's economic future. The government has been borrowing heavily from the trusts to finance fiscal deficits.
To cut costs the government has called for a freeze on wages, a reduction of over-staffed public service departments, privatization of numerous government agencies, and closure of some overseas consulates. In recent years Nauru has encouraged the registration of offshore banks and corporations.
Tens of billions of dollars have been channeled through their accounts. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist, with estimates of Nauru's GDP varying widely.
Labor force - by occupation
employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation
Exchange rates
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.2641 (2002) 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
total: 5 km note: gauge unknown; used to haul phosphates from the center of the island to processing facilities on the southwest coast (2001)
Military
No regular military forces; Nauru Police Force
6 fieldsMilitary - note
Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Nauru.” The World Factbook 2003. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/nauru/2003.