The Pacific Island country of Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, according to the government. The new name matches the spelling and pronunciation used in the national language of the country.
The government stated that the country previously became known internationally as Nauru only because the local name was difficult for foreigners to pronounce, making it a matter of convenience rather than choice.
The transition will involve several administrative changes, including the updating of the country's international code from NRU to NRO and the renaming of national aircraft and ships. The people of the nation will now be known as dei-Naoero instead of Nauruan.
The name change indicated the beginning of renewed national pride.
President David Adeang stated that the moment was about identity, heritage, and preserving the legacy of ancestors while strengthening the future of children. In January, he expressed that the proposed change seeks to more faithfully honor the nation’s heritage, language, and identity.
Legislative process and international recognition
The constitutional amendment for the name change was endorsed by lawmakers following two rounds of voting. Lawmakers decided that a public referendum was not required after extensive discussions, noting that the name Naoero is already the identity of the people, appears on the national coat of arms, and is spoken within the community.
The United Nations website now records the country as Naoero, following a request from the government in June. Additionally, the foreign ministries of Australia and New Zealand, as well as the United States and Chinese embassies in the region, designate the country as Naoero on their websites.
Nauru's name change follows a trend of nations shifting away from colonial pasts, such as when the kingdom of Eswatini reverted its name from Swaziland in 2018. In 2022, Turkey also requested that the United Nations begin referring to it as Türkiye.
Economic and environmental context
Nauru is the world’s third-smallest country by population size, following Tuvalu and Vatican City. The island was colonized by Germany and later administered by Australia before achieving independence as a republic in 1968.
The nation’s economy was significantly impacted by the history of phosphate mining, which created wealth in the 1970s before the industry collapsed and led to economic ruin in the 1990s.
Currently, Nauru is among the nations most at risk from rising seas due to climate change. To address these challenges, the government is seeking overseas investment through a paid citizenship program to fund the movement of infrastructure and people away from the encroaching ocean.
Current population of Naoero
