Nauru (Republic of Nauru)

Nauru Republic of Nauru
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	186th best
Capital	Yaren
Land Area
Location	Australasia, Micronesia
Groupings	Small Islands
Population	10 6701
Life Expectancy	63.62yrs (2017)2
GNI	$17 730 (2017)3
ISO3166-1 Codes	NR, NRU, 5204
Internet Domain	.nr5
Currency	Dollar (AUD)6
Telephone	+6747

1. Overview
2. Nauru National and Social Development
3. Nauru's Demographics and Migration
4. Nauru's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Nauru's Health
6. Nauru's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Nauru's Modernity and Learning
8. Nauru's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

---

1. Overview

#australia

“The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear since their language does not resemble any other in the Pacific. Germany annexed the island in 1888. A German-British consortium began mining the island's phosphate deposits early in the 20th century. Australian forces occupied Nauru in World War I; it subsequently became a League of Nations mandate. After the Second World War - and a brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN trust territory. It achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as the world's smallest independent republic.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₈

“Nauru´s beauty can be glimpsed along its coast: seabirds swoop over green cliffs, aqua reigns along wild-ocean vistas and sunsets are nothing short of spectacular. While the coast is beautiful - with opportunities to swim and snorkel, or watch a fiery sunset over coconut trees and salt brush - head to the island´s interior and you´ll find deforestation from phosphate mining and an eerie landscape of limestone pinnacles. The exposed rock reflects the sun´s rays and chases away the clouds so there´s lots of sunshine but frequent periods of drought.

Meanwhile, the wealth accrued from mining, followed by the poverty once the stores were depleted, have brought the country to near collapse. During the phosphate boom in the 1980s, Nauru was the second-richest country in the world in terms of per capita income; 30 years later the estimated average income is US$2500 per year. Freight deliveries are rare and employment scarcer. For the past decade Australia´s controversial off-shore refugee processsing centre has been a major contributor to development on Nauru.

Perhaps tourism, once thought unneeded, could help Nauru get back on its feet. Transport and hospitality services are thin on the ground but smiles are plentiful.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₉

2. Nauru National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)10
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $10
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
68	Belarus	$18 849
69	Dominican Rep.	$17 990
70	Mexico	$17 896
71	Nauru	$17 730
72	China	$17 504
73	Thailand	$17 030
74	Antigua & Barbuda	$16 792
75	Botswana	$16 198
	Australasia Avg	$12 519
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index11
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank11
1	Denmark	29.1
2	Norway	32.3
3	Sweden	34.1
	...
183	Yemen	122.5
184	Zimbabwe	122.9
185	Congo, DR	123.5
186	Nauru	124.3
187	Central African Rep.	125.4
188	Marshall Islands	127.3
189	Chad	127.3
190	Iraq	127.4
	Australasia Avg	95.6
	World Avg	88.9
q=199.

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Nauru's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Nauru's population is predicted to rise to 11 024 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 3.46. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₂

Population1
Pos.		2018 Population1
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
188	Marshall Islands	58 413
189	St Kitts & Nevis	52 441
190	Monaco	38 682
191	Liechtenstein	37 910
192	San Marino	33 785
193	Palau	17 907
194	Tuvalu	11 508
195	Nauru	10 670
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better10
Pos.		2021 Years10
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
155	Ghana	63.8
156	Yemen	63.8
157	Bolivia	63.6
158	Nauru	63.6
159	Congo, (Brazzaville)	63.5
160	Comoros	63.4
161	Haiti	63.2
162	Malawi	62.9
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best13
Pos.		202213
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
163	Zimbabwe	3.44
164	Iraq	3.45
165	Gabon	3.46
166	Nauru	3.46
167	Ghana	3.51
168	Vanuatu	3.70
169	Yemen	3.72
170	Rwanda	3.75
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants14
Pos.		2017 %14
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
11	Hong Kong	39.1%
12	Saudi Arabia	37.0%
13	Jordan	33.3%
14	Nauru	32.7%
15	Lebanon	31.9%
16	Switzerland	29.6%
17	Australia	28.8%
18	Antigua & Barbuda	28.1%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

4. Nauru's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Australasia (2025)15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	New Zealand	13.3
2	Australia	16.0
3	Kiribati	70.1
4	Marshall Islands	75.0
5	Tuvalu	76.7
6	Micronesia	78.2
7	Palau	80.7
8	Nauru	82.3
9	Fiji	87.1
10	Vanuatu	98.7
11	Samoa	100.4
12	Tonga	105.5
13	Solomon Islands	108.9
	Australasia Avg	79.23
q=14.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
90	Honduras	81.1
91	Suriname	81.5
92	Guatemala	81.5
93	Nauru	82.3
94	Northern Cyprus	82.3
95	Singapore	83.1
96	Senegal	84.7
97	Grenada	86.1
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Denmark and Norway₁₆. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, N. Korea and Afghanistan₁₆.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₆, whereas the worst are Africa, The Middle East and Asia₁₆.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
78	Israel	2.5
79=	Solomon Islands	2.5
79=	Colombia	2.5
79=	Nauru	2.5
79=	Lesotho	2.5
79=	Namibia	2.5
79=	Brazil	2.5
79=	Bhutan	2.5
	Australasia Avg	1.8
	World Avg	3.7
q=205.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better17
Pos.		2009 Treaties17
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
185	Tuvalu	5
186=	Micronesia	5
186=	Singapore	5
186=	Nauru	5
189	Marshall Islands	4
190=	Myanmar (Burma)	4
190=	Palau	4
190=	Malaysia	4
	Australasia Avg	8.7
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better18
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty18
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
187	Somalia	15.71
188	Kiribati	15.80
189	Solomon Islands	15.81
190	Nauru	16.16
191	Sao Tome & Principe	16.17
192	Tuvalu	16.33
193	Palau	16.34
194	Marshall Islands	16.34
	Australasia Avg	14.35
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Total Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
152=	Kiribati	1967
152=	Ecuador	1967
154	Swaziland	1968
155=	Nauru	1968
156	Congo, (Brazzaville)	1970
157=	Congo, DR	1970
157=	Yemen	1970
159	Switzerland	1971
	Australasia Avg	1962
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality Higher is better19
Pos.		2017 Score19
1	Netherlands	103
2	Belgium	90
3	Sweden	86
	...
84=	Central African Rep.	20
84=	Sao Tome & Principe	20
84=	Palau	20
84=	Nauru	20
84=	Marshall Islands	20
84=	Guinea-Bissau	20
84=	Micronesia	20
84=	Armenia	20
	Australasia Avg	07.1
	World Avg	12.6
q=196.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better20
Pos.		202120
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
4	Ecuador	1.3
5=	Bolivia	1.3
5=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.3
5=	Nauru	1.3
5=	France	1.3
9	Sweden	1.5
10=	Iceland	1.5
10=	Norway	1.5
10=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	1.5
	Australasia Avg	2.6
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Nauru's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #nauru #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #vaccines

Compared to Australasia (2025)21
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank21
1	New Caledonia	57.9
2	Australia	66.3
3	New Zealand	69.9
	...
11	Papua New Guinea	125.9
12	Tuvalu	126.7
13	Kiribati	129.5
14	Micronesia	134.5
15	Samoa	135.7
16	Nauru	145.1
17	Niue	153.4
18	Marshall Islands	163.0
19	Cook Islands	164.3
	Australasia Avg	112.00
q=19.

Health (2025)21
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank21
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
203	Equatorial Guinea	142.9
204	Somalia	144.1
205	Iraq	144.5
206	Nauru	145.1
207	Ivory Coast	145.8
208	Nigeria	146.0
209	Angola	149.2
210	S. Sudan	149.6
	World Avg	97.60
q=213.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₂₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Cook Islands, The Marshall Islands and Niue₂₂.

25 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans₂₂, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Australasia₂₂.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Nauru is a pretty unhealthy country. Nauru does better than average in its alcohol consumption rate₂₃ (but bad for Australasia) and in its immunizations take-up₂₄. However Nauru performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average when it comes to its adolescent birth rate₂₅ (the highest in Australasia), its average life expectancy₁₀ (the worst in Australasia) and in its fertility rate₁₃ (amongst the highest in Australasia). And finally, it is the worst in the prevalence of overweight adults₂₆. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Nauru improved by just +2.1yrs in the 30 years from 1990, significantly less than almost everywhere else in the world. Nauru's peak fertility rate was 5.3 in 1964.

Life Expectancy Higher is better10
Pos.		2021 Years10
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
155	Ghana	63.8
156	Yemen	63.8
157	Bolivia	63.6
158	Nauru	63.6
159	Congo, (Brazzaville)	63.5
160	Comoros	63.4
161	Haiti	63.2
162	Malawi	62.9
	Australasia Avg	70.11
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better23
Pos.		2016 Per Capita23
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
89=	Liberia	5.8
89=	Haiti	5.8
89=	Colombia	5.8
92	Nauru	6.0
93	Cuba	6.1
94	Kyrgyzstan	6.2
95=	Guyana	6.3
95=	Peru	6.3
	Australasia Avg	4.3
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best13
Pos.		202213
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
163	Zimbabwe	3.44
164	Iraq	3.45
165	Gabon	3.46
166	Nauru	3.46
167	Ghana	3.51
168	Vanuatu	3.70
169	Yemen	3.72
170	Rwanda	3.75
	Australasia Avg	2.82
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Overweight Adults Lower is better26
Pos.		1976 %26
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
184	Niue	51.7
185	Kuwait	52.2
186	Tonga	53.2
187	Samoa	54.0
188	Cook Islands	63.0
189	Marshall Islands	63.3
190	Palau	64.0
191	Nauru	78.1
	Australasia Avg	48.8
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better27
Pos.		2022 %27
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
192	Samoa	61.2%
193	Tuvalu	63.9%
194	Niue	66.5%
195	Cook Islands	68.4%
196	Tokelau	69.2%
197	Nauru	70.2%
198	Tonga	70.5%
199	American Samoa	75.6%
	Australasia Avg	49.3%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better25
Pos.		2022 Per 100025
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
154	Swaziland	68.4
155	Panama	68.5
156	Paraguay	69.9
157	Nauru	71.1
158	Honduras	71.3
159	Laos	71.8
160	Bangladesh	73.3
161	Mauritania	76.8
	Australasia Avg	40.2
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better24
Pos.		2015 Avg %24
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
94	Chile	93.3
95	Georgia	93.1
96	New Zealand	92.9
97	Nauru	92.9
98	USA	92.8
99	Latvia	92.8
100	Romania	92.7
101	France	92.6
	Australasia Avg	86.4
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

From the 1990s to the 2000s, Naura saw the world's worst increase in adolescent birth rate; one of only two countries to see a two-figure increase, although the situation stabilized by the 2010s.

6. Nauru's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #hong_kong #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #USA #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Australasia (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	New Zealand	75.8
2	Australia	76.6
3	Fiji	89.1
	...
8	Kiribati	111.4
9	Micronesia	114.6
10	Cook Islands	119.6
11	Solomon Islands	121.6
12	Marshall Islands	123.1
13	Palau	124.5
14	Tuvalu	127.4
15	Niue	129.5
16	Nauru	134.4
	Australasia Avg	93.28
q=16.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
191	Somalia	131.0
192	N. Korea	132.3
193	Turkmenistan	134.1
194	Nauru	134.4
195	San Marino	134.9
196	Andorra	136.3
197	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	137.5
198	Vatican City	138.3
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₂₉. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Nauru is positioned 6th-worst in the world. This rank is computed using 21 data sets. Nauru does better than average for its forested percent change 2000-2020₃₀. But that's it. Nauru has problems. It sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to reducing annual meat consumption per person₃₁ (the worst in Australasia) and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better30
Pos.		Total30
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
99=	Vatican City	0.0%
99=	Vanuatu	0.0%
99=	Tuvalu	0.0%
99=	Nauru	0.0%
99=	Seychelles	0.0%
99=	St Martin	0.0%
99=	St Kitts & Nevis	0.0%
99=	Monaco	0.0%
	Australasia Avg	0.1%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
183	Tuvalu	40%
184	Sao Tome & Principe	40%
185	Brunei	39%
186	Nauru	39%
187	S. Sudan	37%
188	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	36%
189	Bhutan	35%
190	Palau	34%
	Australasia Avg	48.2%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Nauru is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and was one of 19 countries that signed the Paris Agreement within the first few months in Q2 2016.

Meat Consumption Lower is better31
Pos.		2021 kg31
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
178	St Vincent & Grenadines	109.5
179	Australia	110.2
180	Bahamas	111.9
181	Argentina	115.5
182	Mongolia	115.6
183	Nauru	125.9
184	USA	126.8
185	Hong Kong	146.9
	Australasia Avg	74.2
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

When the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation collected meat consumption data for Nauru for the first time in 2019, it was the country with the 3rd-highest rate per person (after Hong Kong and the USA.₃₁

7. Nauru's Modernity and Learning

#education #the_internet

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling Higher is better32
Pos.		2021 Years32
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
140	Comoros	11.9
141	India	11.9
142	Kiribati	11.8
143	Nauru	11.7
144	Tajikistan	11.7
145	Micronesia	11.5
146	Vanuatu	11.5
147	Cambodia	11.5
	Australasia Avg	13.4
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Technology and Information:

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better33
Pos.		2017 Ratio33
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
52	Hong Kong	0.7
53	Spain	0.6
54	St Kitts & Nevis	0.6
55	Nauru	0.5
56	Egypt	0.4
57	Mexico	0.4
58	Bhutan	0.4
59	China	0.3
	Australasia Avg	1.55
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Nauru's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #economics #inequality #social_development

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better34
Pos.		2023 %34
1	Slovakia	24.1%35
2	Slovenia	24.3%35
3	Belarus	24.4%36
	...
51	Vanuatu	32.3%37
52=	Germany	32.4%36
52=	UK	32.4%35
52=	Nauru	32.4%38
55	Luxembourg	32.7%35
56	India	32.8%35
57=	Greece	32.9%35
57=	Niger	32.9%35
	Australasia Avg	34.8%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data for Nauru is only available for the year 2012.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₃₉:

Christian	79%
Muslim	0.1%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	1.1%
Folk Religion	8.1%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	4.5%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Protestant 45.8% (Nauru Congregational 35.4%, Nauru Independent Church 10.4%), Roman Catholic 33.2%, other 14.1%, none 4.5%, unspecified 2.4% (2002 census)₄₀.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems