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| Introduction | Nauru |
| Background: | Nauru's phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium; the island was occupied by Australian forces in World War I. Nauru achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999. Nauru is the world's smallest independent republic. |
| People | Nauru |
| Population: | 12,809 (July 2004 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 38.2% (male 2,516; female 2,372) 15-64 years: 60% (male 3,782; female 3,898) 65 years and over: 1.9% (male 128; female 113) (2004 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 19.9 years male: 19.5 years female: 20.4 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.87% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 25.61 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 6.95 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 10.14 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 12.76 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 62.33 years male: 58.78 years female: 66.06 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 3.29 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Nauruan(s) adjective: Nauruan |
| Ethnic groups: | Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8% |
| Religions: | Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic) |
| Languages: | Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes |
| Literacy: | definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA |
| Government | Nauru |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Nauru conventional short form: Nauru former: Pleasant Island |
| Government type: | republic |
| Capital: | no official capital; government offices in Yaren District |
| Administrative divisions: | 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren |
| Independence: | 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 31 January (1968) |
| Constitution: | 29 January 1968 |
| Legal system: | acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law |
| Suffrage: | 20 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Ludwig SCOTTY (since 22 June 2004) note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held 8 August 2003 (next to be held NA 2006) election results: Rene HARRIS was removed from the presidency in no-confidence vote 22 June 2004; Ludwig SCOTTY became president cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of Parliament head of government: President Ludwig SCOTTY (since 22 June 2004) note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held not later than May 2006) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - Nauru First Party 3, independents 15 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court |
| Political parties and leaders: | loose multiparty system; Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru Party (informal) [leader NA]; Naoero Amo (Nauru First) Party [leader NA] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA |
| International organization participation: | ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | Nauru does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a UN office at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, New York 10017; telephone: (212) 937-0074 consulate(s): Hagatna (Guam) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru |
| Flag description: | blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru |
| Communications | Nauru |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 1,900 (2002) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 1,500 (2002) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities domestic: NA international: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Radios: | 7,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 1 (1997) |
| Televisions: | 500 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .nr |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 300 (2002) |
| Transportation | Nauru |
| Highways: | total: 30 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 6 km (1999 est.) |
| Ports and harbors: | Nauru |
| Merchant marine: | none |
| Airports: | 1 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
| Military | Nauru |
| Military branches: | no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 3,275 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 1,810 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | NA |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | NA |
| Military - note: | Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia |
| Transnational Issues | Nauru |
| Disputes - international: | none |
| Illicit drugs: | offshore banking recently stopped, remains on Financial Action Task Force Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continued failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime |
| This page was last updated on 16 December, 2004 |
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