Nauru

Nauru is a sovereign island country in Micronesia, located in the central Pacific. Covering about 21 square kilometers, it is among the smallest states by area and population. The de facto capital is Yaren District; there is no official capital. The official languages are Nauruan and English, and the currency is the Australian dollar.

Nauru sits on a raised phosphate-rich platform. Much of the interior has been mined, leaving a landscape of excavations and barren areas. The island has a tropical climate with a wet and dry season, and freshwater resources are scarce.

Nauru was sighted by Europeans in 1798. It was administered by Germany from 1888 and later became a League of Nations mandate governed by Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom after World War I. It gained independence as a republic in 1968.

Nauru is a parliamentary republic. The President serves as both head of state and government and is elected by the Parliament, which has 18 seats. The country has no formal political parties; governments usually form through coalitions.

Phosphate mining once powered growth but deposits have been largely exhausted. The government now relies on phosphate royalties, foreign aid and activity linked to Australia’s offshore processing of asylum seekers. The currency remains the Australian dollar.

The population is predominantly Nauruan, with smaller communities of Chinese and other Pacific Islanders. Christianity is the main religion, including Roman Catholic and Protestant denominations. Education and health services are provided by the government; unemployment and emigration present ongoing challenges.

Nauru joined the United Nations in 1999 and participates in regional organizations such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the Commonwealth. It faces environmental pressures and climate change, while pursuing economic diversification.