Nauru (Republic of Nauru)

https://www.humantruth.info/nauru.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

Nauru Republic of Nauru
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	138th 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

#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	27.4
2	Norway	27.6
3	Sweden	30.4
	...
135	Namibia	106.4
136	Kenya	107.3
137	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	107.9
138	Nauru	108.2
139	Tuvalu	108.4
140	Lesotho	108.5
141	Micronesia	108.6
142	Zambia	111.5
	Australasia Avg	95.3
	World Avg	89.7
q=198.

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.

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	16.0
2	Australia	22.2
3	Fiji	100.3
4	Micronesia	107.2
5	Palau	109.0
6=	Marshall Islands	112.0
7	Nauru	115.2
8=	Kiribati	115.2
9	Papua New Guinea	120.2
10	Tonga	122.4
11	Vanuatu	123.3
12	Samoa	125.3
13	Tuvalu	132.2
	Australasia Avg	107.7
q=15.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₅
1	Sweden	8.5
2	Denmark	13.5
3	Norway	13.5
	...
148	Liberia	114.6
149	Northern Cyprus	115.0
150=	Kiribati	115.2
150=	Nauru	115.2
152	Gambia	116.5
153	Uzbekistan	116.7
154	Egypt	117.2
155	Guinea-Bissau	117.7
	World Avg	87.8
q=200.

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, The Vatican City and Sudan₁₆.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics 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 Melanesia, The Middle East and Micronesia₁₆.

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

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=	Netherlands	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
4	Sao Tome & Principe	1.3
5=	Ecuador	1.3
5=	France	1.3
5=	Bolivia	1.3
5=	Nauru	1.3
9	Iceland	1.5
10=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	1.5
10=	Sweden	1.5
10=	Norway	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 #vaccines

Compared to Australasia (2020)₂₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₁
1	Australia	84.1
2	New Zealand	86.1
3=	Fiji	86.9
	...
8	Tonga	106.4
9	Micronesia	111.3
10=	Samoa	112.6
11	Tuvalu	120.6
12	Papua New Guinea	122.8
13	Cook Islands	123.7
14	Nauru	141.0
15	Palau	146.0
16	Marshall Islands	150.0
	Australasia Avg	111.0
q=16.

Health (2020)₂₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₁
1	Monaco	13.0
2	Maldives	41.7
3	Sri Lanka	43.1
	...
191	Angola	137.6
192	Ivory Coast	138.1
193	Equatorial Guinea	139.1
194	Nauru	141.0
195	Palau	146.0
196	Nigeria	146.3
197	Marshall Islands	150.0
198	S. Sudan	154.8
	World Avg	95.1
q=198.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, The Maldives and Sri Lanka₂₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, The Marshall Islands and Nigeria₂₂.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are 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, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean₂₂, 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 for its alcohol consumption rate₂₃ (but high for Australasia) and in its immunizations take-up₂₄. And finally, it does worse than average for its average life expectancy₁₀ (the lowest in Australasia) and in its fertility rate₁₃ (amongst the worst in Australasia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during 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 better₂₅
Pos.		2016 %₂₅
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
184	Tonga	78.5
185	Kiribati	78.7
186	Niue	80.0
187	Tuvalu	81.9
188	Marshall Islands	83.5
189	Cook Islands	84.7
190	Palau	85.1
191	Nauru	88.5
	Australasia Avg	73.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

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.

6. Nauru's Responsibility Towards The Environment

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

Compared to Australasia (2023)₂₆
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₆
1	Fiji	63.3
2	New Zealand	63.8
3	Australia	66.4
	...
3	Australia	66.4
4	Vanuatu	75.0
5=	Kiribati	87.0
6	Papua New Guinea	89.0
7=	Solomon Islands	103.0
7=	Micronesia	103.0
9	Samoa	108.0
10=	Nauru	108.0
11	Tonga	115.0
	Australasia Avg	89.2
q=11.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)₂₆
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₆
1	Japan	33.2
2	Philippines	45.0
3	Uruguay	48.0
	...
152	S. Africa	106.8
153	Lithuania	107.8
154=	Guyana	108.0
154=	Nauru	108.0
154=	Samoa	108.0
157	Latvia	109.0
158	Lesotho	109.7
159	Sao Tome & Principe	110.3
	World Avg	85.7
q=188.

Nauru comes 154th in the world with regard to its responsibility towards the environment (amongst the highest in Australasia). This rank is derived from 3 data sets. Nauru does better than average for how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₂₇. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 when it comes to reducing annual meat consumption per person₂₈ (the worst in Australasia).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₂₇
Pos.		Total₂₇
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.

Convention on Biological Diversity Earlier is better
Pos.		Total Signed
1=	China	1993 Dec 29
1=	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
1=	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
	...
27=	Peru	1993 Dec 29
31	Philippines	1994 Jan 06
32	Uruguay	1994 Feb 03
33	Nauru	1994 Feb 08
34	Jordan	1994 Feb 10
35	Nepal	1994 Feb 21
36	Czechia	1994 Mar 03
37	Barbados	1994 Mar 10
	Australasia Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 Dec 30
q=197.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₂₈
Pos.		2021 kg₂₈
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.₂₈

7. Nauru's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	New Zealand	19.4
2	Australia	20.8
3	Palau	59.3
4	Tonga	75.2
5	New Caledonia	75.5
6=	Fiji	80.8
7	French Polynesia	95.0
8	Nauru	99.0
9	Marshall Islands	102.8
10	Samoa	103.4
11	Vanuatu	117.0
12	Micronesia	131.3
13	Kiribati	143.0
	Australasia Avg	98.4
q=16.

Modernity & Learning (2020)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Finland	7.7
2	Taiwan	10.0
3	Switzerland	14.7
	...
131	Pakistan	97.6
132	Botswana	97.8
133	St Lucia	97.8
134	Nauru	99.0
135	Maldives	99.8
136	Paraguay	101.5
137	Algeria	102.6
138	Marshall Islands	102.8
	World Avg	82.7
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling Higher is better₃₀
Pos.		2021 Years₃₀
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 better₃₁
Pos.		2017 Ratio₃₁
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. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #inequality #social_development

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		2023 %₃₂
1	Slovakia	24.1%₃₃
2	Slovenia	24.3%₃₃
3	Belarus	24.4%₃₄
	...
49	Mauritania	32.0%₃₅
50	Seychelles	32.1%₃₆
51	Vanuatu	32.3%₃₅
52=	Nauru	32.4%₃₇
52=	Germany	32.4%₃₄
52=	UK	32.4%₃₃
55	Luxembourg	32.7%₃₃
56	India	32.8%₃₃
	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 below₃₈:

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)₃₉.

Links:

A List of All Religions and Belief Systems