Overview

Nauru is an island republic in the Pacific Ocean, 42 kilometers south of the equator and 4,000 kilometers northeast of Sydney, with a total land area of 21 square kilometers. Nauru has a population of approximately 13,000 people.

Political overview

Nauru is one of the world's smallest independent states. Its constitution, adopted upon gaining independence in 1968, established it as a republic with a Westminster-style parliamentary system of government. The President is elected by, and responsible to, the unicameral parliament and is both head of government and head of state.

As there are no political parties in Nauru, all Members of Parliament (MPs) stand as independents. MPs are elected every three years by Nauruan citizens over the age of 20. At its first sitting, where possible, parliament chooses a Speaker, a Deputy Speaker and chairs of committees before proceeding to elect the President from among the remaining members. The President then appoints a minimum of four members of parliament to join him or her in forming a cabinet. On 11 October 2025, His Excellency, David Adeang was re-elected as President. 

Bilateral relations

Australia and Nauru have a deep, long-standing relationship, underpinned by a shared history and people-to-people links. Australia is Nauru’s largest trade, investment, security and development assistance partner.

In December 2024, Nauru and Australia signed the Nauru-Australia Treaty. The Treaty elevates our long-standing relationship to an integrated partnership which supports Nauru’s economic security and resilience. It underscores Australia and Nauru's shared commitment to delivering Pacific-led solutions to meet our region's challenges.

Under the Treaty, Australia will provide $100 million over five years in budget support and $40 million over five years to support Nauru’s policing and security. The Treaty officially entered into force on 19 September 2025.

In August 2025, Nauru and Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Third Country Reception Arrangement.

In September 2017, Nauru and Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on security cooperation which affirmed Australia's position as Nauru's primary security partner. Australia works in close cooperation with Nauru to address domestic and transnational security challenges whilst always having regard to the sovereignty and best interests of Nauru.

In September 2012, Australia established a regional processing centre in Nauru for the purpose of processing asylum seekers' international protection claims. In October 2021, Australia and Nauru signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Enduring Regional Processing Capability in Republic of Nauru.

People-to-people links

Every year, a number of Australia Award and Australia Award Pacific Scholarships are offered for Nauruans to study abroad at selected Australian and Pacific regional universities.

Nauru participates in Australia's Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, connecting workers from Nauru and other Pacific islands with Australian employers experiencing labour shortages, typically in rural and regional Australia.

Nauru participates in Australia’s Pacific Engagement Visa, which offers access to Australian schools, tertiary education, health care and employment market.

Australia and Nauru also enjoy strong diaspora, alumni and professional linkages.

Development assistance

More information on our development assistance to Nauru.

Economic overview

Nauru's economy faces significant constraints common to other small island states. These include its small size, remoteness and limited natural resources outside of fisheries.

Pelagic fish abound in Nauruan waters, but Nauru has yet to establish a substantial fishing industry of its own. Fees from fishing licenses issued to distant water fishing nations are an important source of revenue for Nauru.

Australia contributes financially to, and takes a shared management role in, the Intergenerational Trust Fund for the People of Nauru. The fund aims to provide a future revenue stream for the Government of Nauru for investments in education, health, environment and infrastructure.

Trade and investment

Australia is Nauru's principal import source. Major Australian merchandise exports to Nauru include meat, motor fuel and civil engineering equipment and parts. For more information see the Nauru economic fact sheet.

High level visits

April 2026: Minister for Women's Affairs and Social Development Affairs, the Hon Charmaine Scotty MP travelled to Melbourne for the Women Deliver Conference and a Victorian Parliament Women MPs Forum. She met with Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Senator the Hon Nita Green and President of the Australian Senate, Senator the Hon Sue Lines.

March 2026: Minister for Nauru Air Corporation, the Hon Asterio Appi MP travelled to Canberra for the North Pacific Aviation Conference and met Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, the Hon Pat Conroy MP.

November 2025: President, the Hon David Adeang MP travelled to Canberra to meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, and Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Tony Burke MP.

August 2025: Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Tony Burke MP travelled to Nauru to meet with President, the Hon David Adeang MP and signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Third Country Reception Arrangement.

August 2025: Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Senator the Hon Nita Green travelled to Nauru to celebrate the official launch of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Agency in Nauru. She met with President, the Hon David Adeang MP and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Hon Lionel Aingimea MP.

February 2025: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Hon Lionel Aingimea MP travelled to Brisbane to visit the Humanitarian Logistics Capability facility and Australia Federal Police Pinkenba Hub and Training Centre.

January 2025: Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Tony Burke MP travelled to Nauru to attend Nauru Independence Day celebrations.

December 2024: President, the Hon David Adeang MP travelled to Canberra to sign the Nauru-Australia Treaty with Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP. President Adeang met with Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Senator Penny Wong, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP and Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Tony Burke MP.

November 2024: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Hon Lionel Aingimea MP travelled to Canberra to sign a revised Nauru-Australia Policing Partnership with then Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus MP.

June 2024: President, the Hon David Adeang MP travelled to Canberra to meet with Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP. President Adeang attended Question Time in the chamber of Parliament House, the first Nauruan President on the floor of Australia's Parliament since Nauru's first President, Hammer DeRoburt in 1973.

May 2024: President, the Hon David Adeang MP travelled to Canberra to attend a Committee meeting for the Nauru Intergenerational Trust Fund . He met with the then-Governor General of Australia, His Excellency General Hon David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Clare O'Neil MP.

January 2024: Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP travelled to Nauru to attend Independence Day celebrations. He met with President, the Hon David Adeang MP and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Hon Lionel Aingimea MP.

November 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Hon Lionel Aingimea MP travelled to Canberra to meet with Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Clare O'Neil MP and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong.

April 2023: The then-President, the Hon Russ Kun MP travelled to Brisbane to meet Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP.

November 2022: Then-President, the Hon Russ Kun MP travelled to Canberra to meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP and then-Governor General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd).

October 2022: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong travelled to Nauru and met then-President, the Hon Russ Kun MP.

October 2022: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP travelled to Nauru and met then-President, the Hon Russ Kun MP. While in Nauru, the Deputy Prime Minister also met with Government of Nauru Cabinet Ministers and visited key Australian-led initiatives.

June 2022: Then-President, the Hon Lionel Aingimea MP travelled to Australia, accompanied by family and senior ministers and met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP and the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Clare O'Neil MP.

February-March 2022: Then-President, the Hon Lionel Aingimea MP led a delegation of ministers and officials to Australia to hold high-level meetings with the then-Governor-General, His Excellency General the Hon David Hurley AC DSC, then-Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, then-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, then-Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, and then-Minister for Defence, the Hon Peter Dutton MP. On 2 March 2022, then-President Aingimea formally opened the new Nauru High Commission in Australia.

October 2019: Then-President, the Hon Lionel Aingimea MP travelled to Australia and met with then-Prime Minister Morrison and then-Minister for Foreign Affairs Payne in Sydney.