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.

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

Irrigated land: NA

Population:
Growth rate: 1.33% (1996 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Nauruan(s)
Adjective: Nauruan

Ethnic groups:

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)

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

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.)

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

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.)

Literacy: definition:NA

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, 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

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

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

Flag description: Blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

Economy 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 growth rate: NA

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

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

Industries:

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA

Labor force
By occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: 0%

Budget
Revenues: $23.8 million (FY92/93); $69.7 million (1986)
Expenditures: $69.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93); $51.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1986)

Fiscal year: 1 July_30 June

Exports:
Commodities: Phosphates
Partners:

Debt external: $33.3 million

Electricity
Capacity: 14,000 kW
Production: 30 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 3,036 kWh (1993)

Telephone system: 2,000 telephones; adequate local and international radio communications provided via Australian facilities
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

Airports: 1
15-24 to 2437 m: 1

Merchant marine: None