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NAVIGATION
Republic of Nauru
former: Pleasant Island
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru former: Pleasant Island |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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no official capital; government offices in Yaren District |
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Administrative divisions:
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14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren |
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Independence:
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31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 31 January (1968) |
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Constitution:
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29 January 1968 |
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Legal system:
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acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law |
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Suffrage:
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20 years of age; universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Acting President Derog GIOURA (since 10 March 2003) following death of President Bernard DOWIYOGO note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held 8 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2004); following Rene HARRIS' resignation, Bernard DOWIYOGO was elected president election results: Rene HARRIS elected president; percent of Parliamentary vote - NA%; replaced by Bernard DOWIYOGO 9 January 2003 following a no-confidence vote; HARRIS reinstated 17 January 2003, then gives up presidency 18 January and DOWIYOGO is elected president; DOWIYOGO dies 10 March 2003; with 9 votes over 8 for Kinza CLODUMAR, Derog GIOURA was named acting president cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of Parliament head of government: Acting President Derog GIOURA (since 10 March 2003) following death of President Bernard DOWIYOGO note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held NA April 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 18 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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loose multiparty system; Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru Party (informal) [Bernard DOWIYOGO] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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Nauru does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a UN office at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, New York 10017; telephone: (212) 937-0074
consulate(s): Hagatna (Guam) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru |
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Flag description:
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blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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Revenues of this tiny island have come from exports of phosphates, but reserves are expected to be exhausted within a few years. Phosphate production has declined since 1989, as demand has fallen in traditional markets and as the marginal cost of extracting the remaining phosphate increases, making it less internationally competitive. While phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World, few other resources exist with most necessities being imported, including fresh water from Australia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. In anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts of phosphate income have been invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's economic future. The government has been borrowing heavily from the trusts to finance fiscal deficits. To cut costs the government has called for a freeze on wages, a reduction of over-staffed public service departments, privatization of numerous government agencies, and closure of some overseas consulates. In recent years Nauru has encouraged the registration of offshore banks and corporations. Tens of billions of dollars have been channeled through their accounts. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist, with estimates of Nauru's per capita GDP varying widely. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $60 million (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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NA% |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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-3.6% (1993) (1993) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation |
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Unemployment rate:
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0% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $23.4 million
expenditures: $64.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96) |
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Industries:
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phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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30 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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27.9 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coconuts |
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Exports:
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$25.3 million f.o.b. (1991) |
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Exports - commodities:
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phosphates |
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Exports - partners:
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NZ, Australia, South Korea, US (2000) |
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Imports:
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$21.1 million c.i.f. (1991) |
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Imports - commodities:
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food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery |
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Imports - partners:
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Australia, US, UK, Indonesia, India (2000) |
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Debt - external:
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$33.3 million |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$2.25 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.) |
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Currency:
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Australian dollar (AUD) |
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Currency code:
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AUD |
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Exchange rates:
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Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002) 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July - 30 June |