Country explorer: Nauru
EXPERIMENTAL
2024
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Overview
Nauru is a arid, high-income island nation in the Pacific with a tiny population. Its economy has grown very rapidly in recent decades, and is based on phosphate mining, fishing and tourism.
Nauru hosts the world's smallest independent republic.
Economy
Nauru has experienced significant economic fluctuations, marked by a remarkable surge in GDP per capita from a low base, distinguishing it through a unique trajectory of rapid economic development compared to its Pacific island peers.
Demographics
Nauru has experienced a moderate population growth, a gradual decline in net migration losses, a slight rise followed by stabilization in the fertility rate, and a consistent improvement in life expectancy, mirroring broader trends seen in Pacific Island nations but at a scale affected by its unique context as a small island country.
Basic needs
Nauru has achieved universal access to clean fuels for cooking and electricity, showcasing a remarkable transformation in basic needs provision, distinguishing it from many peers in its region.
Human development
Nauru has experienced significant improvements in child mortality and average learning-adjusted years of schooling, illustrating progress in healthcare and education that aligns with patterns seen in other Pacific Island nations.
Environment & energy
Nauru has observed a significant decline in per capita CO₂ emissions, a stark reduction in renewable freshwater resources per capita, and a complete elimination of forested areas, depicting an alarming environmental degradation unique in its severity compared to many of its Pacific peers.
Technology & innovation
Nauru has shown steady technological adoption, with significant increases in internet usage and mobile subscriptions, parallel to global trends, yet lacks comprehensive data on R&D expenditure and maintains a minimal output of scientific articles, highlighting a common challenge among small island nations in mobilizing resources for technological innovation and research.
Culture & society
Nauru has seen a significant influx of foreign-born population, diverging from regional trends and signifying marked demographic and possibly cultural transformations.
Governance
Given the absence of data across key governance indicators, it is difficult to assess the specific transformations Nauru has experienced in governance over the past two decades, highlighting a distinctive challenge in evaluating its progress or decline in rule of law, corruption, civil liberties, and press freedom compared to its peers.