What is the population of Nauru in 2026?
Nauru has a population of 12,025 people (2025 estimate), which is 226th in the world and about 0.00% of the global total.
Officially Republic of Nauru
Population 2025
12,025
0.00% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+0.65%
+78 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
594/km²
20 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
20.2 years
Life expectancy 62.3 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Nauru
With a population of 12,025 ranking it 224th globally, Nauru is the smallest independent nation in Oceania. Covering just 20 km², this island country supports a population density of 594 people per km², making it one of the world's most densely populated territories. The entire population is urban, and a median age of 20.2 years reflects a young demographic with a fertility rate of 3.3 births per woman, though life expectancy stands at 62.3 years.
Nauru gained independence in 1968 and operates with English and Nauru as official languages, using the Australian dollar as currency. With a GDP per capita of $14,640, the country supports its small population on this limited land area. The capital, Yaren, is home to the nation's residents, and annual population growth of 0.7% indicates modest demographic expansion.
This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Yaren
- Continent
- Oceania
- ISO codes
- NR · NRU
- Demonym
- Nauruan
- Currency
- Australian dollar (AUD $)
- State inception
- 1968
- Time zone
- UTC+12:00
- Driving side
- Left
- Calling code
- +674
- Internet TLD
- .nr
- Land neighbours
- No land borders
Languages
- English
- Nauru
Demographics
Economy
Not published for Nauru: Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate.
Health
Education
Not published for Nauru: Mean Years of Schooling.
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Not published for Nauru: Happiness Index.
Geography
Military
None of our sources publish these indicators for Nauru.
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 37.8%
- Age 15–64
- 59.4%
- Age 65+
- 2.9%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 0 | 0 |
| 95-99 | 0 | 0 |
| 90-94 | 0 | 0 |
| 85-89 | 3 | 3 |
| 80-84 | 5 | 2 |
| 75-79 | 12 | 24 |
| 70-74 | 41 | 61 |
| 65-69 | 68 | 124 |
| 60-64 | 116 | 154 |
| 55-59 | 181 | 170 |
| 50-54 | 200 | 196 |
| 45-49 | 264 | 263 |
| 40-44 | 397 | 379 |
| 35-39 | 460 | 452 |
| 30-34 | 481 | 425 |
| 25-29 | 444 | 413 |
| 20-24 | 445 | 439 |
| 15-19 | 649 | 571 |
| 10-14 | 800 | 744 |
| 5-9 | 772 | 718 |
| 0-4 | 750 | 730 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,407 |
| 1960 | 4,607 |
| 1970 | 6,710 |
| 1980 | 7,649 |
| 1990 | 9,622 |
| 2000 | 10,168 |
| 2010 | 10,043 |
| 2020 | 11,643 |
| 2030 | 12,521 |
| 2040 | 14,039 |
| 2050 | 15,758 |
| 2060 | 17,142 |
| 2070 | 18,401 |
| 2080 | 19,500 |
| 2090 | 20,242 |
| 2100 | 20,663 |
How Nauru Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Nauru | 12K |
Nauru Population FAQ
Is the population of Nauru growing or shrinking?
Nauru's population is growing at +0.65% per year, a change of roughly 78 people annually.
What is the capital of Nauru?
The capital of Nauru is Yaren.
How densely populated is Nauru?
Nauru has 594/km² across 20 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Nauru?
Life expectancy at birth in Nauru is 62.3 years (2024).
What is the median age in Nauru?
The median age in Nauru is 20.2 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Nauru in?
Nauru is in Oceania.