GeoRealityMatch
Vibrant tropical beach with clear waves and rocky shore under a blue sky.A stunning aerial view of Fuvahmulah's tropical coastline in the Maldives.

Nauru

Oceania · Micronesia

High development

The air is clean. Life expectancy is short.

Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$20,690national income per person, US dollarsHigh
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 403% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 55% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parity

$0$10K$20K$14,200 PPP$14,640200620102015202020252006, $2,910 a person, $5,975 at PPP2007, $2,272 a person, $4,789 at PPP2008, $3,757 a person, $5,863 at PPP2009, $4,411 a person, $5,568 at PPP2010, $4,736 a person, $5,620 at PPP2011, $6,444 a person, $6,544 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2012, $9,843 a person, $8,153 at PPP, inflation -0.1%2013, $8,975 a person, $8,429 at PPP2014, $9,230 a person, $9,726 at PPP2015, $7,747 a person, $9,955 at PPP2016, $8,748 a person, $10,281 at PPP2017, $9,657 a person, $9,650 at PPP2018, $11,414 a person, $9,657 at PPP2019, $10,802 a person, $10,555 at PPP2020, $10,709 a person, $10,813 at PPP2021, $12,748 a person, $12,114 at PPP2022, $15,310 a person, $12,874 at PPP2023, $13,603 a person, $13,172 at PPP2024, $14,048 a person, $13,612 at PPP2025, $14,640 a person, $14,200 at PPP$0$10K$20K200620102015202020252006, $2,910 a person, $5,975 at PPP2007, $2,272 a person, $4,789 at PPP2008, $3,757 a person, $5,863 at PPP2009, $4,411 a person, $5,568 at PPP2010, $4,736 a person, $5,620 at PPP2011, $6,444 a person, $6,544 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2012, $9,843 a person, $8,153 at PPP, inflation -0.1%2013, $8,975 a person, $8,429 at PPP2014, $9,230 a person, $9,726 at PPP2015, $7,747 a person, $9,955 at PPP2016, $8,748 a person, $10,281 at PPP2017, $9,657 a person, $9,650 at PPP2018, $11,414 a person, $9,657 at PPP2019, $10,802 a person, $10,555 at PPP2020, $10,709 a person, $10,813 at PPP2021, $12,748 a person, $12,114 at PPP2022, $15,310 a person, $12,874 at PPP2023, $13,603 a person, $13,172 at PPP2024, $14,048 a person, $13,612 at PPP2025, $14,640 a person, $14,200 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
62.3years, at birthVery low
#181 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
62WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
5.2PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
A stunning aerial view of Fuvahmulah's tropical coastline in the Maldives.
How it changed

Nauru's Human Development Index

0.703High human development

124th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 8th of 15 in Oceania.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #122Samoa0.708
  2. #123Nicaragua0.706
  3. #124Nauru0.703
  4. #125Bhutan0.698
  5. #126Eswatini0.695
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2005

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.589 in 2005 to 0.703 in 2023.

0.500.630.750.7032005201020232005: 0.5892006: 0.5652007: 0.5812008: 0.6142009: 0.6072010: 0.6162011: 0.6242012: 0.6332013: 0.6402014: 0.6552015: 0.6602016: 0.6702017: 0.6702018: 0.6682019: 0.6782020: 0.6842021: 0.6922022: 0.7002023: 0.7030.500.630.752005201020232005: 0.5892006: 0.5652007: 0.5812008: 0.6142009: 0.6072010: 0.6162011: 0.6242012: 0.6332013: 0.6402014: 0.6552015: 0.6602016: 0.6702017: 0.6702018: 0.6682019: 0.6782020: 0.6842021: 0.6922022: 0.7002023: 0.703

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 19 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
62.3 years2024at birthUp 2.9 years from 59.4 years in 2005
Urban population
100%2025of people in towns and citiesLevel with 2006
Births per woman
3.292024births per womanDown 0.09 from 3.38 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
2%2022of energy usedUp 2 points from 0% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 1 point from 99% in 2005
Infant mortality
82024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 24 from 31 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0 t2024of CO2 per person a yearLevel with 2005
Forest area
0%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

The case for living here is clean air. The case against is short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About Nauru

Nauru is one of the world's smallest and most isolated nations, a tiny Pacific island that experienced a rapid rise and fall on the back of phosphate mining and is now quietly rebuilding its identity. The lagoon and reef offer decent diving, and the island has a certain raw, unvarnished character. It is visited by almost no-one, which is part of its appeal for those drawn to the genuinely off-map.

Practical facts

  • CapitalYaren
  • LanguagesEnglish, Nauru
  • CurrencyAustralian dollar (AUD)
  • Area20 km²
  • Plug typeType I
  • Drives on theleft
Weigh Nauru against your priorities
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Quick answers

What is Nauru's Human Development Index?

Nauru's Human Development Index is 0.703 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #124 of 193 by UNDP.

What is life expectancy in Nauru?

Life expectancy at birth in Nauru is 62.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #181 of 195 countries.