Nauru

Overview

Nauru, officially the Republic of Naoero, formerly known as Pleasant Island, is a Pacific island nation covering only about 21 square kilometers, making it the smallest republic in the world and the third-smallest country overall, after Vatican City and Monaco. For decades the country's economy relied almost entirely on phosphate mining, which provided an extremely high income for the population through much of the 20th century, though this mining transformed most of the island's interior into an uninhabitable, moonscape-like terrain. With the depletion of phosphate reserves, the country's economy fell into severe crisis, and Nauru's income now relies largely on foreign aid and the sale of fishing rights. The official languages are English and Nauruan, and the majority of the population is Christian.

Yaren, Nauru's de facto capital (the country has no officially designated capital), is home to government buildings and the airport, serving as the country's administrative center. The island's interior plateau, known as "Topside," completely transformed by decades of phosphate mining, is covered in sharp limestone pinnacles and crater-like depressions, making this moonscape one of the island's most unusual, if unconventional, sights. Buada Lagoon, in the island's interior, is one of the few surfaces of water remaining in a relatively natural state, with fish ponds and small-scale agricultural activity by part of the population. The coastal strip, where most of the population lives, forms a narrow, palm-lined band between the mining-damaged interior plateau and the ocean.

Nauru's coral reefs and clear waters, surrounding the island directly, offer diving and fishing opportunities, though tourism infrastructure remains extremely limited, with the island receiving only a few hundred visitors annually. Circling the island can be done in just a few hours on foot or by bicycle, an unusual yet distinctive experience given its small size. Nauru's coastal waters offer good fishing opportunities, particularly for targeted open-ocean species such as tuna. Local cuisine is built around fish and coconut, with freshly caught fish dishes as signature items, and since the island's agricultural output is severely limited by mining-related soil damage, most food is imported.

Name change: Naoero

In 2026, Nauru officially adopted its historical, indigenous-language name, Naoero, the island's original name before European colonizers, unable to properly pronounce it, altered it into "Nauru." Parliament unanimously passed the relevant constitutional amendment in May 2026, and in July President David Adeang announced that the planned referendum would no longer be necessary, as Naoero was not a new name awaiting acceptance but already part of the population's existing identity, having appeared, among other things, on the country's coat of arms. Following the change, the country's short-form name became Naoero, and its citizens are officially referred to as "dei-Naoero," while international organizations and partner countries gradually transition to using the new name. The government described the move as a break from colonial legacy and a reaffirmation of national pride.