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''This article is a text about the '''Oceanian country of Nauru'''. For other meanings, see Nauru (disambiguation)'' '''Nauru''' is an island republic in the South Pacific Ocean, formerly known as '''Pleasant Island'''. It is the world's smallest independent republic both in terms of population and land area. Much of its past prosperity derived from the large amount of phosphate deposits on the island, believed by one school of thought to be of guano origin but by another to be of marine origin. The phosphate is used as a fertilizer around the world and the majority of it has been exported to Australia. With the exhaustion of the phosphate supplies, Nauru faces an uncertain future. Nauru currently houses a detention centre, which holds and processes asylum seekers as part of Australia's Pacific Solution.

'''Republik Naoero
Republic of Nauru'''

Image:Nauru flag large.png	Image:Nauru coa.png
(In Detail)

</td></tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan=2 style="border-bottom:3px solid gray;">''National motto: God's Will First''</td></tr> <tr><td align=center colspan=2>Image:LocationNauru.png</td></tr> <tr><td>Official languages</td><td>English, Nauruan</td></tr> <tr><td>Capital</td><td>No official capital'''¹'''</td></tr> <tr><td>President</td><td>Ludwig Scotty</td></tr> <tr><td>Area
- Total
- % water</td><td>Ranked 192nd
21 km²
Negligible</td></tr> <tr><td>Population
- Total (2002)
- Density </td><td>Ranked 191st
12,329
590/km² </td></tr> <tr><td>Independence</td><td>January 31, 1968</td></tr> <tr><td>Currency</td><td>Australian dollar</td></tr> <tr><td>Time zone</td><td>UTC +12</td></tr> <tr><td>National anthem</td><td>Nauru Bwiema</td></tr> <tr><td>Internet TLD</td><td>.NR</td></tr> <tr><td>Calling Code</td><td>674</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">('''1''') Yaren is the largest settlement. Nauru is the only country in the world with no official capital</td></tr> </table> == History == ''Main article: History of Nauru'' Nauru was first settled by Polynesian and Melanesian settlers. The first European to arrive was Captain John Fearn in 1798, but Nauru continued as an independent island society, reigned by a king (the most known was King Auweyida), until it was annexed by Germany in 1888 to German New Guinea. Mining of its extensive phosphate reserves began early in the 20th century. Following World War I it became a British territory in 1920, though administered by Australia. In 1947, a trusteeship was approved by the United Nations, which saw Nauru continue under administration by Australia until independence in 1968. The founding president was Hammer DeRoburt. Nauru is a special member of the Commonwealth and joined the United Nations as a member state in 1999. == Politics == ''Main article: Politics of Nauru'' The 18-member Parliament is elected every three years. The Parliament elects a president from amongst its members, who appoints a Cabinet of 5-6 people. The President is both the head of state and head of government. There is a loose multiparty system; the two main parties are the Democratic Party and Nauru Party (informal). Between 1999 and 2003, a series of no-confidence votes and elections meant [[Ren� Harris]] and Bernard Dowiyogo led the country for alternating periods. Dowiyogo died in office on March 10, 2003 in Washington DC after heart surgery. Ludwig Scotty was elected President on May 29, 2003, and it was thought possible at the time that the years of political uncertainty might come to an end. But in August 2003 there was another no confidence vote. Harris regained support and was elected president again. On October 1, 2004, the president of Nauru, Ludwig Scotty, declared a state of emergency and dissolved parliament after it failed to pass the national budget. == Districts == ''Main article: Districts of Nauru''

Image:Nauru map.jpg

Map of Nauru

Nauru has 14 districts: * Aiwo * Anabar * Anetan * Anibare * Baiti * Boe * Buada * Denigomodu * Ewa * Ijuw * Meneng * Nibok * Uaboe * Yaren == Geography == ''Main article: Geography of Nauru'' Nauru is a small phosphate rock island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands. The island is a raised atoll, with a surrounding reef exposed at low tide. Most of the population live on the narrow coastal belt. A central plateau, covering approximately four fifths of the land area, rises 70 metres above sea level. There are limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater, but islanders are mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant. Intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and New Zealand consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources. Nauru's climate is extremely muggy all year round because of its proximity to the Equator. == Economy == ''Main article: Economy of Nauru''

Image:Denigomodu.jpg

Town of Denigomodu in perspective from north. In the back are the laborer settlements.

Revenues of Nauru have come from exports of phosphates, but reserves are now almost exhausted. 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 used to give 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. The government has been borrowing heavily to finance fiscal deficits. Another source of revenue was office rents from Nauru House, one of the tallest buildings in Melbourne, built on the profits from phosphates. Unfortunately, in the 1990s mismanagement and corruption ruined the once substantial savings of the island government, and in recent years the island went broke. The huge earnings from the phosphates mining have been wasted, and now Nauru faces a very uncertain future. == Demographics == ''Main article: Demographics of Nauru'' The official language is Nauruan. English is widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes. The main religion is Christianity (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic). See also: Special distinctions of Nauru == Culture ==

Image:Aiwo.jpg

Community of Aiwo, from east