Nauru Renamed to Republic of Naoero

The Pacific Island nation previously known as Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, aligning with the spelling and pronunciation in the national language. The country’s international code will transition from NRU to NRO, and inhabitants will now be referred to as dei-Naoero instead of Nauruan.

Traditionally pronounced as Now-ero, the island had been known internationally as Nauru primarily due to the difficulties foreigners faced in pronouncing its local name. This change aims to reconnect the nation with its heritage and identity, as confirmed by President David Adeang.

President Adeang had proposed the name change to Parliament back in January. Lawmakers have since supported this constitutional amendment through necessary voting rounds, although the formal amendment of the document is yet to be confirmed.

Nauru, home to 12,000 residents, ranks as the world’s third-smallest country in terms of population after Tuvalu and Vatican City. Historically, the coral limestone atoll was colonized by Germany and later managed by Australia until it gained independence in 1968.

The island has experienced dramatic fluctuations in wealth. While phosphate mining generated significant prosperity in the 1970s, the industry collapse in the 1990s led to economic instability. Currently, rising sea levels due to climate change present a severe threat, prompting the island to pursue foreign investments through a paid citizenship program to facilitate relocation of its people and infrastructure.

Adeang mentioned in his latest announcement that the name change signifies “the beginning of renewed national pride.” Though initially planned, a referendum to confirm the change was deemed unnecessary after extensive discussions among lawmakers.

The designation of Naoero features prominently already, being part of the national coat of arms and spoken within the community. Importantly, it is permitted by the Constitution. Other countries like Eswatini and Turkey have similarly reverted to historical names previously.

This decision influences the renaming of national symbols such as aircraft and ships. The United Nations website now recognizes the country by its new name after an official request from the government in June. Additionally, foreign ministries in Australia and New Zealand, along with U.S. and Chinese regional embassies, have adopted the designation of Naoero on their platforms.