View source for Nauru

{{Short description|Island country in Oceania}}
{{bots|deny=Citation bot}}
{{About|the island country|the Tanzanian village|Nauru, Tanzania}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Republic of Nauru
| common_name            = Nauru
| native_name            = {{native name|na|Repubrikin Naoero}}<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Franks |editor-first1=Patricia C. |editor-last2=Bernier |editor-first2=Anthony |date=2018 |title=International Directory of National Archives |url= |location= |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |page=263 |isbn=}}</ref>
| image_flag             = Flag of Nauru.svg
| image_coat             = Coat of arms of Nauru.svg
| national_motto         = "God's will first"
| national_anthem        = [[Nauru Bwiema]] (Nauruan)<br />"Nauru, Our Homeland"{{parabr}}{{center|}} [[File:Nauru Bwiema.ogg]]
| image_map              = NRU orthographic.svg
| map_width              = 250px
| capital                = [[Yaren District|Yaren]] (''[[de facto]]''){{efn|Nauru does not have an official capital, but Yaren is the seat of parliament.<ref name=directory>{{cite book |title=Worldwide Government Directory with Intergovernmental Organizations |year=2013 |page=1131 |publisher=CQ Press}}</ref>}}
| coordinates            = {{Coord|0|31|39|S|166|56|06|E|type:country}}
| official_languages     = {{plainlist|
*[[Nauruan language|Nauruan]]<ref name=directory/>
*[[English language|English]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/Links/LEGISLATIVE-DRAFTING%20MANUAL-Nauru.pdf |title=REPUBLIC OF NAURU Revenue Administration Act Act No. 15 of 2014 |access-date=28 January 2023 |quote=All Bills are to be drafted in English, the official language of Nauru. |archive-date=9 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309065917/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/Links/LEGISLATIVE-DRAFTING%20MANUAL-Nauru.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|English is widely spoken by the majority of the population and it is commonly used in government, legislation and commerce alongside Nauruan. Because of Nauru's history and relationship with Australia, [[Australian English]] is the dominant variety.<ref name=CIA/><ref name=state/>}}}}
| demonym                = [[Nauruans|Nauruan]]
| government_type        = Unitary [[Presidential parliamentary republic|presidential parliamentary republic]] under a [[non-partisan democracy]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Nauru's Constitution of 1968 with Amendments through 2015 |url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Nauru_2015.pdf?lang=en |website=constituteproject.org |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317104820/https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Nauru_2015.pdf?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
| leader_title1          = [[President of Nauru|President]]
| leader_name1           = [[David Adeang]]
| leader_title2          = [[List of Speakers of the Parliament of Nauru|Speaker of the Parliament]]
| leader_name2           = [[Marcus Stephen]]
| legislature            = [[Parliament of Nauru|Parliament]]
| sovereignty_type       = Independence
| established_event1     = [[Nauru Independence Act 1967]]
| established_date1      = {{start date and age|1968|1|31|df=y}}
| area_km2               = 21
| area_rank              = 193rd <!-- Should match [[List of countries and dependencies by area]] -->
| area_sq_mi             = 8.1 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| percent_water          = 0.57 <!--% of Nauru's area taken up by Buada Lagoon-->
| population_estimate    = 11,919{{UN_Population|ref}}
| population_estimate_rank = 227th
| population_estimate_year = 2024
| population_census      = 12,000<ref name="Nauru Census">{{cite web |title=National Report on Population ad Housing |url=http://www.spc.int/prism/nauru/PublicDocuments/Census/Nauru_2011_Census_Report_FINAL.pdf |publisher=Nauru Bureau of Statistics |accessdate=9 June 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120203/http://www.spc.int/prism/nauru/PublicDocuments/Census/Nauru_2011_Census_Report_FINAL.pdf |archivedate=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| population_census_year = 2011
| population_census_rank = 
| population_density_km2 = 480
| population_density_sq_mi = 1,243 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| population_density_rank = 25th
| GDP_PPP                = $132 million<ref name=imf>{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2017/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=58&pr.y=9&sy=2017&ey=2022&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=836&s=NGDPD,NGDPDPC,PPPGDP,PPPPC,LP&grp=0&a= |title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |publisher=International Monetary Fund |access-date=1 October 2018 |archive-date=2 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502023235/https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2017/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=58&pr.y=9&sy=2017&ey=2022&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=836&s=NGDPD,NGDPDPC,PPPGDP,PPPPC,LP&grp=0&a= |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2021
| GDP_PPP_rank           = 192nd
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = $9,995<ref name=imf/>
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 94th
| GDP_nominal            = $150 million<ref name=imf/>
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2022
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $10,125<ref name=imf/>
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 
| Gini                   = <!--number only-->
| Gini_year              = 
| Gini_change            = <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini_ref               = 
| Gini_rank              = 
| HDI                    = 0.703 <!--number only-->
| HDI_year               = 2023<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change             = increase<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref                = <ref>{{Cite web |date=13 March 2024 |title=Human Development Report 2023/2024 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313164319/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2024 |access-date=13 March 2024 |publisher=United Nations Development Programme}}</ref>
| HDI_rank               = 124th
| currency               = [[Australian dollar]]
| currency_code          = AUD
| time_zone              = UTC+12<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/acts/e9004de516a6dc7f15596cdc573a7058.pdf |publisher=Department of Justice and Border Control |title=Nauru Standard Time Act 1978 |date=21 December 1978 |accessdate=11 September 2020 |archive-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415110312/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/acts/e9004de516a6dc7f15596cdc573a7058.pdf |url-status=live }} Because of the peculiar way the legislation is worded the legal time is not GMT+12.</ref>
| utc_offset             = 
| utc_offset_DST         = 
| time_zone_DST          = 
| drives_on              = left
| calling_code           = [[+674]]
| cctld                  = [[.nr]]
| largest_city           = [[Denigomodu]]
}}

'''Nauru''',{{efn|{{IPAc-en|n|ɑː|ˈ|uː|r|uː|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Nauru.wav}} {{respell|nah|OO|roo}}<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/british/nauru |title=Nauru Pronunciation in English |work=Cambridge English Dictionary |publisher=Cambridge University Press |accessdate=16 February 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217004712/http://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/british/nauru |archivedate=17 February 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|aʊ|r|uː}} {{respell|NOW|roo}};<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/nauru |title=Nauru – Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes |work=Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary |publisher=Oxford University Press |accessdate=2 January 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102211534/http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/nauru |archivedate=2 January 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> {{langx|na|Naoero}}}} officially the '''Republic of Nauru''',{{efn|{{langx|na|Repubrikin Naoero}}}} formerly known as '''Pleasant Island''', is an [[island country]] and [[microstate]] in the [[South Pacific Ocean]]. It lies within the [[Micronesia]] subregion of [[Oceania]], with its nearest neighbour being [[Banaba]] (part of [[Kiribati]]) about {{convert|300|km}} to the east.<ref name="PIM31">{{cite web |last= |first= |work=II(8) Pacific Islands Monthly |title=Nauru and Ocean Island |date=15 March 1932 |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-310860816/view?partId=nla.obj-310873107#page/n37/mode/1up |accessdate=26 September 2021 |archive-date=26 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926061901/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-310860816/view?partId=nla.obj-310873107#page/n37/mode/1up |url-status=live }}</ref> Nauru is also known to have one of the highest [[Obesity in Nauru|obesity rates]] in the world, with around 70% of all adults over 18 being over 100kg (220 lb).

With an area of only {{convert|21|km2|mi2 ha acre}}, Nauru is the [[List of countries and dependencies by area|third-smallest]] country in the world, larger than only [[Vatican City]] and [[Monaco]], making it the smallest [[republic]] and island state, as well as the smallest member state of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] by both area and population. [[Demographics of Nauru|Its population]] of about 10,800 is the world's [[List of countries and dependencies by population|third-smallest]] (not including colonies or overseas territories). Nauru is a member of the [[United Nations]], the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], and the [[Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States]].

Settled by [[Micronesians]] circa 1000 [[Common Era|BCE]], Nauru was [[annexation|annexed]] and claimed as a colony by the [[German Empire]] in the late 19th century. After [[World War&nbsp;I]], Nauru became a [[League of Nations mandate]] administered by [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], and the [[United Kingdom]]. During [[World War&nbsp;II]], Nauru was [[Japanese occupation of Nauru|occupied]] by [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] troops and was [[leapfrogging (strategy)|bypassed]] by the Allied advance across the Pacific. After the war ended, the country entered into [[United Nations trust territories|United Nations trusteeship]]. Nauru gained its independence in 1968. At various points since 2001, it has accepted aid from the [[Australian Government]] in exchange for hosting the [[Nauru Regional Processing Centre]], a controversial [[Australian immigration detention facilities|offshore Australian immigration detention facility]]. As a result of heavy dependence on Australia, some sources have identified Nauru as a [[client state]] of Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201759087/pacific-correspondent-mike-field |title=Pacific correspondent Mike Field |date=18 June 2015 |work=Radio New Zealand |accessdate=8 December 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210212050/http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201759087/pacific-correspondent-mike-field |archivedate=10 December 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/03/13/naurus-former-chief-justice-predicts-legal-break-down |title=Nauru's former chief justice predicts legal break down |publisher=Special Broadcasting Service |accessdate=8 December 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210214824/http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/03/13/naurus-former-chief-justice-predicts-legal-break-down |archivedate=10 December 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/oct/28/this-is-abyans-story-and-it-is-australias-story |title=This is Abyan's story, and it is Australia's story |first=Ben |last=Doherty |work=The Guardian |date=28 October 2015 |accessdate=12 December 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226051801/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/oct/28/this-is-abyans-story-and-it-is-australias-story |archivedate=26 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Nauru is a [[Phosphorite|phosphate-rock]] island with rich deposits near the surface, which allowed easy [[Surface mining|strip mining]] operations for over a century. However, this has seriously harmed the country's environment, causing it to suffer from what is often referred to as the "[[resource curse]]". The [[phosphate]] was exhausted in the 1990s, and the remaining reserves are not economically viable for extraction.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Hogan |first=C Michael |year=2011 |url=http://www.eoearth.org/article/Phosphate?topic=49557 |title=Phosphate |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Earth |publisher=National Council for Science and the Environment |accessdate=17 June 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025180158/http://www.eoearth.org/article/Phosphate?topic=49557 |archivedate=25 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> A [[Trust law|trust]] established to manage the island's accumulated mining wealth, set up for the day the reserves would be exhausted, has diminished in value. To earn income, Nauru briefly became a [[tax haven]] and illegal [[money laundering]] centre.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/10/magazine/the-billion-dollar-shack.html?mcubz=1 |title=The Billion-Dollar Shack |first=Jack |last=Hitt |newspaper=The New York Times |date=10 December 2000 |accessdate=29 January 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116140500/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/10/magazine/the-billion-dollar-shack.html?mcubz=1 |archivedate=16 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Nauru}}
[[File:Nauruan-warrior-1880ers.jpg|thumb|upright|Photo of a Nauruan warrior during the [[Nauruan Civil War]] {{ca|1880}}]]
Nauru was first settled by Micronesians at least 3,000 years ago, and there is evidence of possible [[Polynesians|Polynesian]] influence.<ref name="UNCCD">{{cite web |author=Nauru Department of Economic Development and Environment |year=2003 |url=http://www.unccd.int/cop/reports/asia/national/2002/nauru-eng.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722013720/http://www.unccd.int/cop/reports/asia/national/2002/nauru-eng.pdf |archivedate=22 July 2011 |title=First National Report to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification |publisher=United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification |accessdate=25 June 2012}}</ref> Comparatively little is known of Nauruan prehistory,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5c34b445809e44eaaf91d882fc201e73 |title=Nauru |first=Nancy J. |last=Pollock |date=27 April 2021 |website=ArcGIS StoryMaps |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113013856/https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5c34b445809e44eaaf91d882fc201e73 |url-status=live }}</ref> although the island is believed to have had a long period of isolation, which accounts for the distinct language that developed among the inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Nauru/History |title=Nauru – History |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |accessdate=12 January 2021 |archive-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416173402/https://www.britannica.com/place/Nauru/History |url-status=live }}</ref> There were traditionally twelve clans or tribes on Nauru, which are represented in the twelve-pointed star on the [[flag of Nauru|country's flag]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Whyte |first=Brendan |title=On Cartographic Vexillology |journal=Cartographica |year=2007 |volume=42 |issue=3 |pages=251–262 |doi=10.3138/carto.42.3.251}}</ref> Traditionally, [[Nauruans]] traced their descent [[Matrilineality|matrilineally]]. Inhabitants practised [[aquaculture]]: they caught juvenile [[milkfish]] (known as ''ibija'' in [[Nauruan language|Nauruan]]), [[acclimatization|acclimatised]] them to freshwater, and raised them in [[Buada Lagoon]], providing a reliable food source. The other locally grown components of their diet included [[coconut]]s and [[pandanus tectorius|pandanus fruit]].<ref name="pollock">{{Cite book |last=Pollock|first= Nancy J |chapter=5: Social Fattening Patterns in the Pacific—the Positive Side of Obesity. A Nauru Case Study |editor-last=De Garine|editor-first= I |title=Social Aspects of Obesity |pages=87–111 |publisher=Routledge |year=1995}}</ref><ref name="spennemann">{{cite journal |last=Spennemann |first=Dirk HR |journal=Aquaculture International |date=January 2002 |volume=10 |issue=6 |pages=551–562 |doi=10.1023/A:1023900601000 |title=Traditional milkfish aquaculture in Nauru }}</ref> The name "Nauru" may derive from the Nauruan word ''{{lang|na|Anáoero}}'', which means 'I go to the beach.'<ref name=west>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania |title=Nauruans: nationality |pages=578–580 |last=West |first=Barbara A |isbn=978-1-4381-1913-7 |year=2010 |publisher=Infobase Publishing}}</ref>

In 1798, the [[British people|British]] sea captain [[John Fearn (whaler)|John Fearn]], on his trading ship ''Hunter'' (300 tons), became the first Westerner to report sighting Nauru, calling it "Pleasant Island" because of its attractive appearance.<ref name="WM1985">{{cite book |first1=Maslyn|last1= Williams |first2= Barrie |last2=Macdonald |title=The Phosphateers |year=1985 |publisher=Melbourne University Press |isbn=0-522-84302-6 |page=11}}</ref><ref name="Ellis 1935">{{cite book |last1=Ellis |first1=Albert F. |title=Ocean Island and Nauru: Their Story |year=1935 |publisher=Angus and Robertson |oclc=3444055 |page=29}}</ref> From at least 1826, Nauruans had regular contact with Europeans on whaling and trading ships who called for provisions and fresh drinking water. The last [[whaler]] to call during the [[Age of Sail]] visited in 1904.<ref>{{cite book|last=Langdon|first= Robert |year=1984|title=Where the whalers went: an index to the Pacific ports and islands visited by American whalers (and some other ships) in the 19th century|publisher=Pacific Manuscripts Bureau|pages=180&ndash;182|isbn=086784471X}}</ref>

Around this time, [[desertion|deserters]] from European ships began to live on the island. The islanders traded food for alcoholic [[palm wine]] and firearms.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Marshall |first1=Mac |last2=Marshall|first2=Leslie B |title=Holy and Unholy Spirits: The Effects of Missionization on Alcohol Use in Eastern Micronesia |journal=Journal of Pacific History |date=January 1976 |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=135–166 |doi=10.1080/00223347608572299}}</ref> The firearms were used during the 10-year [[Nauruan Civil War]] that began in 1878.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=New York Law School Journal of International and Comparative Law |title=Nauru v. Australia |last=Reyes|first= Ramon E. Jr |volume=16 |issue=1–2 |year=1996 |url=http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/nylsintcom16&div=6&id=&page=}}</ref>

After an [[Anglo-German Declarations about the Western Pacific Ocean|agreement with Great Britain]], Germany annexed Nauru in 1888 and incorporated it into the Marshall Islands Protectorate for administrative purposes.<ref name="Kenneth Roberts-Wray 1966. P. 884">{{cite book|title=Commonwealth and Colonial Law|first=Kenneth |last=Roberts-Wray|publisher=Stevens|year= 1966|page= 884}}</ref><ref name=firth>{{cite journal |last=Firth |first=Stewart |title=German Labour Policy in Nauru and Angaur, 1906–1914 |journal=The Journal of Pacific History |date=January 1978 |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=36–52 |doi=10.1080/00223347808572337}}</ref> The arrival of the [[Germans]] ended the civil war, and kings were established as rulers of the island. King [[Aweida|Auweyida]] was the most widely known. Christian missionaries from the [[Gilbert Islands]] arrived in 1888.<ref name=hill/><ref>{{cite book |last=Ellis|first= AF |year=1935 |title=Ocean Island and Nauru&nbsp;– their story |publisher=Angus and Robertson Limited |pages=29–39}}</ref> The German settlers called the island "Nawodo" or "Onawero".<ref>{{cite book |title=Deutsche Rundschau für Geographie und Statistik |last=Hartleben|first= A |year=1895 |page=429}}</ref> The Germans ruled Nauru for almost three decades. [[Robert Rasch]], a German trader who married a 15-year-old Nauruan girl, was the first administrator, appointed in 1890.<ref name=hill>{{cite book |editor-last=Hill |editor-first=Robert A |title=The Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers |year=1986 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-05817-0 |chapter=2: Progress Comes to Nauru |volume=5}}</ref>

In 1900, [[phosphate]] was discovered on Nauru by the prospector [[Albert Fuller Ellis]].<ref name=firth/><ref name="Ellis 1935"/> The Pacific Phosphate Company began to exploit the reserves in 1906 by agreement with Germany, exporting its first shipment in 1907.<ref name="WM1985"/><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite journal |last1=Manner |first1=HI |last2=Thaman|first2= RR |last3=Hassall|first3= DC |title=Plant succession after phosphate mining on Nauru |journal=Australian Geographer |date=May 1985 |volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=185–195 |doi=10.1080/00049188508702872}}</ref> In 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, Nauru was captured by Australian troops. In 1919, it was agreed by the [[Allies of World War I|Allied and Associated Powers]] that [[George V|George V of the United Kingdom]] should be the administering authority under a League of Nations mandate. The Nauru Island Agreement forged in 1919 among the governments of the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand provided for the administration of the island and extraction of the phosphate deposits by an intergovernmental [[British Phosphate Commission]] (BPC).<ref name="Kenneth Roberts-Wray 1966. P. 884"/><ref name=gowdy>{{cite journal |journal=Land Economics |volume=75 |issue=2 |title=The Physical Destruction of Nauru |last1=Gowdy|first1= John M |last2=McDaniel|first2= Carl N |date=May 1999 |pages=333–338 |doi=10.2307/3147015 |jstor=3147015}}</ref> The terms of the [[League of Nations]] mandate were drawn up in 1920.<ref name="Kenneth Roberts-Wray 1966. P. 884"/>

The island experienced an [[influenza]] epidemic and ongoing colonial strife through the early 20th century, with a mortality rate of 18 per cent among native Nauruans.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Shlomowitz |first=R |title=Differential mortality of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the Pacific labour trade |journal=Journal of the Australian Population Association |date=November 1990 |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=116–127 |doi=10.1007/bf03029360 |pmid=12343016}}</ref> In 1923, the League of Nations gave Australia a trustee mandate over Nauru, with the United Kingdom and New Zealand as co-trustees.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Hudson |first=WJ |title=Australia's experience as a mandatory power |journal=Australian Outlook |date=April 1965 |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=35–46 |doi=10.1080/10357716508444191}}</ref> On 6&nbsp;and 7 December 1940, the German auxiliary cruisers ''[[German auxiliary cruiser Komet|Komet]]'' and ''[[German auxiliary cruiser Orion|Orion]]'' [[German attacks on Nauru|sank five supply ships]] in the vicinity of Nauru. ''Komet'' then shelled Nauru's phosphate mining areas, oil storage depots, and the shiploading cantilever.<ref>{{cite book |last=Waters |first=SD |title=German raiders in the Pacific |year=2008 |publisher=Merriam Press |isbn=978-1-4357-5760-8 |edition=3rd |page=39}}</ref><ref name=bogart>{{cite journal |last=Bogart|first= Charles H |title=Death off Nauru |pages=8–9 |date=November 2008 |journal=CDSG Newsletter |url=http://cdsg.org/reprint%20PDFs/CDSGNnov08.pdf |accessdate=16 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012031555/http://cdsg.org/reprint%20PDFs/CDSGNnov08.pdf |archivedate=12 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="PIM41-2">{{cite web |last= |first= |work=XI(7) Pacific Islands Monthly |title=How Nauru Took the Shelling |date=14 February 1941 |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-316032928/view?partId=nla.obj-316050130#page/n36/mode/1up |accessdate=28 September 2021 |archive-date=28 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928112546/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-316032928/view?partId=nla.obj-316050130#page/n36/mode/1up |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File: Nauru Island under attack by Liberator bombers of the Seventh Air Force.jpg|thumb|[[United States Army Air Forces|U.S. Army Air Forces]] bombing the Japanese airstrip on Nauru (1943).<ref name=PacMag/>]]
Japanese troops occupied Nauru on 25 August 1942.<ref name="bogart"/> The Japanese built two airfields which were bombed for the first time on 25 March 1943, preventing food supplies from being flown to Nauru.<ref name="PIM1946-6">{{cite web |last= |first= |work=XVI(11) Pacific Islands Monthly |title=Interesting Sidelights on Jap Occupation of Nauru |date=18 June 1946 |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-317564791/view?partId=nla.obj-317661362#page/n50/mode/1up |accessdate=29 September 2021 |archive-date=1 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601062815/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-317564791/view?partId=nla.obj-317661362#page/n50/mode/1up |url-status=live }}</ref> The Japanese deported 1,200 Nauruans to work as labourers in the [[Chuuk Islands]],<ref name="PacMag">{{cite journal |last=Haden|first= JD |year=2000 |url=http://166.122.164.43/archive/2000/April/04-03-19.htm |title=Nauru: a middle ground in World War&nbsp;II |journal=Pacific Magazine |accessdate=16 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208125727/http://166.122.164.43/archive/2000/April/04-03-19.htm |archivedate=8 February 2012}}</ref> which were also occupied by Japan. Nauru was finally taken back from the Japanese on 13 September 1945, when commander Hisayaki Soeda surrendered the island to the Australian Army and the [[Royal Australian Navy]].<ref>{{cite web |first1=Akira |last1=Takizawa |first2=Allan |last2=Alsleben |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/japan_garrison.html |title=Japanese garrisons on the by-passed Pacific Islands 1944–1945 |date=1999–2000 |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942 |access-date=30 March 2021 |archive-date=6 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106231303/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/japan_garrison.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The surrender was accepted by [[Brigadier]] [[John Rowlstone Stevenson|J. R. Stevenson]], who represented [[Lieutenant general (Australia)|Lieutenant General]] [[Vernon Sturdee]], the commander of the First Australian Army, aboard the warship [[HMAS Diamantina (K377)|HMAS ''Diamantina'']].<ref>''[[The Times]]'', 14 September 1945</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article971354 |title=Nauru Occupied by Australians; Jap Garrison and Natives Starving |newspaper=The Argus |date=15 September 1945 |accessdate=30 December 2010 |archive-date=1 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301084244/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/971354 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="PIM45-10">{{cite web |last= |first= |work=XVI(3) Pacific Islands Monthly |title=Nauru Officials Murdered By Japs |date=16 October 1945 |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-317552084/view?partId=nla.obj-317560904#page/n7/mode/1up |accessdate=29 September 2021 |archive-date=30 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730032111/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-317552084/view?partId=nla.obj-317560904#page/n7/mode/1up |url-status=live }}</ref> Arrangements were made to repatriate from Chuuk the 745&nbsp;Nauruans who survived Japanese captivity there.<ref name="PIM1950-6">{{cite web |last= |first= |work=XX(10) Pacific Islands Monthly |title=Only 745 Returned |date=1 May 1950 |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-322270499/view?partId=nla.obj-322562760#page/n82/mode/1up |accessdate=30 September 2021 |archive-date=3 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603055653/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-322270499/view?partId=nla.obj-322562760#page/n82/mode/1up |url-status=live }}</ref> They were returned to Nauru by the BPC ship ''Trienza'' in January 1946.<ref>{{cite book |last=Garrett|first= J |year=1996 |title=Island Exiles |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |isbn=0-7333-0485-0 |pages=176–181}}</ref>

In 1947, a trusteeship was established by the United Nations, with Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom as trustees.<ref name=highet/> Under those arrangements, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand were a joint administering authority. The Nauru Island Agreement provided for the first administrator to be appointed by Australia for five years, leaving subsequent appointments to be decided by the three governments.<ref name= "Kenneth Roberts-Wray 1966. P. 884"/> In practice, administrative power was exercised by Australia alone.<ref name="Kenneth Roberts-Wray 1966. P. 884"/>

The [[1948 Nauru riots]] occurred when Chinese [[guano]] mining workers went on strike over pay and conditions. The Australian administration imposed a [[state of emergency]] with [[Native Police]] and armed volunteers of locals and Australian officials being mobilised. This force, using [[Submachine gun|sub-machine guns]] and other firearms, opened fire on the Chinese workers, killing two and wounding sixteen. Around 50 of the workers were arrested; two of them were bayoneted to death while in custody. The trooper who bayoneted the prisoners was charged but later acquitted on grounds that the wounds were "accidentally received."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63066635 |title=Nauru Riot |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |date=2 July 1949 |accessdate=17 February 2020 |page=1 |via=Trove |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224013923/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63066635 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Chinese Lose Nauru and Manus Cases |journal=Pacific Islands Monthly |year=1949 |volume=XIX |issue=6|publisher=Pacific Publications |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-330063007 |id=nla.obj-330063007 |accessdate=17 February 2020 |via=Trove |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224025240/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-317387977/view?sectionId=nla.obj-330063007 |url-status=live }}</ref> The governments of the [[Government of the Soviet Union|Soviet Union]] and [[Government of the Republic of China|China]] made official complaints against Australia at the United Nations over this incident.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49714695 |title=Nauru, New Guinea |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |date=5 October 1949 |accessdate=17 February 2020 |page=4 |via=Trove |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224025521/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/49714695 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Nauru satellite.jpg|thumb|A satellite image of Nauru (2002)]]
In 1964, it was proposed to relocate the population of Nauru to [[Curtis Island (Queensland)|Curtis Island]] off the coast of [[Queensland]], Australia. By that time, Nauru had been extensively mined for phosphate by companies from Australia, Britain, and New Zealand, damaging the landscape so much that it was thought the island would be uninhabitable by the 1990s. Rehabilitating the island was seen as financially impossible. In 1962, [[Prime Minister of Australia|Australian Prime Minister]] [[Robert Menzies]] said that the three countries involved in the mining had an obligation to provide a solution for the Nauruan people, and proposed finding a new island for them. In 1963, the Australian Government proposed to acquire all the land on Curtis Island (which was considerably larger than Nauru) and then offer the Nauruans freehold title over the island and that the Nauruans would become [[Australians|Australian citizens]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104291886 |title=Island Purchase For Nauruans |date=6 May 1964 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |accessdate=1 April 2019 |issue=10,840 |volume=38 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317192825/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/104291886 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131721012 |title=Nauruans Likely To Settle Curtis Island |date=30 May 1963 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |accessdate=1 April 2019 |issue=10,549 |volume=37 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=1 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501194425/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131721012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The cost of resettling the Nauruans on Curtis Island was estimated to be {{Australian pound|10&nbsp;million||}} ([[Australian dollar|A$]]{{Format price|{{#expr:({{Inflation|AU|10000000|1963}}) *2 }}}} in {{Inflation/year|AU}}{{Inflation/fn|AU}}), which included housing and infrastructure and the establishment of [[Pastoralism|pastoral]], [[Agriculture|agricultural]], and [[fishing]] industries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://theconversation.com/how-the-entire-nation-of-nauru-almost-moved-to-queensland-63833 |title=How the entire nation of Nauru almost moved to Queensland |last=McAdam |first=Jane |date=15 August 2016 |website=The Conversation |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401022237/http://theconversation.com/how-the-entire-nation-of-nauru-almost-moved-to-queensland-63833 |archivedate=1 April 2019 |url-status=live |accessdate=1 April 2019}}</ref> However, the Nauruan people did not wish to become Australian citizens and wanted to be given sovereignty over Curtis Island to establish themselves as an independent state; Australia would not agree.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131721799 |title=Lack of Sovereignty 'Disappoints' Nauruans |date=5 June 1963 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |accessdate=1 April 2019 |issue=10,554 |volume=37 |page=45 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=13 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813213431/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131721799 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Nauruans chose instead to become a sovereign state operating its own mines on the island of Nauru.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105839593 |title=Nauru not to take Curtis Is. |date=21 August 1964 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |accessdate=1 April 2019 |issue=10,930 |volume=38 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=13 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813213427/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/105839593 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 1966, Nauru became self-governing, and following a two-year constitutional convention, it became independent on 31 January 1968 under founding president [[Hammer DeRoburt]].<ref name=davidson>{{cite journal |last=Davidson |first=JW |title=The Republic of Nauru |journal=The Journal of Pacific History |date=January 1968 |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=145–150 |doi=10.1080/00223346808572131}}</ref> In 1967, the new government of Nauru purchased the assets of the British Phosphate Commissioners, and in June 1970, control passed to the locally owned [[Republic of Nauru Phosphate Corporation|Nauru Phosphate Corporation]] (NPC).<ref name=autogenerated1 /> Income from the mines made Nauruans among the richest people in the world.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7296832.stm |title=Nauru seeks to regain lost fortunes |last=Squires|first= Nick |date=15 March 2008 |work=BBC News Online |accessdate=16 March 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320204349/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7296832.stm |archivedate=20 March 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="KN-20180916">{{cite news |last1=Watanabe |first1=Anna |title=From economic haven to refugee 'hell' |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2018/09/0fdc626a0cdb-feature-nauru-from-economic-goldmine-to-refugee-hell.html |accessdate=17 September 2018 |work=Kyodo News |date=16 September 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917105105/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2018/09/0fdc626a0cdb-feature-nauru-from-economic-goldmine-to-refugee-hell.html |archivedate=17 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1989, Nauru took legal action against Australia in the [[International Court of Justice]] over Australia's administration of the island, particularly Australia's failure to remedy the environmental damage caused by phosphate mining. ''Certain Phosphate Lands: Nauru v. Australia'' led to an out-of-court settlement to rehabilitate the mined-out areas of Nauru.<ref name=highet>{{cite journal |last1=Highet|first1= K |last2=Kahale|first2= H |year=1993 |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?p1=3&p2=3&code=naus&case=80&k=e2 |title=Certain Phosphate Lands in Nauru |journal=American Journal of International Law |volume=87 |issue=2 |pages=282–288 |doi=10.2307/2203821 |jstor=2203821 |accessdate=11 October 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511143145/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?p1=3&p2=3&code=naus&case=80&k=e2 |archivedate=11 May 2011 |url-status=dead|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |series=ICJ Pleadings, Oral Arguments, Documents |title=Case Concerning Certain Phosphate Lands in Nauru (''Nauru v. Australia'') Application: Memorial of Nauru |date=January 2004 |isbn=978-92-1-070936-1 |publisher=United Nations, International Court of Justice}}</ref>

In response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], a [[COVID-19 pandemic in Nauru|state of emergency was declared in Nauru on 17 March 2020]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nauru declares 'state of emergency' to manage coronavirus pandemic |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/nauru-declares-state-of-emergency-to-manage-coronavirus-pandemic/r5gn7ol9q |website=SBS News |access-date=23 February 2024 |archive-date=20 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120213853/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/nauru-declares-state-of-emergency-to-manage-coronavirus-pandemic/r5gn7ol9q |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Nauru|Geology of Nauru}}
{{stack|
[[File:Nauru-map.gif|thumb|Map of Nauru]]
[[File:Coral reef on Nauru.jpg|thumb|Coastal beach area of Nauru, with its distinctive natural coral pillars]]
[[File:NauruBuada077.jpg|thumb|Buada Lagoon]]
}}
Nauru is a {{cvt|21|km2|adj=on}},<ref name="CIA" /> oval-shaped island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The island is surrounded by a [[fringing coral reef]], which is exposed at low tide and dotted with [[pinnacle]]s.<ref name=state/> The presence of the [[reef]] has prevented the establishment of a [[port|seaport]], although channels in the reef allow small boats access to the island.<ref>{{cite web |page=234 |url=http://www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Countries/Nauru/11.pdf |last1=Thaman|first1= RR |last2=Hassall|first2= DC |publisher=South Pacific Regional Environment Programme |title=Nauru: National Environmental Management Strategy and National Environmental Action Plan |accessdate=18 June 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511023524/http://www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Countries/Nauru/11.pdf |archivedate=11 May 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> A fertile coastal strip {{cvt|150|to|300|m}} wide lies inland from the beach.<ref name=state/>

Coral cliffs surround Nauru's central plateau. The highest point of the plateau, [[Command Ridge]], is {{cvt|71|m}} above sea level.<ref>{{cite book |title=Geology and hydrogeology of carbonate islands |year=1997 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-444-81520-0 |editor1=Vacher, H Leonard |editor2=Quinn, Terrence M |chapter=24: Geology and Hydrogeology of Nauru Island |author1=Jacobson, Gerry |author2=Hill, Peter J |author3=Ghassemi, Fereidoun |page=716}}</ref>

The only fertile areas on Nauru are on the narrow coastal belt, where [[coconut]] palms flourish. The land around [[Buada Lagoon]] supports [[banana]]s, [[pineapple]]s, [[vegetable]]s, [[pandanus tectorius|pandanus trees]], and indigenous [[hardwood]]s, such as the [[calophyllum inophyllum|tamanu tree]].<ref name=state/>

Nauru was one of three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean, along with [[Banaba|Banaba (Ocean Island)]], in Kiribati, and [[Makatea]], in [[French Polynesia]]. The phosphate reserves on Nauru are now almost entirely depleted. Phosphate mining in the central plateau has left a barren terrain of jagged limestone pinnacles up to {{cvt|15|m}} high. Mining has stripped and devastated about 80 per cent of Nauru's land area, leaving it uninhabitable,<ref name="KN-20180916" /> and has also affected the surrounding [[exclusive economic zone]]; Forty per cent of marine life is estimated to have been killed by [[silt]] and phosphate runoff.<ref name="state"/><ref name="UNCCC">{{cite web |author= |year=1999 |url=http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/naunc1.pdf |title=Climate Change&nbsp;– Response |work=First National Communication |publisher=United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change |accessdate=9 September 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806210630/http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/naunc1.pdf |archivedate=6 August 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The island has no rivers.<ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Dickinson |first=Greg |last2=Smith |first2=Oliver |date=7 March 2022 |title=12 facts about Nauru, the tiny island without a single Covid case |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/oceania/12-facts-nauru-tiny-island-without-single-covid-case/ |accessdate=3 August 2024 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref> 

=== Climate ===
Nauru's climate is hot and very humid year-round because of its proximity to the equator and the ocean. Nauru is hit by [[monsoon]] rains between November and February. Annual rainfall is highly variable and is influenced by the [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation]], with several significant recorded droughts.<ref name= "UNCCD"/><ref>{{cite book |title=Affaire de certaines terres à phosphates à Nauru |year=2003 |publisher=International Court of Justice |isbn=978-92-1-070936-1 |pages=107–109}}</ref> The temperature on Nauru ranges between {{cvt|30|and|35|C}} during the day and is stable at around {{cvt|25|C}} at night.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cawcr.gov.au/projects/PCCSP/pdf/6._Nauru_GH_poster.pdf |title=Pacific Climate Change Science Program |accessdate=10 June 2012 |publisher=Government of Australia |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227175200/http://www.cawcr.gov.au/projects/PCCSP/pdf/6._Nauru_GH_poster.pdf |archivedate=27 February 2012}}</ref>

Streams and rivers do not exist in Nauru. Water is gathered from roof catchment systems or brought to Nauru as ballast on ships returning for loads of phosphate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Yaren |title=Yaren {{!}} district, Nauru |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en |accessdate=2 September 2019 |archive-date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908204235/https://www.britannica.com/place/Yaren |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Ecology ===
{{See also|Eastern Micronesia tropical moist forests|List of mammals of Nauru|List of birds of Nauru}}
[[File:Aerial view of Nauru.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Nauru.]]
Fauna is sparse on the island because of a lack of vegetation and the consequences of phosphate mining. Many [[List of birds of Nauru|indigenous birds]] have disappeared or become rare owing to the destruction of their habitat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.int/nauru/countryprofile.html |title=NAURU Information on Government, People, History, Economy, Environment, Development |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727070348/http://www.un.int/nauru/countryprofile.html |archivedate=27 July 2013|publisher=United Nations}}</ref> There are about 60&nbsp;recorded [[vascular plant]] species native to the island, none of which are [[Endemism|endemic]]. Coconut farming, mining, and introduced species have seriously disturbed the native vegetation.<ref name="UNCCD" />

Although it has no native land [[mammal]]s, Nauru does have native [[insect]]s, [[Terrestrial crab|land crabs]], and [[bird]]s, including the endemic [[Nauru reed warbler]]. The [[Polynesian rat]], cats, dogs, pigs, and chickens have been [[History of navigation|introduced to Nauru from ships]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Birdlife-Pacific/Important%20Bird%20Area%20Coverage%20by%20Country.htm |accessdate=18 June 2012 |agency=BirdLife International |title=Important Bird Areas in Nauru |publisher=Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130113065145/http://www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Birdlife-Pacific/Important%20Bird%20Area%20Coverage%20by%20Country.htm |archivedate=13 January 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Nauru|Elections in Nauru}}
{{Further|Law of Nauru|List of political parties in Nauru|Crime in Nauru}}
[[File:Nauru-parliament.jpg|thumb|Parliament of Nauru]]

The president of Nauru is [[David Adeang]], who heads a [[Parliament of Nauru|19-member unicameral parliament]]. The country is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the [[Asian Development Bank]]. Nauru also participates in the [[Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth]] and [[Olympic Games]]. Recently, Nauru became a member country of the [[International Renewable Energy Agency]] (IRENA). The Republic of Nauru became the 189th member of the [[International Monetary Fund]] in April 2016.{{fact|date=December 2025}}

Nauru is a republic with a [[parliamentary system]] of government.<ref name=davidson/> The president is both [[head of state]] and [[head of government]] and is dependent on parliamentary confidence to remain president. All 19 parliament seats are elected every three years.<ref>{{cite web |last=Matau |first=Robert |date=2013-06-06 |url=http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/nauru/1413/president-dabwido-gives-it-another-go/ |title=President Dabwido gives it another go |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926030215/http://islandsbusiness.com/news/nauru/1413/president-dabwido-gives-it-another-go/ |archivedate=26 September 2013 |work=Islands Business }}</ref>

The parliament elects the president from its members, and the president appoints a [[Cabinet of Nauru|cabinet]] of five to six members.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Levine |first1=Stephen |last2=Roberts |first2=Nigel S |title=The constitutional structures and electoral systems of Pacific Island states |journal=Commonwealth & Comparative Politics |date=November 2005 |volume=43 |issue=3 |pages=276–295 |doi=10.1080/14662040500304866 |s2cid=154374242}}</ref> As a result of a [[2021 Nauruan constitutional referendum|referendum in 2021]], [[Naturalization|naturalised]] citizens and their descendants are barred from becoming parliamentarians.{{fact|date=December 2025}}

Nauru lacks any formal structure for political parties, and candidates typically stand for office as independents; 15 of the 19&nbsp;members of the current parliament are independents. The four parties that have currently been active in Nauruan politics are the Nauru Party, the [[Democratic Party of Nauru|Democratic Party]], the [[Nauru First]] party, and the [[Centre Party (Nauru)|Centre Party]]. Alliances within the government are often formed, however, based on [[nepotism|extended family ties rather than party affiliation]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Anckar |first1=D |last2=Anckar |first2=C |title=Democracies without Parties |journal=Comparative Political Studies |year=2000 |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=225–247 |doi=10.1177/0010414000033002003 }}</ref>

From 1992 to 1999, Nauru had a local government system known as the Nauru Island Council (NIC).<ref name = "NIC"/> It was a successor to the [[Nauru Local Government Council]], established in 1951.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ntumy|first=Michael A.|date=1993|title=South Pacific Islands Legal Systems|chapter=Nauru|trans-title=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d6EBEAAAQBAJ|language=English|pages=142–143|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|location=|isbn=9780824814380|access-date=10 July 2023|archive-date=12 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012062433/https://books.google.com/books?id=d6EBEAAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> This nine-member council was designed to provide municipal services. The NIC was dissolved in 1999 and all assets and liabilities became vested in the national government.<ref name = "NIC">{{cite journal |author1=Hassell, Graham |author2=Tipu, Feue |date=May 2008 |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ComJlLocGov/2008/3.html |title=Local Government in the South Pacific Islands |journal=Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=6–30 |accessdate=30 January 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526032531/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ComJlLocGov/2008/3.html |archivedate=26 May 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Land tenure]] on Nauru is unusual: all Nauruans have certain rights to all land on the island, which is owned by individuals and family groups. Government and corporate entities do not own any land, and they must enter into a lease arrangement with landowners to use land. Non-Nauruans cannot own land on the island.<ref name=UNCCD/>

Nauru's [[Supreme Court of Nauru|Supreme Court]], headed by the Chief Justice, is paramount on [[constitution of Nauru|constitutional issues]]. Other cases can be appealed to the [[Nauru Court of Appeal|two-judge Appellate Court]]. Parliament cannot overturn court decisions. Historically, Appellate Court rulings could be appealed to the [[High Court of Australia]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Nauru (High Court Appeals) Act (Australia) 1976 |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ncaa1976254 |publisher=Australian Legal Information Institute |accessdate=7 August 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001212519/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ncaa1976254/ |archivedate=1 October 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Dale |first=Gregory |title=Appealing to Whom? Australia's 'Appellate Jurisdiction' Over Nauru |journal=International & Comparative Law Quarterly |year=2007 |volume=56 |issue=3 |pages=641–658 |doi=10.1093/iclq/lei186}}</ref> though this happened only rarely and the Australian court's appellate jurisdiction ended entirely on 12 March 2018 after the Government of Nauru unilaterally ended the arrangement.<ref name="Gans">{{cite web |url=https://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/opinionsonhigh/2018/02/20/news-court-may-lose-nauru-appellate-role/comment-page-1/ |title=News: Court may lose Nauru appellate role |last=Gans |first=Jeremy |date=20 February 2018 |work=Opinions on High |publisher=Melbourne Law School, [[The University of Melbourne]] |accessdate=2 April 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402101813/https://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/opinionsonhigh/2018/02/20/news-court-may-lose-nauru-appellate-role/comment-page-1/ |archivedate=2 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ABC">{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-02/nauru-now-without-court-of-appeal/9609524 |title=Justice in Nauru curtailed as Government abolishes appeal system |last=Clarke |first=Melissa |date=2 April 2018 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |accessdate=2 April 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402015127/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-02/nauru-now-without-court-of-appeal/9609524 |archivedate=2 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/02/fears-for-asylum-seekers-as-nauru-moves-to-cut-ties-to-australias-high-court |title=Fears for asylum seekers as Nauru moves to cut ties to Australia's high court |last=Wahlquist |first=Calla |date=2 April 2018 |newspaper=[[Guardian Australia|The Guardian]] |accessdate=2 April 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401234753/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/02/fears-for-asylum-seekers-as-nauru-moves-to-cut-ties-to-australias-high-court |archivedate=1 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Lower courts consist of the District Court and the Family Court, both of which are headed by a Resident Magistrate, who also is the Registrar of the Supreme Court. There are two other quasi-courts: the Public Service Appeal Board and the Police Appeal Board, both of which are presided over by the Chief Justice.<ref name=state>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/16447.htm |title=Background Note: Nauru |publisher=[[Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs|State Department Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017054843/http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/16447.htm |archivedate=17 October 2012 |date=13 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Nauru}}
Following independence in 1968, Nauru joined the Commonwealth of Nations as a Special Member; it became a full member in 1999.<ref name="UN">{{cite web |url=http://www.un.int/nauru/overview.html |title=Republic of Nauru Permanent Mission to the United Nations |accessdate=10 May 2006 |publisher=United Nations |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818033559/http://www.un.int/nauru/overview.html |archivedate=18 August 2006}}</ref> The country was admitted to the Asian Development Bank in 1991 and the United Nations in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.commonwealth-of-nations.org/Nauru/Organisations/Nauru_in_the_Commonwealth |accessdate=18 June 2012 |title=Nauru in the Commonwealth |publisher=Commonwealth of Nations |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123030347/http://www.commonwealth-of-nations.org/Nauru/Organisations/Nauru_in_the_Commonwealth |archivedate=23 November 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Nauru is a member of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, the [[Pacific Community]], and the [[South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/nauru/111187.htm |publisher=US State Department |title=Nauru (04/08) |year=2008 |accessdate=17 June 2012 |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418082142/https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/nauru/111187.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2021, Nauru announced it would be formally withdrawing from the [[Pacific Islands Forum]] in a joint statement with Marshall Islands, Kiribati, and the Federated States of Micronesia after a dispute regarding [[Henry Puna]]'s election as the Forum's secretary-general.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |date=9 February 2021 |title=Five Micronesian countries leave Pacific Islands Forum |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/436039/five-micronesian-countries-leave-pacific-islands-forum |accessdate=9 February 2021 |publisher=[[RNZ]] |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308131515/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/436039/five-micronesian-countries-leave-pacific-islands-forum |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite web |date=8 February 2021 |title=Pacific Islands Forum in crisis as one-third of member nations quit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/09/pacific-islands-forum-in-crisis-as-one-third-of-member-nations-quit |accessdate=9 February 2021 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=6 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806205142/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/09/pacific-islands-forum-in-crisis-as-one-third-of-member-nations-quit |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Nauru cadet police on training exercise (2).jpg|thumb|Nauruan police cadets undergoing training. Nauru [[List of countries without armed forces|has no armed forces]], although it does have a small police force under civilian control.]]
Nauru has [[list of countries without armed forces|no armed forces]], although a small [[Nauru Police Force|police force]] operates under civilian control.<ref name="CIA"/> Australia is responsible for Nauru's defence under an informal agreement between the two countries.<ref name="CIA">{{cite web |author=Central Intelligence Agency |author-link=Central Intelligence Agency |publisher=[[The World Factbook]] |title=Nauru |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nauru/ |year=2015 |accessdate=8 June 2015 |archive-date=12 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812172003/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nauru/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The September 2005 [[memorandum of understanding]] between Australia and Nauru provides the latter with financial aid and technical assistance, including a Secretary of Finance to prepare the budget, and advisers on health and education. This aid is in return for Nauru's housing of asylum seekers while their applications for entry into Australia are processed.<ref name=DFAT>{{cite web |publisher=[[Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]] |url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/nauru/nauru_brief.html |title=Republic of Nauru Country Brief |date=November 2005 |accessdate=2 May 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006070651/http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/nauru/nauru_brief.html |archivedate=6 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Nauru uses the Australian dollar as its official currency.<ref name=state/>

Nauru has used its position as a member of the United Nations to gain financial support from both [[Taiwan]] (officially the Republic of China or ROC) and [[China]] (officially the People's Republic of China or PRC) by changing its recognition from one to the other under the [[One-China policy]]. On 21 July 2002, [[China–Nauru relations|Nauru signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC]], accepting [[United States dollar|US$]]130&nbsp;million from the PRC for this action<ref name="harding">{{Cite news |author=Harding, Luke |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/dec/14/nauro-recognises-abkhazia-south-ossetia |title=Tiny Nauru struts world stage by recognising breakaway republics |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=14 December 2009 |accessdate=22 June 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217092833/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/14/nauro-recognises-abkhazia-south-ossetia |archivedate=17 December 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> (US${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|130000000|2002}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}). In response, the [[Nauru–Taiwan relations|ROC severed diplomatic relations with Nauru]] two days later. Nauru later re-established links with the ROC on 14 May 2005,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/05/15/2003254718 |newspaper=Taipei Times |date=15 May 2005 |title=Nauru switches its allegiance back to Taiwan from China |author=Su, Joy |accessdate=18 June 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002225907/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/05/15/2003254718 |archivedate=2 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> and diplomatic ties with the PRC were officially severed on 31 May 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-136916820/china-officially-severs-diplomatic.html |publisher=Asia Africa Intelligence Wire |date=31 May 2005 |accessdate=18 June 2012 |title=China officially severs diplomatic ties with Nauru |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511235518/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-136916820/china-officially-severs-diplomatic.html |archivedate=11 May 2013}}</ref> On 15 Jan 2024, Nauru severed ties with the ROC and re-established diplomatic ties with the PRC.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-loses-first-ally-post-election-nauru-goes-over-china-2024-01-15/|publisher=Reuters |date=15 Jan 2024 |accessdate=15 Jan 2024 |title= Taiwan loses ally Nauru to China in post-election ploy}}</ref>

In 2008, [[International recognition of Kosovo|Nauru recognised Kosovo as an independent country]], and in 2009 Nauru became the fourth country, after [[Russia]], [[Nicaragua]], and [[Venezuela]], to recognise [[Abkhazia]] and [[South Ossetia]], two breakaway autonomous republics of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. Russia was reported to be giving Nauru US$50&nbsp;million in humanitarian aid as a result of this recognition<ref name=harding/> (US${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|50000000|2008}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}). On 15 July 2008, the Nauruan government announced a port refurbishment programme, financed with US$9&nbsp;million of development aid received from Russia (US${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|9000000|2008}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}). The Nauru government claimed this aid is not related to its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=54715 |title=Nauru expects to earn more from exports after port upgrade with Russian aid |date=15 July 2010 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=15 July 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904093506/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=54715 |archivedate=4 September 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The US [[Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility|Atmospheric Radiation Measurement]] program operates a climate-monitoring facility on the island.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Long |first=Charles N |author2=McFarlane, Sally A |title=Quantification of the Impact of Nauru Island on ARM Measurements |journal=Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology |date=March 2012 |volume=51 |issue=3 |pages=628–636 |doi=10.1175/JAMC-D-11-0174.1 |bibcode=2012JApMC..51..628L |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1234577 |doi-access=free |access-date=10 September 2019 |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418095408/https://zenodo.org/record/1234577 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A significant portion of Nauru's income has been in the form of aid from Australia. In 2001, the [[MV Tampa|MV ''Tampa'']], a [[Norway|Norwegian]] ship that had rescued 438&nbsp;refugees from a stranded boat, was seeking to dock in Australia. In what became known as [[Tampa affair|the ''Tampa'' affair]], the ship was refused entry and boarded by [[Australian Army|Australian troops]]. The refugees were eventually taken to Nauru to be held in detention facilities which later became part of the [[Howard government]]'s [[Pacific Solution]]. Nauru operated two detention centres known as State House and Topside for these refugees in exchange for Australian aid.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/MarStudies/2002/2.html |author=White, Michael |title=M/V Tampa Incident and Australia's Obligations&nbsp;– August 2001 |year=2002 |journal=Maritime Studies |volume=2002 |issue=122 |pages=7–17 |doi=10.1080/07266472.2002.10878659 |s2cid=153949745 |accessdate=18 June 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208135300/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/MarStudies/2002/2.html |archivedate=8 December 2012 |url-status=live|url-access=subscription }}</ref> By November 2005, only two refugees remained on Nauru from those first sent there in 2001.<ref name="TheAge">{{cite news |author=Gordon, M |date=5 November 2005 |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/naurus-last-two-asylum-seekers-feel-the-pain/2005/11/04/1130823401609.html |title=Nauru's last two asylum seekers feel the pain |newspaper=[[The Age]] |accessdate=8 May 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604224143/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/naurus-last-two-asylum-seekers-feel-the-pain/2005/11/04/1130823401609.html |archivedate=4 June 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Australian government sent further groups of asylum-seekers to Nauru in late 2006 and early 2007.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 February 2007 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-02-12/nauru-detention-centre-costs-2m-per-month/2193118 |title=Nauru detention centre costs $2m per month |work=ABC News |accessdate=12 February 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511080101/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-02-12/nauru-detention-centre-costs-2m-per-month/2193118 |archivedate=11 May 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The refugee centre was closed in 2008,<ref name="state" /> but, following the Australian government's re-adoption of the Pacific Solution in August 2012, it has re-opened it.<ref name="SBS World News">{{cite news |date=16 August 2012 |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/follow-fraser-not-howard-senate-told/story-e6freuz0-1226451582312 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]] |title=Asylum bill passes parliament |accessdate=18 August 2012 |archive-date=3 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603054151/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/follow-fraser-not-howard-senate-told/story-e6freuz0-1226451582312 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Amnesty International]] has since described the conditions of the refugees of war living in Nauru as a "horror",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/08/australia-cruel-fate-of-refugees-forsaken-on-nauru/ |title='It's better to die from one bullet than being slowly killed every day' – refugees forsaken on Nauru |website=Amnesty International |date=4 August 2016 |accessdate=6 August 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808040136/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/08/australia-cruel-fate-of-refugees-forsaken-on-nauru/ |archivedate=8 August 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Life for asylum seekers in Australia's 'Pacific Gulag' on Nauru |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/2163692/life-asylum-seekers-australias-pacific-gulag-nauru |accessdate=20 September 2018 |work=South China Morning Post (SCMP) |agency=Agence France-Presse (AFP) |date=11 September 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920195822/https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/2163692/life-asylum-seekers-australias-pacific-gulag-nauru |archivedate=20 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> with reports of children as young as eight attempting [[suicide]] and engaging in acts of self-harm.<ref name="bbc.com">{{cite news |last1=Harrison |first1=Virginia |title=Nauru refugees: The island where children have given up on life |work=BBC News |date=31 August 2018 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45327058 |accessdate=16 February 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142322/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45327058 |archivedate=17 February 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, the situation gained attention as a "mental health crisis", with an estimated thirty children suffering from traumatic withdrawal syndrome, also known as [[resignation syndrome]].<ref name="bbc.com" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/five-years-on-nauru/ |title=Five years on Nauru |date=16 February 2019 |website=Reveal |language=en |accessdate=31 March 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331115539/https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/five-years-on-nauru/ |archivedate=31 March 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> By the middle of 2023, the camp was finally totally emptied for the first time since it opened, with 4183 people having been detained there since it opened in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-02 |title=Nauru: Why Australia is funding an empty detention centre |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-66027565 |access-date=2024-08-03 |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2024 a few dozen refugees were again being held there while their claims are being processed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Newly detained asylum seekers' desperation in Nauru: 'We are scared' |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/newly-detained-asylum-seekers-desperation-in-nauru-we-are-scared/tfqmrqnt6 |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=SBS News |language=en}}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===<!--Linked-->
{{See also|List of settlements in Nauru}}
[[File:Nauru-districts-fr.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Map of Nauru showing its districts]]
Nauru is divided into fourteen administrative districts, which are grouped into [[constituencies of Nauru|eight electoral constituencies]] and are further divided into villages.<ref name="state"/><ref name="CIA"/> The most populous district is [[Denigomodu District|Denigomodu]], with 1,804 residents, of which 1,497 reside in a Republic of Nauru Phosphate Corporation settlement called "Location". The following table shows population by district according to the 2011 census.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/Nauru.html |title=Nauru—The population of the districts of the Republic of Nauru |publisher=City Population |year=2011 |accessdate=10 June 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230559/http://www.citypopulation.de/Nauru.html |archivedate=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
{| 
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- class="hintergrundfarbe6"
! No. || District || Former<br />name || Area<br />([[hectare|ha]]) || Population<br />(2011) || No. of<br />villages || Density<br />(persons/ha)
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 || [[Aiwo District|Aiwo]] || Aiue || style="text-align:right;"| 110 || style="text-align:right;"| 1,220 || style="text-align:right;"| 8 || style="text-align:right;"| 11.1
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 2 || [[Anabar District|Anabar]] || Anebwor || style="text-align:right;"| 150 || style="text-align:right;"| 452 || style="text-align:right;"| 15 || style="text-align:right;"| 3.0
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 3 || [[Anetan District|Anetan]] || Añetañ || style="text-align:right;"| 100 || style="text-align:right;"| 587 || style="text-align:right;"| 12 || style="text-align:right;"| 5.9
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 4 || [[Anibare District|Anibare]] || Anybody || style="text-align:right;"| 310 || style="text-align:right;"| 226 || style="text-align:right;"| 17 || style="text-align:right;"| 0.7
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 5 || [[Baiti District|Baitsi]] || Beidi, Baiti || style="text-align:right;"| 120 || style="text-align:right;"| 513 || style="text-align:right;"| 15 || style="text-align:right;"| 4.3
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 6 || [[Boe District|Boe]] || Boi || style="text-align:right;"| 50 || style="text-align:right;"| 851 || style="text-align:right;"| 4 || style="text-align:right;"| 17.0
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 7 || [[Buada District|Buada]] || Arenibok || style="text-align:right;"| 260 || style="text-align:right;"| 739 || style="text-align:right;"| 14 || style="text-align:right;"| 2.8
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 8 || [[Denigomodu District|Denigomodu]] || Denikomotu || style="text-align:right;"| 118 || style="text-align:right;"| 1,804 || style="text-align:right;"| 17 || style="text-align:right;"| 15.3
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 9 || [[Ewa District, Nauru|Ewa]] || Eoa || style="text-align:right;"| 120 || style="text-align:right;"| 446 || style="text-align:right;"| 12 || style="text-align:right;"| 3.7
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 10 || [[Ijuw District|Ijuw]] || Ijub || style="text-align:right;"| 110 || style="text-align:right;"| 178 || style="text-align:right;"| 13 || style="text-align:right;"| 1.6
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 11 || [[Meneng District|Meneng]] || Meneñ || style="text-align:right;"| 310 || style="text-align:right;"| 1,380 || style="text-align:right;"| 18 || style="text-align:right;"| 4.5
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 12 || [[Nibok District|Nibok]] || Ennibeck || style="text-align:right;"| 160 || style="text-align:right;"| 484 || style="text-align:right;"| 11 || style="text-align:right;"| 3.0
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 13 || [[Uaboe District|Uaboe]] || Ueboi || style="text-align:right;"| 80 || style="text-align:right;"| 318 || style="text-align:right;"| 6 || style="text-align:right;"| 3.0
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 14 || [[Yaren District|Yaren]] || Moqua || style="text-align:right;"| 150 || style="text-align:right;"| 747 || style="text-align:right;"| 7 || style="text-align:right;"| 4.0
|- style="background: #CCC;" | class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:right;"| – || '''Nauru''' || Naoero || style="text-align:right;"| 2,120 || style="text-align:right;"| 10,084 || style="text-align:right;"| 169 || style="text-align:right;"| 4.8
|}
|}

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Nauru|Telecommunications in Nauru}}
[[File:Phosphate loading station Nauru.jpg|thumb|Phosphate loading infrastructure (2006)]]
Before a resurgence in the 2010s, the Nauruan economy was strongest in the 1970s, with [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] peaking in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Per capita GDP at current prices – US dollars |url=https://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=Nauru&d=SNAAMA&f=grID:101;currID:USD;pcFlag:1;crID:520 |accessdate=17 November 2022 |website=UNdata |archive-date=4 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204071333/https://data.un.org/Data.aspx?q=Nauru&d=SNAAMA&f=grID:101;currID:USD;pcFlag:1;crID:520 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hughes |first=Helen |date=18 August 2004 |title=From Riches to Rags: What Are Nauru's Options and How Can Australia Help? |url=https://www.cis.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ia50.pdf |journal=Issue Analysis |issue=50 |page=3 |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808100938/https://www.cis.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ia50.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> This trend came from phosphate mining, which accounted for a majority of its economic output. Mining declined starting in the early 1980s.<ref name="CER-NAU-2007"/>{{RP|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |first=Christopher |last=Pollon |date=22 November 2023 |title=How Much Further Can Mining Go? |work=The Walrus |url=https://thewalrus.ca/how-much-further-can-mining-go/ |access-date=1 December 2023 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207084405/https://thewalrus.ca/how-much-further-can-mining-go/ |url-status=live }}</ref> There are few other resources, and most necessities are imported.<ref name=state/><ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News Online]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/332164.stm |title=Big tasks for a small island |accessdate=10 May 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813094527/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/332164.stm |archivedate=13 August 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> Small-scale mining is still conducted by RONPhos, formerly known as the Nauru Phosphate Corporation.<ref name=state/> The government places a percentage of RONPhos's earnings into the [[Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust]]. The trust manages long-term investments, which were intended to support the citizens after the phosphate reserves were exhausted.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.atimes.com/oceania/AE26Ah01.html |accessdate=19 June 2012 |title=Nauru turns to dust |newspaper=Asia Times |author=Seneviratne, Kalinga |date=26 May 1999 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618034330/http://atimes.com/oceania/AE26Ah01.html |archivedate=18 June 2012 |url-status=unfit}}</ref>

Because of mismanagement, the trust's fixed and [[current asset]]s were reduced considerably and may never fully recover. The failed investments included financing ''[[Leonardo the Musical: A Portrait of Love|Leonardo the Musical]]'' in 1993.<ref name=mellow>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aYRrEEKDq05Y&refer=australia |accessdate=19 June 2012 |title=GE Poised to Bankrupt Nauru, Island Stained by Money-Laundering |author=Mellor, William |date=1 June 2004 |publisher=Bloomberg |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309123320/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aYRrEEKDq05Y&refer=australia |archivedate=9 March 2013}}</ref> The Mercure Hotel in [[Sydney]], Australia,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/08/1089000294157.html |title=Nauru, receivers start swapping legal blows |author=Skehan, Craig |newspaper=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=9 July 2004 |accessdate=19 June 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103222739/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/08/1089000294157.html |archivedate=3 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Nauru House]] in [[Melbourne]], Australia, were sold in 2004 to finance debts and [[Air Nauru]]'s only [[Boeing&nbsp;737]] was repossessed in December 2005. Normal air service resumed after the aircraft was replaced with a [[Boeing 737-300]] airliner in June 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/17/1082140116981.html |title=Receivers take over Nauru House |newspaper=[[The Age]] |date=18 April 2004 |accessdate=19 June 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213160112/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/17/1082140116981.html |archivedate=13 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2005, the corporation sold its remaining real estate in Melbourne, the vacant Savoy Tavern site, for A$7.5&nbsp;million  (US${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|7500000|2005}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}).<ref> {{cite news |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/154335/nauru-sells-last-remaining-property-asset-in-melbourne-report |title=Nauru sells last remaining property asset in Melbourne |work=RNZ Pacific |date=9 April 2005 |accessdate=20 September 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920234417/https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/154335/nauru-sells-last-remaining-property-asset-in-melbourne-report |archivedate=20 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The value of the trust is estimated to have shrunk from A$1.3&nbsp;billion in 1991 to A$138&nbsp;million in 2002 (A${{Format price|{{Inflation|AU|1300000000|1991}}}} to A${{Format price|{{Inflation|AU|138000000|2002}}}} in {{Inflation/year|AU}} dollars{{Inflation/fn|AU}}).<ref name="ADB"/> Nauru currently lacks money to perform many of the basic functions of government; for example, the National Bank of Nauru is insolvent. The [[The World Factbook|CIA World Factbook]] estimated a [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|GDP per capita]] of US$5,000 in 2005.<ref name="CIA"/> The Asian Development Bank 2007 economic report on Nauru estimated GDP per capita at US$2,400 to US$2,715.<ref name="CER-NAU-2007">{{cite web |url=http://www.adb.org/Documents/CERs/NAU/CER-NAU-2007.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607064452/http://www.adb.org/Documents/CERs/NAU/CER-NAU-2007.pdf |archivedate=7 June 2011 |title=Country Economic Report: Nauru |publisher=[[Asian Development Bank]] |page=6 |accessdate=20 June 2012}}</ref>

Nauru does not levy any personal taxes. The unemployment rate is estimated to be 23% and the government employs 95% of those who have jobs.<ref name=CIA/><ref name="Economist">{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=884045 |title=Paradise well and truly lost |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=20 December 2001 |accessdate=2 May 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130133051/http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=884045 |archivedate=30 November 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Asian Development Bank notes that, although the administration has a strong public mandate to implement economic reforms, in the absence of an alternative to phosphate mining, the medium-term outlook is for continued dependence on external assistance.<ref name="ADB">{{cite web |publisher=Asian Development Bank |year=2005 |url=http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/ADO/2005/nau.asp |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607071938/http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/ADO/2005/nau.asp |archivedate=7 June 2011 |title=Asian Development Outlook 2005&nbsp;– Nauru |accessdate=2 May 2006}}</ref> [[Tourism in Nauru|Tourism]] is not a major contributor to the economy.<ref name=pitic>{{cite web |url=http://www.pitic.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=118 |accessdate=19 June 2012 |publisher=Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission |title=Nauru |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721043725/http://pitic.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=118 |archivedate=21 July 2008}}</ref>
[[File:The site of secondary mining of Phosphate rock in Nauru, 2007. Photo- Lorrie Graham (10729889683).jpg|thumb|[[Limestone]] pinnacles remain after phosphate mining at the site of one of Nauru's secondary mines]]

In the 1990s, Nauru became a tax haven and offered [[Nauruan passport|passports]] to foreign nationals for a fee.<ref name="NY Times">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/10/magazine/the-billion-dollar-shack.html |title=The Billion Dollar Shack |accessdate=19 July 2011 |date=10 December 2000 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118011327/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/10/magazine/the-billion-dollar-shack.html |archivedate=18 November 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The inter-governmental [[Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering]] (FATF) identified Nauru as one of 15 "[[FATF Blacklist|non-cooperative]]" countries in its fight against money laundering. During the 1990s, it was possible to establish a licensed bank in Nauru for only US$25,000<ref name="NY Times" /> (US${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|25000|2000}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}) with no other requirements. Under pressure from FATF, Nauru introduced anti-avoidance legislation in 2003, after which foreign [[hot money]] left the country. In October 2005, after satisfactory results from the legislation and its enforcement, FATF lifted the non-cooperative designation.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=FATF |date=13 October 2005 |url=http://www.fatf-gafi.org/dataoecd/13/36/35497629.pdf |title=Nauru de-listed |accessdate=11 May 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230091334/http://www.fatf-gafi.org/dataoecd/13/36/35497629.pdf |archivedate=30 December 2005}}</ref>

From 2001 to 2007, the Nauru detention centre provided a significant source of income for the country. Nauruan authorities reacted with concern to its closure by Australia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/nauru-fears-gap-when-camps-close/2007/12/10/1197135374481.html |title=Nauru fears gap when camps close |author=Topsfield, Hewel |newspaper=The Age |date=11 December 2007 |accessdate=19 June 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023210628/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/nauru-fears-gap-when-camps-close/2007/12/10/1197135374481.html |archivedate=23 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2008, [[Ministry of foreign affairs|Foreign Affairs Minister]] [[Kieren Keke]], stated that the closure would result in 100&nbsp;Nauruans losing their jobs, and would affect 10% of the island's population directly or indirectly: "We have got a huge number of families that are suddenly going to be without any income. We are looking at ways we can try and provide some welfare assistance but our capacity to do that is very limited. Literally we have got a major unemployment crisis in front of us."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.theage.com.au/nauru-hit-by-detention-centre-closure/20080207-1qs6.html |title=Nauru 'hit' by detention centre closure |newspaper=The Age |date=7 February 2008 |accessdate=19 June 2012 |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228132544/http://www.theage.com.au//nauru-hit-by-detention-centre-closure/20080207-1qs6.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The detention centre was re-opened in August 2012.<ref name="SBS World News"/>

In July 2017, the [[OECD|Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)]] [[Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes|upgraded its rating]] of Nauru's standards of tax transparency. Nauru had previously been listed alongside fourteen other countries that had failed to show that they could comply with international tax transparency standards and regulations. The OECD subsequently put Nauru through a fast-tracked compliance process and the country was given a "largely compliant" rating.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/334976/nauru-gets-an-oecd-upgrade |title=Nauru gets an OECD upgrade |date=12 July 2017 |accessdate=6 August 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806100820/http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/334976/nauru-gets-an-oecd-upgrade |archivedate=6 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Nauru 2017–2018 budget, delivered by [[Minister of Finance of Nauru|Minister of Finance]] [[David Adeang]], forecast A$128.7&nbsp;million in revenues and A$128.6&nbsp;million in expenditures <!--(approximately [[A$]]{{Format price|{{Inflation|AU|128700000|2017}}}} in {{Inflation/year|AU}} [[A$|dollars]]{{Inflation/fn|AU}})-->and projected modest economic growth for the country over the next two years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Modest economic growth forecast for Nauru |url=http://www.loopnauru.com/nauru-news/modest-economic-growth-forecast-nauru-60701 |accessdate=17 September 2018 |work=Loop Pacific |date=12 June 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917110910/http://www.loopnauru.com/nauru-news/modest-economic-growth-forecast-nauru-60701 |archivedate=17 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, the Nauru government partnered with the [[deep sea mining]] company DeepGreen, now Nauru Ocean Resources Inc (NORI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian [[The Metals Company]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reid |first1=Helen |last2=Lewis |first2=Jeff |url=https://www.mining.com/web/pacific-island-of-nauru-sets-two-year-deadline-for-un-deep-sea-mining-rules/ |title=Pacific island of Nauru sets two-year deadline for UN deep-sea mining rules |work=Mining.com |date=29 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704020615/https://www.mining.com/web/pacific-island-of-nauru-sets-two-year-deadline-for-un-deep-sea-mining-rules/ |archive-date=4 July 2021 }}</ref> They planned to harvest [[manganese nodule]]s whose minerals and metals can be used in the development of [[sustainable energy]] technology.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Ann Davies |last2=Daugherty |first2=Ben |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/04/corruption-incompetence-and-a-musical-naurus-riches-to-rags-tale |title=Corruption, incompetence and a musical: Nauru's cursed history |work=The Guardian |date=3 September 2018 |access-date=14 April 2021 |archive-date=17 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717015707/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/04/corruption-incompetence-and-a-musical-naurus-riches-to-rags-tale |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/362423/nauru-in-deep-sea-mining-venture |title=Nauru in deep sea mining venture |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=23 July 2018 |access-date=14 April 2021 |archive-date=25 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725072308/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/362423/nauru-in-deep-sea-mining-venture |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Stone, Maddie |url=https://grist.org/energy/the-deep-sea-could-hold-the-key-to-a-renewable-future-is-it-worth-the-costs/ |title=The deep sea could hold the key to a renewable future. Is it worth the costs? |website=Grist |date=17 June 2020 |access-date=14 April 2021 |archive-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416051244/https://grist.org/energy/the-deep-sea-could-hold-the-key-to-a-renewable-future-is-it-worth-the-costs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2025, Nauru announced a "[[golden passport]]" initiative with the aim of raising money to relocate 90% of the island's population to a new community on higher ground. Citizenship will cost a minimum of $105,000 and does not require residency.<ref>{{cite web |title=A tiny island country is selling citizenship for $105,000 to save itself from rising seas |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/05/climate/nauru-passport-program-rising-seas/index.html |last=Paddison |first=Laura |date=5 March 2025 |access-date=5 March 2025 |work=CNN }}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Nauru|Religion in Nauru}}
[[File:Population of Nauru.svg|thumb|The population of Nauru, 1886–2013]]
Nauru had {{UN_Population|Nauru}}&nbsp;residents as of July {{UN_Population|Year}}.{{UN_Population |ref}} The population was previously larger, but in 2006 the island saw 1,500 people leave during a repatriation of immigrant workers from Kiribati and Tuvalu. The repatriation was motivated by significant [[layoff]]s in phosphate mining.<ref name="CER-NAU-2007"/>

Nauru is one of the most densely populated [[Westernization|Westernized]] countries in the South Pacific.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Yaren |title=Yaren {{!}} district, Nauru |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |accessdate=2 September 2019 |archive-date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908204235/https://www.britannica.com/place/Yaren |url-status=live }}</ref>

The official languages of Nauru are [[Nauruan language|Nauruan]] and [[English language|English]]. Nauruan<ref name=directory/> is a distinct [[Micronesian languages|Micronesian language]], which is spoken by 96% of ethnic Nauruans at home.<ref name= "CER-NAU-2007"/> English is widely spoken and is the language of government and commerce.<ref name=CIA/><ref name=state/>

[[File:Nauru(09).jpg|thumb|Church in Nauru]]
The main [[Religion in Nauru|religion practised on the island]] is [[Christianity]]: the main denominations are [[Nauru Congregational Church]] (35.71%), [[Catholic Church]] (32.96%), [[Assemblies of God]] (12.98%), and [[Baptist]] (1.48%).<ref name="state"/>

Although the Constitution provides for [[freedom of religion]], the government has restricted the religious practices of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] and the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], most of whom are foreign workers employed by the government-owned Nauru Phosphate Corporation.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=US Department of State |year=2003 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24314.htm |work=International Religious Freedom Report 2003 |title=Nauru |accessdate=2 May 2005 |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418104855/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24314.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Catholics are pastorally served by the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru]], with see at [[Tarawa]] in Kiribati.{{fact|date=December 2025}}

== Public services ==

=== Education ===
{{Further|Education in Nauru}}
[[Literacy]] on Nauru is 96%. Education is compulsory for children from six to sixteen years old, and two more non-compulsory years are offered (years 11 and 12).<ref>{{cite web |author=Waqa, B |year=1999 |url=http://www2.unesco.org/wef/countryreports/nauru/contents.html |title=UNESCO Education for all Assessment Country report 1999 Country: Nauru |accessdate=2 May 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525060901/http://www2.unesco.org/wef/countryreports/nauru/contents.html |archivedate=25 May 2006}}</ref> The island has three primary schools and two secondary schools. The secondary schools are [[Nauru Secondary School]] and Nauru College.<ref>"[http://www.naurugov.nr/about-nauru/schools.aspx Schools] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705062728/http://www.naurugov.nr/about-nauru/schools.aspx |date=5 July 2018 }}." Government of Nauru. Retrieved on 5 June 2018.</ref> There is a campus of the [[University of the South Pacific]] on Nauru. Before this campus was built in 1987, students would study either by distance or abroad.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=usp_nauru_home |accessdate=19 June 2012 |title=USP Nauru Campus |publisher=University of the South Pacific |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620073413/http://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=usp_nauru_home |archivedate=20 June 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2011, the [[University of New England (Australia)|University of New England]], Australia has established a presence on the island with around 30 Nauruan teachers studying for an associate degree in education. These students will continue on to the degree to complete their studies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.une.edu.au/about-une/academic-schools/school-of-education/research/nauru |title=Nauru Teacher Education Project |accessdate=5 December 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208113133/https://www.une.edu.au/about-une/academic-schools/school-of-education/research/nauru |archivedate=8 December 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> 

The previous community public library was destroyed{{when|date=December 2025}} in a fire. {{As of|1999}}, a new one had not yet been built, and no [[bookmobile]] services were available as of that year. Sites with libraries include the University of the South Pacific campus, Nauru Secondary, Kayser College, and Aiwo Primary.<ref>''Book Provision in the Pacific Islands''. [[UNESCO]] Pacific States Office, 1999. {{ISBN|9820201551}}, 9789820201552. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=1k1HbbMRI_4C&pg=PA33 33] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705121459/https://books.google.ca/books?id=1k1HbbMRI_4C&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33 |date=5 July 2018 }}.</ref>

The Nauru Community Library is in the new University of the South Pacific Nauru Campus building, which officially opened in May 2018.{{fact|date=December 2025}}

=== Health ===
{{main|Health in Nauru}}
{{Further|Obesity in Nauru}}
[[File:Participants of a walk against Diabetes and for general fitness around Nauru airport.jpg|thumb|Nauruan residents walking around [[Nauru International Airport]]. Nauruans are among the most [[obese]] people in the world.<ref name=TI.uk />]]
Nauru has one of the highest child mortality rates in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) region at 2.9% in 2020, according to a [[UNICEF]] study.<ref name=":5">United Nations Children’s Fund, Situation Analysis of Children in Nauru, UNICEF, Suva, 2017</ref>

In 2009, [[life expectancy]], which averages in child mortality, in Nauru was 60.6&nbsp;years for males and 68.0&nbsp;years for females.<ref name="Nauru">{{cite web |publisher=[[World Health Organization]] |work=World health report 2005 |url=https://www.who.int/countries/nru/en/index.html |title=Nauru |accessdate=2 May 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060418033541/http://www.who.int/countries/nru/en/index.html |archivedate=18 April 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref>

By measure of [[List of countries by body mass index|mean body mass index (BMI)]], Nauruans are the most overweight people in the world;<ref name="TI.uk"/> 97% of men and 93% of women are overweight or [[Obesity|obese]].<ref name="TI.uk">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/fat-of-the-land-nauru-tops-obesity-league-2169418.html |title=Fat of the land: Nauru tops obesity league |date=26 December 2010 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |accessdate=19 June 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618130255/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/fat-of-the-land-nauru-tops-obesity-league-2169418.html |archivedate=18 June 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, the obesity rate was 71.7%.<ref name="Asahi Shimbun">{{cite news |last=Nishiyama |first=Takkaki |title=Nauru: An island plagued by obesity and diabetes |url=http://ajw.asahi.com/article/globe/feature/obesity/AJ201205270051 |accessdate=23 January 2013 |newspaper=[[Asahi Shimbun]] |date=27 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528121809/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/globe/feature/obesity/AJ201205270051 |archivedate=28 May 2014}}</ref> [[Obesity in the Pacific|Obesity on the Pacific islands]] is common.{{fact|date=December 2025}}

Nauru has the world's highest level of [[diabetes mellitus type 2|type 2 diabetes]], with more than 40% of the population affected.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=King, H |author2=Rewers M |year=1993 |title=Diabetes in adults is now a Third World problem |journal=Ethnicity & Disease |volume=3 |pages=S67–74}}</ref> Other significant dietary-related problems on Nauru include [[Kidney failure|kidney disease]] and [[Cardiovascular disease|heart disease]].<ref name="Nauru"/>

Nauru has the world's highest tobacco smoking rate (48.3% in 2022).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/smoking-rates-by-country | website=World Population Review|title=Smoking Rates by Country|accessdate=4 October 2024}}</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Nauru}}
[[File:View of Nauru airport.jpg|thumb|View of Nauru International Airport]]
The island is solely served by [[Nauru International Airport]]. Passenger service is provided by [[Nauru Airlines]]. Flights operate four days a week to [[Brisbane Airport|Brisbane]], Australia,<ref>{{cite web |title=Nauru International Airport (INU/ANYN) |url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airports/inu |website=flightradar24 |access-date=4 October 2022 |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004051958/https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airports/inu |url-status=live }}</ref> with limited service to other destinations including [[Nadi International Airport|Nadi]]<ref>{{cite web |title=NAURU AIRLINES RESUMES MONTHLY FIJI SERVICE IN MID-OCT 2022 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220929-onoct22fj |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=4 October 2022 |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004220220/https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220929-onoct22fj |url-status=live }}</ref> (Fiji) and [[Bonriki International Airport|Bonriki]] (Kiribati).<ref>{{cite web |title=NAURU AIRLINES RESUMES KIRIBATI / MARSHALL ISLANDS SERVICE IN MID-OCT 2022 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220928-onoct22?rq=inu |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=4 October 2022 |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004053507/https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220928-onoct22?rq=inu |url-status=live }}</ref>

The island has about {{cvt|30|km}} of road, and it has about {{cvt|4|km}} of railway that was built for mining use a century ago.<ref name=":12" /> Nauru is accessible by sea via the [[Nauru International Port]]. The modernization and expansion project of the former Aiwo Boat Harbor was expected to be completed in 2021 but has been delayed due to technical and logistics issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name="Nauru Port Workers">{{cite web |title=Nauru Port Workers to be Trained as Construction Begins on New Port |date=3 April 2020 |url=https://www.loopnauru.com/nauru-news/nauru-port-workers-be-trained-construction-begins-new-port-91187 |publisher=Loop Nauru |accessdate=14 August 2021 |archive-date=14 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814164743/https://www.loopnauru.com/nauru-news/nauru-port-workers-be-trained-construction-begins-new-port-91187 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Throwing a Lifeline">{{cite web |title=Port Upgrade Throwing a Lifeline to the People of Nauru |date=27 January 2020 |url=https://www.adb.org/news/videos/port-upgrade-throws-lifeline-people-nauru#:~:text=Nauru%20is%20a%20small%20Pacific,much%20of%20its%20international%20trade.&text=Nauru%20is%20now%20upgrading%20its,modern%2C%20climate%2Dresilient%20facility. |publisher=Asian Development Bank |accessdate=14 August 2021 |archive-date=5 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205125545/https://www.adb.org/news/videos/port-upgrade-throws-lifeline-people-nauru#:~:text=Nauru%20is%20a%20small%20Pacific,much%20of%20its%20international%20trade.&text=Nauru%20is%20now%20upgrading%20its,modern%2C%20climate%2Dresilient%20facility. |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Effects of mining==
{{further|Effects of mining in Nauru}}
{{Excerpt|Effects of mining in Nauru|paragraph=1,2,3|hat=no}}

==Food, farming, and diet==
=== Plants and farming ===
Historically, Indigenous Nauruans kept household gardens that provided much of the food that they needed through [[Subsistence agriculture|subsistence farming]], with the most common food plants including coconuts, [[breadfruit]], bananas, [[pandanus]], [[papaya]], and [[guava]]s.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Thaman |first=Randolph |date=1992 |title=Vegetation of Nauru and the Gilbert Islands: Case Studies of poverty, Degradation, Disturbance, and Displacement |url=https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/75dd4299-6eed-4e55-b9ee-c3949bf92cdb/content |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=128–158 |journal=Pacific Science |access-date=15 December 2022 |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606052020/https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/75dd4299-6eed-4e55-b9ee-c3949bf92cdb/content |url-status=live }}</ref>

Because of the large immigrant population that worked in the phosphate mines, many types of fruits and vegetables were grown that were staples in those countries as well.<ref name=":6" /> The soil in Nauru was very rich on what citizens call the "Topside", the raised phosphate plateau where the phosphate is mined from, and it was extremely fertile.<ref name=":6" /> However, the area where most Nauruans live now, on the coastal ring on the island that has not been mined, the soil quality is among the poorest in the world, as it is shallow, alkaline, and has the coarse texture of the coral that surrounds it.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last1=Morrison |first1=R.J. |last2=Manner |first2=H.I. |date=2005 |title=Pre-Mining Pattern of Soils on Nauru, Central Pacific |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/10599049.pdf |journal=Pacific Science |volume=59 |issue=4 |pages=523–540 |doi=10.1353/psc.2005.0050 |s2cid=45416184 |via=University of Hawai'i Press |access-date=15 December 2022 |archive-date=29 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129211111/https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/10599049.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite journal |last1=Clifford |first1=Martin J. |last2=Ali |first2=Saleem H. |last3=Matsubae |first3=Kazuyo |date=April 2019 |title=Mining, land restoration and sustainable development in isolated islands: An industrial ecology perspective on extractive transitions on Nauru |journal=Ambio |language=en |volume=48 |issue=4 |pages=397–408 |doi=10.1007/s13280-018-1075-2 |issn=0044-7447 |pmc=6411803 |pmid=30076524}}</ref> In 2011, just 13% of households maintained a garden or were involved in growing crops.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Nauru (NRU) - Demographics, Health & Infant Mortality |url=https://data.unicef.org/country/nru/ |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=UNICEF DATA |language=en-US |archive-date=8 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208161537/https://data.unicef.org/country/nru/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Most of the soil that was on Nauru is now gone because of phosphate-mining activities, leaving people to import the soil that they need.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":6" /> Ethnobotanical studies have indicated that the reduction in the types of plants that can be grown due to phosphate mining has significantly affected the connection that Indigenous Nauruans feel to the land, as plants are a large part of their cultural identity and have many uses in their lives, with each plant having an average of seven uses in Pacific Island cultures.<ref name=":6" />

=== Food ===
[[File:Fishing on Nauru.jpg|thumb|Fishing in Buada Lagoon, Nauru (1938)]]
For Nauru residents today, all food must also be imported because of the loss of 90% of arable land due to phosphate mining, leaving people with a diet of mainly processed foods, such as rice and sugar.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zhou |first=Charlotte |title=Nauru: The Phantom Island of the Pacific |url=https://thesciencesurvey.com/spotlight/2022/07/25/nauru-the-phantom-of-the-pacific/ |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=The Science Survey |archive-date=1 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001073915/https://thesciencesurvey.com/spotlight/2022/07/25/nauru-the-phantom-of-the-pacific/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Though residents are trying to salvage the soil that they can, some researchers speculate that there will be no regeneration of soils even after the mining ceases.<ref name=":7" /> The country's dependence on processed and imported foods along with "cultural, historical, and social factors" have greatly affected the health of its citizens.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last=Cardno Emerging Markets |date=April 2017 |title=Nauru: Port Development Project: Poverty, Social and Gender Assessment |url=https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-documents/48480/48480-001-sprss-en_0.pdf |journal=Asian Development Fund |issue=Project Number: 48480 |access-date=15 December 2022 |archive-date=21 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121142144/https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-documents/48480/48480-001-sprss-en_0.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite having all food imported, the Household and Income Expenditure Survey (HIES) conducted for the year of 2012–2013 found that Nauruans have a food poverty incidence rate of 0, based on the Food Poverty Line (FPL) which "includes a daily intake of 2,100 calories per adult per day".<ref name=":10" />

=== Non-food basic needs ===
While the HIES found that Nauru is doing well in terms of food poverty, 24% of the population and 16.8% of households are below the basic needs (clothing, shelter, education, transport, communication, water, sanitation and health services) poverty line.<ref name=":10" /> This is the worst poverty index of all Pacific nations.<ref name=":10" /> In 2017, half of Nauruans were living on US$9,000 a year (approx. A$11,700 a year). Water resources are extremely limited, with the island supplying enough for 32 liters of freshwater per person per day despite the [[World Health Organization|WHO]]'s recommendation of 50 liters per person per day.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Environment |first=U. N. |date=2017-09-16 |title=Nauru – National Report for Third International Conference |url=http://www.unep.org/resources/report/nauru-national-report-third-international-conference |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=UNEP – UN Environment Programme |language=en |archive-date=15 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215233213/https://www.unep.org/resources/report/nauru-national-report-third-international-conference |url-status=live }}</ref> Much of the groundwater has been contaminated by mining runoff, toilets, and dumping of other commercial and household wastes, causing Nauruans to rely on imported water, the price of which can vary as it is closely tied to fuel prices for its delivery, and rainfall storage.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":5" /> Access to sanitation facilities is restricted with just 66% of residents having access to reliable toilets, and [[open defecation]] is still practiced by 3% of the population.<ref name=":5" /> Schools are frequently forced to close because they do not have reliable toilets or drinking water for students to use.<ref name=":5" /> There is a long-standing [[truancy]] problem, and accessibility of education for refugee and asylum-seeking children, as well as for disabled children, remain areas of concern for Nauru's education sector.<ref name=":5" />

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Nauru|Music of Nauru|Nauruan cuisine}}
[[File:Living on a Blue Planet - Nauru.jpg|thumb|Anibare Bay]]
[[Angam Day]], held on 26 October, celebrates the recovery of the Nauruan population after the two world wars and the [[Spanish flu|1920 influenza epidemic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.int/nauru/angumday.html |accessdate=19 June 2012 |publisher=[[United Nations]] |title=Nauru Celebrates Angam Day |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041021183752/http://www.un.int/nauru/angumday.html |archivedate=21 October 2004}}</ref> Colonial and contemporary Western influence has largely displaced the indigenous culture.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lawanddevelopment.org/docs/nauru.pdf |accessdate=19 June 2012 |title=Nauru: an environment destroyed and international law |author=Nazzal, Mary |date=April 2005 |publisher=lawanddevelopment.org |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019152613/http://www.lawanddevelopment.org/docs/nauru.pdf |archivedate=19 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Few older customs have been preserved, but some forms of traditional music, arts and crafts, and fishing are still practised.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.republicofnauru.com/2012/06/culture-of-nauru.html |accessdate=19 June 2012 |title=Culture of Nauru |publisher=Republic of Nauru |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130104134932/http://www.republicofnauru.com/2012/06/culture-of-nauru.html |archivedate=4 January 2013}}</ref>

===Music===
Nauruan folk songs existed as of 1970;<ref>{{cite book |last= Viviani |first= Nancy |date= 1970 |title= Nauru: Phosphate and Political Progress |url= https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/114914/2/b11197110.pdf |location= [[Canberra]] |publisher= [[ANU Press]] |page= 158 |access-date= 18 April 2024 |archive-date= 29 January 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200129233650/https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/114914/2/b11197110.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref> "Oh Bwio Eben Bwio" remains a noticeable folk song.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4338 |title= Songs & Rhymes From Nauru |author= <!--Not stated--> |website= Mama Lisa's World |access-date= 18 April 2024 |archive-date= 8 May 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230508212948/https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4338 |url-status= live }}</ref> Rhythmic singing and traditional ''reigen''{{#tag:ref|Indirectly influenced by German colonialism, [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reigen reigen] in this cultural context is a German word that implies styles of circular-moving dances in Nauru's historical past, implying that historical Nauruan traditional dances tend to be informal.<ref>{{cite book |last= Fabricius |first= Wilhelm |author-link=  |date= 1992 |title= Nauru: 1888–1900: An account in German and English based on official records of the Colonial Section of the German Foreign Office held by the Deutsches Zentralarchiv in Potsdam. |url= https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/132630/1/JPH_Nauru.pdf |location= [[Canberra]] |publisher= [[Australian National University]] |page= 271 |isbn= 978-0731513673 |quote= The Nauruan dances which I have seen are not notable for their wealth of distinct figures. They are accompanied by singing and consist in tripping to and fro, swaying the body, slapping the thighs and chest and making turns. |access-date= 18 April 2024 |archive-date= 27 March 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230327135944/https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/132630/1/JPH_Nauru.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref>|group=n}} are performed particularly at celebrations. A historical form of a Nauruan dance called "fish dance" in English was recorded in a form of photographs.<ref>{{cite book |author= <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= 2014 |title= Hunting the Collectors: Pacific Collections in Australian Museums, Art Galleries and Archives |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lOqmBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA159 |location= [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] |publisher= [[Cambridge Scholars Publishing]] |page= 159 |isbn= 978-1443871006 |access-date= 18 April 2024 |archive-date= 18 April 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240418040949/https://books.google.com/books?id=lOqmBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA159 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Oates |first= John F. |date= 1999-10-19 |title= Myth and Reality in the Rain Forest: How Conservation Strategies are Failing in West Africa |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=x2GZH7mssNcC&pg=PR11 |location= [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]] |publisher= [[University of California Press]] |page= XI |isbn= 978-0520222526 |access-date= 18 April 2024 |archive-date= 18 April 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240418041010/https://books.google.com/books?id=x2GZH7mssNcC&pg=PR11 |url-status= live }}</ref> Known contemporary dances are the frigate bird dance and the dogoropa.<ref>{{cite book |author= <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= 2017 |title= The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: Australia and the Pacific Islands Vol.9 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=HB03DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT450 |location= [[Milton Park]] |publisher= [[Taylor & Francis]] |page= 450 |isbn= 978-1351544320 |quote= At the Pacific Festival of Arts in 1985 and 1988, sixth-graders at the Nauru Primary School presented the frigate bird (''iti''), a Nauruan dance. The students practiced daily for two months. The boys clapped and sang while the girls danced, por-traying te birds' flight and perching.... In 1994, at the Children's Convention in Fukuoka, Japan, ten eleven-year-old boys and girls from Nauru performed the ''dogoropa'', a dance with sticks, which men and women from Nauru had performed at the Festival of Arts in 1980. |access-date= 18 April 2024 |archive-date= 18 April 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240418041011/https://books.google.com/books?id=HB03DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT450 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://2012expo.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/d-5-lets-meet-the-world-nauru/ |title= Let's Meet the World: Nauru |author= <!--Not stated--> |date= 2012-08-07 |website=  |publisher= Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea |access-date= 18 April 2024 |archive-date= 27 March 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230327141618/https://2012expo.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/d-5-lets-meet-the-world-nauru/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

The [[national anthem]] of Nauru is "[[Nauru Bwiema]]" ("Song of Nauru").<ref>{{Cite web |title=National anthem – The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/national-anthem |access-date=2024-02-06 |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |archive-date=19 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319002941/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/national-anthem |url-status=live }}</ref> 

=== Media ===
{{main|Mass media in Nauru}}
Nauru has no daily news publications, but it does have a [[wikt:fortnightly|fortnightly]] publication, ''Mwinen Ko''. A state-owned television station, [[Nauru Television]] (NTV), broadcasts programs from New Zealand and Australia, and a state-owned non-commercial radio station, [[Radio Nauru]], carries programs from [[Radio Australia]] and the [[BBC]].<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News Online]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1134221.stm |title=Country Profile: Nauru |accessdate=2 May 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615205745/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1134221.stm |archivedate=15 June 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Sport ===
[[File:Linkbelt1999-Finalspiel.jpg|thumb|[[Australian rules football]], played at [[Linkbelt Oval]]]]
[[Australian rules football]] is the most popular sport in Nauru; it is considered the country's national team sport. There is an [[Australian rules football in Nauru|Australian rules football league]] with eight teams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afl.com.au/development/international/internationalleagues/nauru/tabid/10343/default.aspx |accessdate=19 June 2012 |title=Nauru Australian Football Association |publisher=Australian Football League |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231192459/http://www.afl.com.au/development/international/internationalleagues/nauru/tabid/10343/default.aspx |archivedate=31 December 2008}}</ref> Nauru has several [[Nauru national Australian rules football team|national Australian rules teams]] that consistently rank among the top eight teams in the world.<ref name="AFL Nauru">{{cite web |title=AFL Nauru |url=https://www.aflq.com.au/afl-nauru/ |publisher=AFL Queensland |access-date=26 August 2022}}</ref>

Other sports popular in Nauru include [[weightlifting]] (considered a national pastime), [[volleyball]], [[netball]], [[recreational fishing|fishing]] and [[tennis]]. Nauru participates in the Commonwealth Games and [[Nauru at the Olympics|has participated in the Summer Olympic Games]] in weightlifting and [[judo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3847-0-0-0&sID=172619 |accessdate=20 June 2012 |publisher=Nauru Olympic Committee |title=Nauru Olympic Committee History |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726171226/http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3847-0-0-0&sID=172619 |archivedate=26 July 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Nauru national basketball team|Nauru's national basketball team]] competed at the [[Basketball at the 1969 South Pacific Games|1969 Pacific Games]], where it defeated [[Solomon Islands national basketball team|Solomon Islands]] and [[Fiji national basketball team|Fiji]].{{fact|date=December 2025}}

[[Rugby union in Nauru]] has a growing following. The [[Nauru national rugby sevens team]] made its international debut at the [[2015 Pacific Games]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/278288/sport-nauru-7s-team-to-make-international-debut |title=Sport: Nauru 7s team to make international debut |website=Radio New Zealand |date=8 July 2015 |accessdate=10 July 2015 |archive-date=30 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430215036/http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/278288/sport-nauru-7s-team-to-make-international-debut |url-status=live }}</ref> Nauru competed in the [[2015 Oceania Sevens Championship]] in New Zealand.{{fact|date=December 2025}}

[[Soccer in Nauru]] is a minor sport which has long been dormant in due to the popularity of Australian rules football; however, a [[Nauru national soccer team]] was in formation as of 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dave Kitson: Former Reading forward set to manage Nauru in first international match|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68658309|publisher=BBC|access-date=14 April 2024|archive-date=29 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329131428/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68658309|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dave Kitson to coach Nauru football team – a team that doesn't exist yet|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/dave-kitson-to-coach-nauru-football-team-a-team-that-doesnt-exist-yet/NQ2ERJBZ6ZHZHO432MTBTCJYW4/|work=NZ Herald|access-date=14 April 2024|archive-date=16 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416190332/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/dave-kitson-to-coach-nauru-football-team-a-team-that-doesnt-exist-yet/NQ2ERJBZ6ZHZHO432MTBTCJYW4/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Countries|Oceania}}
*[[Index of Nauru-related articles]]
*[[Outline of Nauru]]{{Clear}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist|group=n}}
{{Clear}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
*{{US DOS |url =https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/16447.htm |title = U.S. Relations With Nauru }}
*{{CIA World Factbook}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book |last1=Gowdy |first1=John M. |last2=McDaniel |first2=Carl N. |year=2000 |title=Paradise for Sale: A Parable of Nature |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-22229-8}}
*Morris, J. (2023). [https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501765841/asylum-and-extraction-in-the-republic-of-nauru/ Asylum and Extraction in the Republic of Nauru]. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
*Storr, C. (2020). [[doi:10.1017/9781108682602|''International Status in the Shadow of Empire: Nauru and the Histories of International Law''.]] Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
*{{cite book|first=Cait|last=Storr|year=2020|doi=10.1017/9781108682602|title=International Status in the Shadow of Empire: Nauru and the Histories of International Law|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781108682602}}
*{{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Maslyn |last2=Macdonald |first2=Barrie |title=The Phosphateers |year=1985 |publisher=Melbourne University Press |isbn=0-522-84302-6}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nauru.gov.nr/ Government of Nauru]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150311085049/http://www.naurugov.nr/ Government of Nauru (archived site)]
*[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nauru/ Nauru]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
*{{Wikiatlas|Nauru}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080607085310/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/nauru.htm Nauru] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15433616 Nauru profile] from the ''[[BBC News Online]]''

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