 |
|
|
map
(opens in new window) Nauru's phosphate deposits began to be
mined early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium; the island
was occupied by Australian forces in World War I. Nauru achieved
independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999. Nauru is the world's
smallest independent republic. Oceania, island in the South Pacific
Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands 0 32 S, 166 55 E total: 21 sq
km about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
territorial sea:
12 nm tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy
season (November to February) sandy beach rises to fertile ring around
raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m phosphates, fish arable land:
0% periodic droughts limited natural fresh water resources,
roof storage tanks collect rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single,
aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90
years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central
90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources
Nauru is one of the three great phosphate
rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in
Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator
12,809 (July 2004 est.) Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%,
Chinese 8%, European 8% Christian (two-thirds Protestant,
one-third Roman Catholic) Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific
Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most
government and commercial purposes republic no official capital; government offices in
Yaren District 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan,
Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe,
Yaren 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-,
and UK-administered UN trusteeship) Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
acts of the Nauru Parliament and British
common law Revenues of this tiny island have
traditionally come from exports of phosphates, but reserves are now
depleted. Few other resources exist with most necessities being imported,
mainly from Australia, its former occupier and later major source of
support. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from
phosphates are serious long-term problems. In anticipation of the exhaustion
of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts of phosphate income have
been invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for
Nauru's economic future. As a result of heavy spending from the trust funds,
the government faces virtual bankruptcy. To cut costs the government has
called for a freeze on wages, a reduction of over-staffed public service
departments, privatization of numerous government agencies, and closure of
some overseas consulates. In recent years Nauru has encouraged the
registration of offshore banks and corporations. In 2004 the deterioration
in housing, hospitals, and other capital plant continued, and the cost to
Australia of keeping the government and economy afloat has substantially
mounted. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist, with
estimates of Nauru's GDP varying widely. employed in mining phosphates, public
administration, education, and transportation coconuts phosphate mining, offshore banking,
coconut products phosphates Japan 37.9%, India 34.5%, South Korea
13.8%, Australia 6.9% (2003 est.) food, fuel, manufactures, building
materials, machinery Australia 63.3%, Indonesia 10%, Malaysia
6.7%, US 6.7% (2003 est.) Australian dollar (AUD) 1,900 (2002) 1,500 (2002) total: 30 km
Nauru none 1 (2003 est.) total: 1 Nauru maintains no defence forces; under
an informal agreement, defence is the responsibility of Australia
offshore banking recently stopped, remains
on Financial Action Task Force Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories
List for continued failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering
control regime |
|
|
