Government & politics — Nauru
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Government & politics at a glance
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations. Key figure for Nauru: Republic of Nauru
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Identity & names
- Full Country Name
Republic of Nauru
- Country Name
Nauru
- Local - Long
Republic of Nauru
- Local - Short
Nauru
- Former Name
Pleasant Island
- Etymology- history of name
the island name may derive from the Nauruan word "anaoero" meaning "I go to the beach"
- Independence
31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
- National Holiday
Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Political system
- Government Type
parliamentary republic
- Constitution
- effective 29 January 1968 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; amendments to constitutional articles, such as the republican form of government, protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the executive and legislative branches, also require two-thirds majority of votes in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018
- Legal System:
mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and customary law
- Executive Branch:
- chief of state: President David ADEANG (since 30 October 2023); note - the president is
- President David ADEANG (since 30 October 2023) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the pres
- ident from among members of Parliament elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament for 3-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held
- on 30 October 2023 (next to be held in 2026) election results: 2023: David ADEAGN elected president over Delvin THOMA, 10-8
- Legislative Branch:
Description
unicameral Parliament (19 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by majority vote using the "Dowdall" counting system by which voters rank candidates on their ballots; members serve 3-year terms)
Elections
last held on 24 September 2022 (next to be held in September 2025)
Election Results
- percent of vote - NA
- seats - independent 19;
Composition
men 17, women 2, percent of women 10.5%
- Judicial Branch:
- highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and several justices); note - in late 2017, the Nauruan Government revoked the 1976 High Court Appeals Act, which had allowed appeals beyond the Nauruan Supreme Court, and in early 2018, the government fo
- rmed its own appeals court judge selection and term of office: judges appoin
- ted by the president to serve until age 65 subordinate courts: District Court, Family Court
- Regions or States:
14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baitsi, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
- Political Parties and Leaders:
- Nauru does not have formal political parties
- alliances within the government are often formed based on extended family ties
- Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Capital & time
- Capital Name
no official capital; government offices in the Yaren District
- Capital Time Difference
UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
International role
- International Organization Participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICCt, IFAD, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
- International Law Organization Participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
- Diplomatic Representation from US:
embassy
the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru
- Diplomatic Representation in the US:
chief of mission
Ambassador Margo DEIYE (since 1 December 2021)
chancery
800 2nd Avenue, Third Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone
[1] (212) 937-0074
FAX
[1] (212) 937-0079
Email address and website
- nauru@onecommonwealth.org
- https://www.un.int/nauru/
