|
Basic Facts |
Country name |
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru local long form: Republic of Nauru local short form: Nauru former: Pleasant Island |
Gevernment type | republic |
Capital | no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
Flag description | blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; 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 |
Currency | Australian dollar (AUD) |
Internet country code | .nr |
Ports and terminals | Nauru |
Agriculture products | coconuts |
Industries | phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products |
Geography |
Location | Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands |
Coordinates | 0 32 S, 166 55 E |
Continent | Oceania |
Area |
total: 21 sq km
land: 21 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Boundaries | 0 km |
Coastline | 30 km |
Climate | tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February) |
Terrain | sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center |
Natural resources | phosphates, fish |
Natural hazards | periodic droughts |
People |
Population | 13,287 (July 2006 est.) |
Ethnic groups | Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8% |
Religions | Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic) |
Languages | Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes |