Nauru
Republic of Nauru
Population
11K
GDP
$150M
Capital
Yaren
Government
Unitary parliamentary republic
At a Glance
Human Development
0.6
HDI (0-1)
Democracy
5.4
EIU (0-10)
Press Freedom
—
RSF score
Corruption
—
TI CPI (0-100)
Innovation
—
GII score
Happiness
—
WHR (0-10)
Nauru is the world's smallest island nation and third-smallest country by area (21 km²). Once one of the wealthiest countries per capita thanks to phosphate mining, it experienced near-total economic collapse when reserves were exhausted, devastating 80% of the island's surface.
Nauru has found new revenue streams by hosting Australian offshore immigration detention centers and by selling diplomatic recognition -- it has switched between Taiwan and China multiple times. In January 2024, Nauru switched recognition from Taiwan to China, following a broader Pacific trend.
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As Nauru, use your status as the world's smallest island nation to make powerful points about vulnerability, justice, and the right of every state to exist. Your phosphate depletion story is a cautionary tale about unsustainable resource extraction.
Coordinate with AOSIS and the Pacific Islands Forum. Push for loss and damage funding, ocean conservation, and support for environmental rehabilitation. Your UN vote matters as much as any P5 member's in the General Assembly -- leverage it strategically.
Foreign Policy
Nauru's foreign policy is pragmatic and survival-driven, leveraging its UN vote and diplomatic recognition for maximum economic benefit. Its partnership with Australia on immigration detention has provided crucial revenue but drawn international human rights criticism.
Despite its tiny size, Nauru has chaired AOSIS and been a vocal advocate for small island states in climate and ocean governance negotiations.