| Nauru |  |  |
| Basic facts |
|
| The country | |
| Map |  |
|
|
| Capital: No official capital but government has offices in Yaren |
| Area: 21 sq km; 8.2 sq miles |
| Population: 10,704 (2000 Estimate) |
| Urbanisation: Urban 100 per cent (1998 Estimate); Rural 0 per cent (1995 Estimate) |
|
Economy
|
Exports: Phosphates
|
Industry: Phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products
|
Agriculture: Coconuts, bananas, pineapples
|
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A), consisting of 100 cents
|
Natural resources: Phosphates
|
|
The people
|
Ethnic: Nauruan 58 per cent, Other Pacific Islanders 26 per cent, Chinese 8 per cent, European 8 per cent
|
Language: Nauruan (official), English is widely used in Government and commerce
|
Religion: Christian 80 per cent, Other 20 per cent
|
|
The history
|
Independence: 31 January 1968 (from United Nations trusteeship under Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom)
|
Government: Nauru was first visited by the British in 1798 and was annexed by Germany in 1888. It surrendered to Australian armed forces at the outbreak of World War I and was placed under British administration. The island was occupied by the Japanese from 1942 until 1945 and in 1947 was placed under United Nations trusteeship, administered jointly by Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
|
