Nauru Renamed as Republic of Naoero:
The Pacific island nation formerly known internationally as Nauru has adopted its indigenous name, the Republic of Naoero, to reaffirm its cultural identity, linguistic heritage and national pride.
- Located northeast of Australia, Naoero is a coral-limestone island covering approximately 21 square kilometres.
- It is the world’s smallest island country and, with a population of about 12,000, the third-smallest country by population. By land area, it is the world’s third-smallest sovereign country, after Vatican City and Monaco.
- The country’s international code will change from NRU to NRO, while its citizens will be called dei-Naoero instead of Nauruans. National aircraft, ships and official records will also adopt the revised name.
- The island was introduced to the Western world as Pleasant Island, annexed by Germany in 1888, administered by Australia, Britain and New Zealand, occupied by Japan during the Second World War and placed under a United Nations trusteeship before gaining independence in 1968.
- Naoero was altered to Nauru because foreign colonisers found the indigenous pronunciation difficult. The name Nauru entered official usage during German colonial rule and continued after independence in 1968
- The renaming seeks to protect dorerin Naoero, the country’s indigenous language, which UNESCO classifies as severely endangered, and to strengthen its transmission to future generations.
- The government has formally notified countries and international organisations, while the United Nations and several foreign governments have begun using the name Naoero.
- The change reflects a wider process of decolonisation in which countries reclaim indigenous names, similar to Eswatini, Türkiye and the Micronesian State of Chuuk.
