Demographics of Nauru
Graph of the population of Nauru, 1886–2011
Population	11,680 (2021)
Density	554
Life expectancy	63.9
• male	60.9
• female	67.1
Fertility rate	3.51 (2020-21)
Net migration rate	84 (2009)
Age structure
0–14 years	38% (2021)
Sex ratio
Total	0.91 males/female (2014 est.)
At birth	0.84 males/female (2014 est.)
Under 15	0.79 males/female (2014 est.)
15–64 years	1.00 males/female (2014 est.)
65 and over	0.78 males/female (2014 est.)
Nationality
Nationality	noun Nauruan(s), adj. Nauruan
Major ethnic	Nauruan (92.1%)
Minor ethnic	Kiribati (2.4%), Fiji (2.2%), Australia (1.2%)
Language
Official	Nauruan, English

The demographics of Nauru, an island country in the Pacific Ocean, are known through national censuses, which have been analysed by various statistical bureaus since the 1920s. The Nauru Bureau of Statistics have conducted this task since 1977—the first census since Nauru gained independence in 1968. The most recent census of Nauru was on 30 October 2021, when population had reached 11,680 people. The population density is 554 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,430 inhabitants/sq mi), and the overall life expectancy is 63.9 years. The population rose steadily from the 1960s until 2006 when the Government of Nauru repatriated thousands of Tuvaluan and I-Kiribati workers from the country. Since 1992, Nauru's birth rate has exceeded its death rate; the natural growth rate is positive. In terms of age structure, the population is dominated by the 15–59-year-old segment (57%). The median age of the population is 21.6, and the estimated gender ratio of the population is 101.8 males per 100 females.

Nauru is inhabited mostly by Nauruans (92.1%), while minorities include those from Kiribati (2.4%), Fiji (2.2%), Australia (1.2%) and other (2.1%).^[1] The demographic history of Nauru is marked by several migrations: the area was first inhabited by Micronesian people about 3,000 years ago. The first European to find the island was John Fearn in 1798. Then, the country was annexed by Germany in 1888. The next major population change was when Japanese occupied the island during World War II in 1942. During this time, the Japanese deported several thousands of Nauruans to other islands. In the 1960s, the country gained independence, where the percentage of Nauruans started to increase. The most recent demographic switch was in the 2000s, when the government repatriated several groups of non-Nauruans from the country.

The Nauruan language is the official language of Nauru, but English is often used in the country. Nauruan is declared as the primary language of 95.3% of the population. The 2011 census revealed that 66.0% of the population spoke English and 11.9% another language. The main religions of Nauru are Nauru Congregational Church (35.71%) and Roman Catholic (32.96%). The literacy rate in Nauru is 96.5%. The proportion of the country's population aged 15 and over attaining academic degrees is one of the lowest in the world, reaching 7.9% in 2011. An estimated 10.7% of the gross domestic product (GDP) is spent on education. Nauru has a universal health care system, and in 2012, an estimated 7.5% of its GDP was spent on healthcare. Nauru has the highest obesity ranking in the world; 97 per cent of men and 93 per cent of women are obese. In 2006, the average net monthly income was A$2,597 (A$3848 in 2014). The most significant sources of employment are phosphate mining, banking industries, and various coconut products. In 2011, the unemployment rate was 23%. The 2011 census enumerated 1,647 total households, averaging 6.0 persons per house. Average urbanisation rate in Nauru is 100%.

Population

With a population of under twelve thousand in 2021, Nauru ranks around 193rd in the world by population.^[4] Its population density is 478 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,240 inhabitants/sq mi). The overall life expectancy in Nauru at birth is 59.7 years. The total fertility rate of 3.70 children per mother is one of the highest in the Oceania. The United Nations projects the population will stay around 10,000 in the 2020s,^[5] and the Nauru Bureau of Statistics estimates the population will increase to 20,000 in 2038.^[6]

In Nauru's history, there have been six major demographics changes. The island was first inhabited by Micronesian people roughly 3,000 years ago.^[7] The first European to find the island was John Fearn in 1798. In 1888, the country was annexed by Germany. The next demographic change came when Japanese occupied the island during World War II in the 1940s.^[8] During this time, the Japanese deported several thousands of Nauruans to other islands.^[9] The next major demographic change was in the 1960s; the country gained independence, and the percentage of Nauruans started to increase.^[10] The last major demographic change was in 2006 when the Government of Nauru repatriated almost all of the remaining Tuvaluan and I-Kiribati workers, following large scale reduction from the Republic of Nauru Phosphate Corporation (RONPhos) and government workers.^[11] The census of 2006 stated 9,233 people were in Nauru: down 2.13% per year from the previous census of 2002.^[3]

From 2002 to 2011, there has been negative net migration, with an annual 109 net emigrants from 2006 to 2011.^[12] In 2009 there were 1,820 arrivals and 1,736 departures, for a positive rate of 84 immigrants. This was the first time since collecting data in 2002, there was a positive rate.^[4] Data on arrivals and departures collected by the Nauruan Customs and Immigration Office is not available, so specific immigration data is unavailable.^[13] As of the 2011 census, 57% of the population over 15 years old were legally or de facto married, 35% were never married, while 7% were either widowed, separated, or divorced.^[14] There are 1,647 households in Nauru, making an average household size of 6.0 persons per household.^[15]

Nauru is one of the most Westernized regions of the South Pacific.^[16]

Structure of the population

Vital statistics

For births, deaths, and fertility rates, the Nauru Bureau of Statistics was used.^[18][19][20] For population, the United States Census Bureau's mid-year estimated were used.^[21] If a cell is shaded light green and a dagger† stands beside a number, it indicates the estimate from The World Factbook.^[22] In 2013, the number of births (366) and birth rate (38.8) was the second-highest during this period. In 2011, the total fertility rate of 4.2 was the highest since 1992 (4.5). Since 2009, there has been a natural change of at least 200 inhabitants—the first since the reparations of the population in 2006.