The Pacific island nation of Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, as announced by President David Adeang. The renaming of the country aims to restore its indigenous cultural heritage. During the 19th century, European colonizers simplified the local name to “Nauru” due to pronunciation difficulties. The new name “Naoero” symbolizes breaking free from colonial history and rejuvenating national pride.
After the renaming, the international country code has changed from NRU to NRO, and the national demonym has shifted from Nauruan to dei-Naoero. President Adeang proposed a constitutional amendment in January. After the mandatory 90-day deliberation period, parliamentarians unanimously voted in favor, and the amendment was signed and promulgated by Speaker Marcus Stephen. Adeang formally announced the completion of the legal procedures on July 20.
The government had initially planned to hold a nationwide referendum, but after extensive discussions, lawmakers unanimously agreed that “Naoero” was deeply ingrained in the community, featured on the national emblem, and permitted by the constitution. As such, it was determined that there was no need for a re-vote to accept the “new name,” and the referendum was skipped.
Nauru, with a population of around 12,000, is the world’s third-smallest country by population size, following only Vatican City and Tuvalu. This micro-coral limestone island was formerly colonized by Germany, later placed under Australian trusteeship, and gained independence in 1968.
In the 1970s, the phosphate mining industry brought significant wealth to this Pacific island nation. However, following the collapse of the industry, it faced economic bankruptcy in the 1990s. Today, grappling with the threats posed by global extreme weather and rising sea levels, the government of Naoero is implementing a compensated citizen program to attract overseas investments to aid residents in relocation and infrastructure reconstruction.
The renaming of Naoero has garnered swift international responses. The United Nations (UN) website updated its country name records in June 2026. The Australian and New Zealand diplomatic departments, as well as the U.S. embassy in the region, have adjusted their official websites accordingly.
Currently, the government is in the process of renaming national assets such as the national airline (Nauru Airlines), vessels, and relevant international registration properties.