Environment: The most significant Religion: Mainly Christians (predominantly environmental issues are devastation of some Protestants). 90 per cent of the island by intensive Health: There is a high incidence of diabetes, phosphate mining during most of the 20th cancer and heart disease. There is no malaria. century, and dependence on an ageing Medical and dental treatment is free for all desalination plant and collection of limited Nauruans and for government employees rainwater for water supply. and their families. There are two hospitals, Vegetation: The only presently fertile areas one for Nauruans and one provided by the are the narrow coastal belt, where there are Nauru Phosphate Corporation, which is coconut palms, pandanus trees and mainly for employees of the corporation. A indigenous hardwoods such as the tomano, pure water supply is provided by the Nauru and the land surrounding Buada lagoon, Phosphate Corporation’s desalination plant. where bananas, pineapples and some Infant mortality was 30 per 1,000 live births vegetables are grown. Some secondary in 2013. vegetation grows over the coral pinnacles. Education: There are 11 years of compulsory KEY FACTS Wildlife: Many indigenous birds have education starting at the age of six. Primary Joined Commonwealth: 1968 disappeared or become rare, owing to school comprises six years and secondary six, with cycles of four and two years. The school Population: 10,000 (2013) destruction of their habitat, notably the noddy, or black tern. Frigate birds have year starts in January. Official language: English traditionally been caught and tamed. Students go overseas for higher education, Time: GMT plus 12 hrs Main towns: Yaren (pop. 4,800 in 2010), mainly to Australia and New Zealand, and Currency: Australian dollar (A$) Aiwo, Denigomodu, Uaboe, Anabar, Ijuw and scholarships are available for this. Nauru is a Meneng. Nauru has no capital; government partner in the regional University of the South Geography offices are in Yaren district. Pacific, which has a centre in Nauru and its main campus in Suva, Fiji. Area: 21.3 sq km Transport: A sealed road 19 km long circles Media: There is no daily newspaper. The Coastline: 30 km the island. Other roads run inland to Buada Bulletin is published weekly in Nauruan and District and the phosphate areas. A 5 km Nauru is a small oval-shaped island in the English by the government, and Central long railway serves the phosphate workings western Pacific Ocean. Star News and The Nauru Chronicle and carries the phosphate to the dryers fortnightly. Topography: Phosphate mining in the preparatory to loading on ships. central plateau has left a barren terrain of The Nauru Broadcasting Service provides The airport is in the south-west of the island. jagged coral pinnacles, up to 15 metres high. public radio and TV services. Radio Nauru The national airline, Our Airline, offers A century of mining has stripped four-fifths broadcasts in English and Nauruan and services to Guam, Fiji, and Brisbane and of the land area. The island is surrounded by includes material from Radio Australia and Melbourne in Australia. a coral reef, exposed at low tide and dotted the BBC, and Nauru Television includes with pinnacles. The island has a fertile coastal programmes from Australia and New strip 150–300 metres wide. Coral cliffs Society Zealand. surround the central plateau. The highest KEY FACTS 2013 Communications: Country code 674; point of the plateau is 65 metres above sea internet domain ‘.nr’. Digicel introduced a level. Population per sq km: 476 mobile phone service in 2009. Life expectancy: 66 years (est) Climate: The climate is tropical, with sea For every 1,000 people there are 678 mobile breezes. North-east trade winds blow Population: 10,000 (2013); 100 per cent of phone subscriptions (2012) and 540 internet March–October. Day temperatures range people live in urban areas; growth 0.4 per users (2011). from 24 to 34°C; average humidity is 80 per cent p.a. 1990–2013; birth rate 20 per 1,000 cent. Rainfall is erratic and often heavy; people (est); life expectancy 66 years (est). Public holidays: New Year’s Day, average annual rainfall is 2,060 mm. The Independence Day (31 January), Constitution The indigenous people of Nauru are monsoon season is November–February. With Day (17 May), Angam Day (26 October), Micronesians. Increased population since the the destruction of the forested areas on the Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The word 1960s has put extreme pressure on the plateau land to enable phosphate mining, Angam means ‘homecoming’ and Angam coastal fringe surrounding the island, which is climate changes have been noted with Day commemorates the various times in currently the only space available for housing. extensive dry periods. If global warming history when the size of the Nauruan causes sea level to rise, the habitable low- Language: Nauruan and English are spoken, population has returned to 1,500, which is lying land areas will be at risk from tidal but English, the official language, is the usual thought to be the minimum number surges and flooding. written language. necessary for survival.
The CommoNwealTh Yearbook 2015 Nauru
Religious and other festivals whose dates vary Real growth in GDP GDP fell by about a third over 2005–07 from year to year include Good Friday and owing to a fall in public expenditure and % Easter Monday. % 25 suspension in phosphate mining following 20 storm damage to the island’s port facilities. 15 Economy The resumption of phosphate mining in mid- 10 2006 led to a substantial hike in GDP in KEY FACTS 2012 5 2008, when it almost doubled. A fall in GDP 0 g GNI: US$103m of 20 per cen t in 2 0 09 was then followed by -5 double-digit g rowth in 2010–14. GNI p.c.: US$10,277 -10 GDP growth: 7.1% p.a. 2009–12 -15 History Inflation: 3.7% p.a. 2009–12 -20 -25 By the time of the first recorded European 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Nauru’s economy is based on phosphate sighting of Nauru (by Captain John Fearn in mining, and phosphate revenues have given 1798), the Nauruans were a distinct people the country a relatively high per capita Inflation with their own language and culture. They income (though little economic data is % 25 had little contact with Europeans until published). Phosphate reserves are not, whaling ships, traders and beachcombers however, expected to last beyond the late 20 began to visit regularly in the 1830s. 2010s, and the government has been exploring other sources of income (for 15 The introduction of firearms and alcohol example, fishing, tourism and offshore destroyed the social balance of the 12 clans 10 financial services). There is very limited living on the island and led to a ten-year internal war, which reduced the population potential for agriculture and the country is 5 to around 900 by 1888: in 1843 there had dependent on imports for basic necessities been 1,400 people on Nauru. Peace was only such as food, consumer and capital goods. 0 restored when Germany took action to Very few Nauruans work, or are permanently -5 remove firearms from the island. resident, abroad. 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 The island was allocated to Germany under Surpluses from the phosphate industry have the 1886 Anglo-German Convention. been invested abroad by the Nauru GDP by sector (2013) Phosphate was discovered a decade later and Phosphate Royalties Trust to provide income the Pacific Phosphate Company started to as the phosphate runs out. The management Agriculture exploit the reserves in 1906, by agreement of these funds has for years been one of the 3.4% with Germany. The island was captured by major issues on the island. Industry Australian forces in 1914 and administered The Nauru Agency Corporation was 55.5% by Britain. In 1920 the League of Nations established to encourage foreign investment Services gave Britain, Australia and New Zealand a in international financial services; it assists 41.1% Trustee Mandate over the territory. In reality with the registration of holding and trading the island was administered by Australia. The companies and in obtaining banking, trust three governments bought out the Pacific several years, a boost for the catering sector. and insurance licences. Phosphate Company and established the By 2007 revenues generated by the British Phosphate Commissioners, who took In January 1999 Nauru signed its first loan processing centre amounted to around a fifth over the rights to phosphate mining. agreement with the Asian Development Bank, of the country’s GDP. Following its decision to under which the government was to diversify close the centre during 2008, the incoming Nauru was damaged by German naval the economy to prepare for the exhaustion of Labor administration in Australia committed gunfire and later by Allied bombing in World phosphate reserves and to embark on a itself to maintaining its aid programme, War II. During Japanese occupation programme of economic reforms, including a which was worth about US$31.8 million in (1942–45), 1,200 Nauruans were deported to sharp reduction in public sector expenditure 2012/13. In September 2012 Australia re- work as labourers to Truk (now Chuuk), and rises in taxes and duties. opened the processing centre which was to Micronesia, where 463 died as a result of From 2001, when its centre for processing accommodate up to 1,500 asylum seekers, starvation or bombing. The survivors were asylum seekers was established, Australia and by 2013 was employing some 600 returned to Nauru in January 1946. made substantial contributions to Nauruans; it was, after the government, the After the war, the island became a UN Trust government revenues and there was, for largest employer in the country. Territory, administered by Australia in a similar partnership to the previous League of Nations Nauru on the international stage mandate, and it remained a trust territory until independence in 1968. Anticipating the With populations in the region of 10,000, Nauru and Tuvalu are the smallest exhaustion of the phosphate reserves, a plan Commonwealth member countries. They are also two of the world’s smallest democracies. by the partner governments to resettle the Nauru was admitted as the 187th member state of the United Nations in September 1999. Nauruans on Curtis Island, off the north coast of Queensland, Australia, was put forward in Marcus Stephen, born in 1969, won gold weightlifting medals at the Commonwealth 1964. However, the islanders decided against Games in 1990, 1994 and 1998. In his subsequent political career he has held a number of resettlement. Legislative and executive councils ministerial posts, and served as Nauru’s President between December 2007 and November 2011. were established in 1966, giving the islanders a considerable measure of self-government.
The CommoNwealTh Yearbook 2015 Nauru
In 1967, the Nauruans contracted to assessed. In October 2005 the Australian commissioner. Special mention is made in the purchase the assets of the British Phosphate government decided to bring 25 of the constitution of the allocation of profits and Commissioners and in June 1970 control remaining 27 asylum seekers to Australia. royalties from the sale of phosphate. passed to the Nauru Phosphate Corporation. Only one asylum seeker remained on the Nauru became independent as a republic in island in mid-2006, but seven Burmese Politics asylum seekers were transferred to Nauru for 1968. Following a constitutional convention Last elections: 8 June 2013 in 1967–68, a new constitution protecting assessment in September 2006 and 82 Sri Next elections: 2016 fundamental freedoms and establishing a Lankan refugees in March 2007. Then in late parliamentary democracy was adopted. Sir 2007 the new Australian Labor government Head of state: President Baron Waqa indicated the camp would be closed. Hammer DeRoburt became President and Head of government: The President went on to dominate Parliament during the On 27 February 2010, a popular referendum Ruling party: No party system next 20 years, leading the government for rejected a package of proposed changes to most of the period. In the absence of a Nauru’s constitution, following a Women MPs: 5% formal party system, there have been many constitutional reform process which had been By 2003 the country faced a severe financial periods when governments have been under way for several years. Among other crisis. The government was unable to pay sustained by a single vote. things, the changes had been intended to salaries and was under pressure from OECD In August 1989 DeRoburt was ousted in a stabilise government and establish a countries to regulate offshore banking and vote of no confidence. Kenas Aroi succeeded popularly-elected presidency. stop money-laundering. Following elections in him but was himself succeeded by Bernard May 2003 – the first after formation of the Dowiyogo after he suffered a severe stroke in Constitution Nauru First party – the three presidential November 1989. Dowiyogo went on to win candidates were each supported by six Status: Republic with executive President the next presidential election, but in the members and there were no candidates for November 1995 election was narrowly Legislature: Parliament of Nauru the post of Speaker, and it was three weeks defeated by Lagumot Harris (nine votes to Independence: 31 January 1968 before the Nauru First members gave their eight). In November 1996, there was an early support to Ludwig Scotty. However, he The constitution of the Republic of Nauru general election which, due to a number of retained the confidence of the MPs only until came into force in January 1968. It provides votes of no confidence, was followed by August 2003, when Parliament chose former for a unicameral Parliament, whose 19 three changes of President in as many President René Harris to be President. members – increased from 18 in July 2010 – months. are elected by universal adult suffrage in In September 2004 Scotty was again elected Kinza Clodumar was elected President in a multi-seat constituencies. Voting is to the presidency and an early general further general election in February 1997. He compulsory for all Nauruans over the age of election was held in October 2004, observed was defeated in a no-confidence vote in June 20. It is mandatory for a parliamentary by a joint Pacific Islands 1998 when Dowiyogo again took over the general election to be held not less than once Forum/Commonwealth observer mission. The leadership. In April 1999 Dowiyogo was every three years. new Parliament then elected Scotty himself defeated in a vote of no confidence unopposed as President. The President is the head of state and head and René Harris was chosen by Parliament to of government and is elected by the In the general election in August 2007, succeed him. Following the general election Parliament from among its members. President Scotty’s supporters took 14 seats in April 2000, the 18 newly elected members Executive authority is vested in the cabinet, and MPs subsequently re-elected him. His re-elected Harris as President. When he which consists of the President and four or opponent, Marcus Stephen, was supported resigned a week later, Dowiyogo was chosen five members of parliament chosen by the by three members. However, Scotty’s third for the sixth time. In March 2001, when term lasted only four months; he was President. The cabinet is collectively Dowiyogo was in Australia undergoing deposed in a vote of no confidence in responsible to Parliament. The Parliament also medical treatment, he was narrowly defeated December 2007 and Marcus Stephen was elects a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. in a no-confidence vote; Harris was then chosen by Parliament to be President. chosen to succeed him. Having superseded The 19 members of parliament represent Following his election Stephen had the René Harris in January 2003 following a no- eight constituencies. The number of support of only nine of 18 MPs. The confidence vote, Bernard Dowiyogo died in representatives for each constituency is government was paralysed; Stephen declared March while on a visit to the USA, and an determined on the basis of population a state of emergency and dissolved election was held in May 2003. numbers. Parliament. At the ensuing elections in April In August 2001, the government agreed with The constitution protects fundamental rights 2008 the President’s supporters achieved a the Australian government – for an initial and freedoms. There is a treasury fund from working majority, winning 12 of the 18 A$30 million – to accommodate some 1,000 which monies may be taken by appropriation parliamentary seats; Stephen was re-elected mainly Afghan boat people while their acts. A public service is provided for and the President and the deadlock ended. eligibility for asylum in Australia was chief secretary is the public service An early general election in April 2010, occasioned by the defection of three Further information members, returned exactly the same members, and Parliament continued to be Government of Nauru: www.naurugov.nr deadlocked. Negotiations and another election Parliament of Nauru: www.naurugov.nr/parliament-of-nauru in June 2010 failed to secure a resolution. The Nauru Bureau of Statistics: www.spc.int/prism/country/nr/stats deadlock finally ended in November 2010 Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org Commonwealth of Nations: www.commonwealthofnations.org/country/Nauru when Parliament re-elected Stephen as President, defeating Milton Dube 11:6.
The CommoNwealTh Yearbook 2015 Nauru
President Stephen stepped down in International relations Travel within the country: Traffic drives on November 2011 amid opposition allegations the left. Cars can be hired with a national Nauru is a member of the African, Caribbean of corruption in a phosphate deal. In two driving licence. Nauru has a free public bus and Pacific Group of States, Pacific parliamentary votes in November – both won service and taxis are available. There is no Community, Pacific Islands Forum and United by nine votes to eight – Freddie Pitcher passenger rail service on the island. defeated Milton Dube only to be ousted by Nations. Travel health: Prevalent diseases where Sprent Dabwido less than a week later. Traveller information appropriate precautionary measures are In the general election, held on 8 June 2013, recommended include hepatitis A, hepatitis B 19 members were elected, seven of whom Immigration and customs: Passports must and typhoid. were new members. In the parliamentary vote be valid for at least three months from the that followed on 11 June, Baron Waqa was beginning of stay. Visas are required by all elected President, defeating Roland Kun 13:5. Commonwealth nationals.
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The CommoNwealTh Yearbook 2015