Geography

Physical geography

Nauru is a tiny island of 21 square kilometres situated 40 kilometres south of the equator in the Pacific Ocean. It is 4,000 kilometres north-east of Sydney and 300 kilometres west of Kiribati. The island’s fertile coastal strip rings the central plateau of rugged coral. At 65 metres, the highest point is surrounded by a coral reef that is exposed at low tide.

Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean – the others are Banaba in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia.

Climate

The climate is tropical, with sea breezes. North-east trade winds blow from March to October. Daytime temperatures range from 24 °C to 34 °C; average humidity is 80%. Rainfall is erratic but often heavy; the average annual rainfall is 2,060 millimetres. The monsoon season is from November to February but Nauru suffers from periodic droughts.

Environment

Nauru has a limited supply of natural fresh water and therefore vegetation is limited. Coconut palms and pandanus trees grow on the coastal strip and bananas and vegetables are grown in the Buada Lagoon area.

Nauruan reed warblers and great frigatebirds are still common but the black tern is rare because of habitat destruction. Marlin, sailfish and marine turtles are found in the surrounding sea.

Intensive phosphate mining over the past ninety years has left 90% of central Nauru a wasteland. If global warming causes sea levels to rise, the habitable low-lying land areas will be at risk from tidal surges and flooding.

Population

There are approximately 10,000 people living on Nauru, mainly around the coastal green fringe and Buada Lagoon. The Nauruan Government offices are in Yaren District.

People

Culture and identity

The vast majority of the population are indigenous Nauruans. Non-Nauruans are from other Pacific Islands, China, Australia or the Philippines. The exact origins of indigenous Nauruans are unclear as their language does not resemble any other language used in the Pacific. Nauruan is the official language of Nauru but English is widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes.

Health

The average life expectancy on Nauru is 61 years of age (male: 59 and female: 64).

Religion and beliefs

Christianity is widespread in Nauru, with two-thirds of the population being Protestant and one-third Roman Catholic.

Food and shelter

Nauru is almost completely dependent on the importation of food and water. Rice and fresh fish and fruit form the main diet.

Houses are generally made of a concrete block with a tin roof.

Economy

Wealth and poverty

Phosphate revenues have given Nauru in the past a high per capita income but reserves are nearly depleted and the trust funds invested to provide post-mining income are largely gone. Fishing licences sold to China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the US are a key source of income.

Education and work

Education is free and compulsory until the age of 14 and literacy is nearly 100%. The majority of the population on Nauru is employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education and transportation. Very few Nauruans work abroad or reside permanently off the island.

Industries and products

Industries concentrate on phosphate mining and international fisheries. While fish abound in Nauruan waters, Nauru has been unable to establish a fishing industry of its own. The major export product is phosphate.

Government

There are no political parties in Nauru; all members of parliament are independents, elected every three years. The legal voting age is 20.

Achievements and challenges

The lack of a skilled or qualified workforce is a major impediment to Nauru’s progress. The government is implementing the National Sustainable Development Strategy which, over the next 15 years, will seek improvements in environment management, gender, youth and community development, law and justice and fisheries management.

Links with Australia

Australia enjoys good relations with Nauru and is a key trade, investment and development assistance partner.

Australia’s development assistance focuses on improving education, health, public sector management including economic reform, and private sector growth.