Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island

Government type republic

Capital no official capital; government offices in Yaren District

Administrative divisions 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren

Independence 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Constitution 29 January 1968

Legal system acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law

Suffrage 20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
chief of state: President Rene HARRIS (since 30 March 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held NA March 2001 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Rene HARRIS elected president; percent of Parliamentary vote - NA%
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of Parliament
head of government: President Rene HARRIS (since 30 March 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held NA April 2003)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 18

Judicial branch Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders loose multiparty system; Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru Party (informal) [Bernard DOWIYOGO]

Political pressure groups and leaders NA

International organization participation ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US Nauru does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a UN office at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, New York 10017; telephone: (212) 937-0074
consulate(s): Hagatna (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru

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

NOTE: The information regarding Nauru on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Nauru Government 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Nauru Government 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.