Nauru adopts ‘Naoero’ as new name to shed colonial past

The small Pacific island nation of Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, marking a move to embrace its indigenous language, cultural heritage and national identity while distancing itself from its colonial past.

The country's President, David Adeang, said the decision was taken to restore the nation's authentic identity and place greater emphasis on its own language and traditions.

Although the country has long been known internationally as Nauru, it will now be officially referred to as Naoero. Citizens will also be known as Dei-Naoero, replacing the previous demonym Nauruan.

In addition, the country's international code will change from NRU to NRO.

In a statement, the Naoero government said the name change represents a return to the country's traditional identity. It noted that Naoero reflects the correct pronunciation in the local language, while Nauru had been adopted internationally to make the name easier for foreigners to pronounce.

President Adeang first proposed the change in Parliament in January this year, saying it was intended to preserve the nation's identity, heritage and the legacy of its ancestors, while strengthening national identity for future generations.

The constitutional amendment was later approved by lawmakers in two rounds of voting. However, it was not immediately clear whether the change has been fully incorporated into the constitution.

With a population of around 12,000, Naoero is the world's third-smallest country by population, behind Tuvalu and Vatican City. The tiny raised coral island was once a German colony before coming under Australian administration, gaining independence as a republic in 1968.

The country was once prosperous due to its phosphate mining industry. However, after phosphate reserves were largely depleted, it suffered a severe economic downturn during the 1990s. Today, rising sea levels caused by climate change pose one of the greatest threats to the island nation.