My World Factbook
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The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear since their language does not resemble any other in the Pacific. The island was annexed by Germany in 1888. Its phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium. Nauru was occupied by Australian forces in World War I and 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.
Government
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru
local long form: Republic of Nauru
local short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island
republic
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
29 January 1968; amended 17 May 1968
acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
20 years of age; universal and compulsory
chief of state: President Marcus STEPHEN (since 19 December 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Marcus STEPHEN (since 19 December 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of parliament
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elections: president elected by parliament for a three-year term; election last held on 1 November 2010 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Marcus STEPHEN reelected in a parliamentary vote of 11 to 6
unicameral parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 19 June 2010 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18
Supreme Court
Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party; Nauru Party (informal); note - loose multiparty system
Woman Information and News Agency (women’s issues)
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
chief of mission: Ambassador Marlene I. MOSES
chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074
FAX: [1] (212) 937-0079
consulate(s): Agana (Guam)
the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru
blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, 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
name: “Nauru Bwiema” (Song of Nauru)
lyrics/music: Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS
note: adopted 1968
Military
no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2009)
males age 16-49: 3,682 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 2,683
females age 16-49: 3,059 (2010 est.)
male: 174
female: 168 (2010 est.)
NA
Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
none
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