Statistical information Nauru 1996

Nauru in the World

Nauru - Introduction 1996

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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. Upon achieving independence in 1968 Nauru became the smallest independent republic in the world.

Nauru - Geography 1996

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Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 21 km²
Land: 21 km²
Comparative: about one-tenth the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 30 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)

Terrain: Sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m

Natural resources: Phosphates

Land use

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 100%

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography

Nauru - People 1996

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Population:

10,273 (July 1996 est.)
10,149 (July 1995 est.)

Growth rate: 1.33% (1996 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Nauruan(s)
Adjective: Nauruan

Ethnic groups:

Nauruan 58%
Other Pacific Islander 26%
Chinese 8%
European 8%

Languages: Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes

Religions: Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)

Demographic profile

Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.33% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 18.03 births/1000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.1 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.4 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.) Infant Mortality Rate:40.6 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater; phosphate mining threatens limited remaining land resources
Current issues Natural hazards: periodic droughts
International agreements: party to_Biodiversity, Climate Change, Marine Dumping; signed, but not ratified_Law of the Sea
International agreements note: Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean_the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 66.68 years
Male: 64.3 years
Female: 69.18 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: definition:NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment

Nauru - Government 1996

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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

Dependent areas

Independence: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia, New Zealand, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Constitution: 29 January 1968

Legal system: Own Acts of Parliament and British common law

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
Chief of state and head of government: President Lagumot HARRIS (since 22 November 1995) was elected by Parliament; election last held 18 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1998)
12 December 1989 22 November 1995: President Bernard DOWIYOGO
Cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from the parliament

Legislative branch: Unicameral Parliament:Elections last held 18 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1998; results_percent of vote NA; seats_(18 total) independents 18

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, ICAO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage

Nauru - Economy 1996

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Economy overview: Revenues come from the export of phosphates, the reserves of which are expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World. Few other resources exist, so most necessities must be imported, including fresh water from Australia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. Substantial amounts of phosphate income are invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition. However, dividends from the trusts have declined sharply since 1990 and the government has been borrowing from the trusts to finance fiscal deficits.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_ $10,000 (1993 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: Coconuts; other agricultural activity negligible; almost completely dependent on imports for food and water

Industries:

Phosphate mining
Financial services
Coconut products

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA

Labor force
By occupation: NA

Labor force