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Source: CIA World Factbook
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Capital
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no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Country Name
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conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru
local long form: Republic of Nauru
local short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island
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Dependency Status
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*
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Type of Government
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republic
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Background
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The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear since their language does not resemble any other in the Pacific. The island was annexed by Germany in 1888. Its phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium. Nauru was occupied by Australian forces in World War I and subsequently became a League of Nations mandate. After the Second World War - and a brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN trust territory. It achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as the world"s smallest independent republic.
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Branches
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no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2009)
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Age Structure
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0-14 years: 34.1% (male 2,479/female 2,383)
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 4,478/female 4,616)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 154/female 154) (2010 est.)
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Languages
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Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes
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Population
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14,264 (July 2010 est.)
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Religions
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Nauru Congregational 35.4%, Roman Catholic 33.2%, Nauru Independent Church 10.4%, other 14.1%, none 4.5%, unspecified 2.4% (2002 census)
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Internet Users
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*
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Area - Comparative
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about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
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Area
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total: 21 sq km
land: 21 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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Terrain
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sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center
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Climate
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tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)
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Natural Hazards
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periodic droughts
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