Nauru officially renamed Republic of Naoero

The Pacific island nation of Nauru, the world’s third‑smallest country by population, has formally changed its name to the Republic of Naoero. President David Adeang announced the change, noting that the new spelling matches the indigenous language and restores the country’s pre‑colonial identity. A constitutional amendment passed in two parliamentary votes, and a planned referendum was cancelled after lawmakers agreed the name had never truly been lost.

The United Nations has updated its records, changing the country code from NRU to NRO and designating its citizens as “dei‑Naoero.” The move follows Turkey’s recent successful effort to register its own native name at the UN, serving as a diplomatic precedent. Officials also highlighted the need to protect the endangered Naoero language, now recognized as a priority for cultural preservation. Historically, the island was colonised by Germany and administered by Australia before gaining independence in 1968; phosphate mining once brought wealth but collapsed in the 1990s, leaving the atoll vulnerable to sea‑level rise. The government is pursuing a paid‑citizenship program to fund relocation and infrastructure upgrades in response to climate threats.