People & place
Loading WorldSumma…

Nauru is located in Micronesia, and its capital is Yaren. It has a population of approximately 11,947 and covers an area of about 20 km². Its official currency is the Australian dollar (AUD).
People & place
Economic snapshot
Practical reference
Nauru, officially the Republic of Nauru, is an island country in Oceania, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island, part of Kiribati, 300 kilometres (190 mi) to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest and lowest-lying island country, with a land area of 21 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi).
Nauru is a raised coral island with a limited amount of arable land. The interior of the island is dominated by a barren plateau, the result of extensive phosphate mining. The coastline is fringed by a coral reef.
Nauruan culture is influenced by its Micronesian heritage, with a strong emphasis on family and community. Traditional customs include storytelling, singing, and dancing. The Nauruan language is spoken, with English also widely used.
Nauru was inhabited by Micronesians and Polynesians thousands of years ago. It was annexed by Germany in 1888 and later became a League of Nations mandate territory administered by Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom after WWI. Nauru gained independence on January 31, 1968. Its economy was largely based on phosphate exports until the resource was depleted.
This overview is AI-assisted and grounded with available atlas facts and reference material. Treat linked primary data as authoritative. Read the methodology.
Capital
Yaren
Population
11,947 (597 /km²)
Surface Area
20 km²
GDP
$162.6 million (2024)
GDP per Capita
$13,609 (2024)
Region / Subregion
Native Name
Nauru
Nationality
Nauruan
Currency
Australian dollar (AUD - $)Phone Code
+674
Top-Level Domain
.nr
ISO Codes
NR / NRU
Coordinates
-0.533333, 166.917
Timezones
Population, area and economic figures use the latest available values from World Bank Open Data; reporting years can vary by country. See sources and methodology for indicator definitions, mapping attribution, and editorial limitations.
The capital of Nauru is Yaren.
Nauru has a recorded population of approximately 11,947 people.
Nauru covers an area of about 20 km².
Nauru has a population density of roughly 597 /km² (people per square kilometre).
Nauru has a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $162.6 million as of 2024.
Nauru has a GDP per capita of approximately $13,609.
Nauru uses the Australian dollar (AUD), with the symbol $.
Nauru is located in Micronesia, Oceania.
People from Nauru are referred to as Nauruan.
The international dialing code for Nauru is +674.
The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Nauru is .nr.
Nauru uses the Pacific/Nauru time zone.
Nauru, officially the Republic of Nauru, is an island country in Oceania, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island, part of Kiribati, 300 kilometres (190 mi) to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest and lowest-lying island country, with a land area of 21 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi).
Or start with a nearby country: