Nauru
Republic of Nauru
republic
Nauru as the 2011 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 117 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
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 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
Environment - international agreements
- 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
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 and Society
26 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2011 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Religions(2002 census)
Languages
Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English (widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 0.837 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.97 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 1 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Government
Republic; President Sprent DABWIDO (since 15 November 2011); President Sprent DABWIDO (since 15 November 2011)
20 fieldsLegislature, 18 seats, elected 19 June 2010one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Nauru
- conventional short form:
- Nauru
- local long form:
- Republic of Nauru
- local short form:
- Nauru
- former:
- Pleasant Island
Capital
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District; time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- 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
Legislative branch
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
Political parties and leaders
- Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG];
- Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party;
- Nauru Party (informal);
- note - loose multiparty system
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, ICAO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- 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)
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;
- 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
National anthem
- name:
- "Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru)
- lyrics/music:
- Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS
note: adopted 1968
Economy
Revenues of this tiny island traditionally have come from exports of phosphates.
35 fieldsElectricity
Economy - overview
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.
Labor force - by occupation
note: employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation (1992)
Exchange rates
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.0902 (2010) · 1.2822 (2009) · 1.2059 (2008) · 1.2137 (2007) · 1.3285 (2006)
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
- 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)
Broadcast media
- 1 government-owned television 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)
Transportation
4 fieldsMilitary
No regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2009)
6 fieldsMilitary - note
Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Nauru.” The World Factbook 2011. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/nauru/2011.