Republic of Naoero: Embracing Tradition

The Pacific Island nation of Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero. This decision aligns the country’s name with its local language’s spelling and pronunciation. The transition involves changing the international code from NRU to NRO, and citizens will be referred to as dei-Naoero.

Previously known internationally as Nauru for convenience, the new name returns to its traditional pronunciation of Now-ero. A statement posted on the government’s Facebook page indicated this change is to honor the country’s heritage, language, and identity. President David Adeang introduced this change to the Parliament in January, and it received the necessary approval through two rounds of voting.

Nauru, with a population of about 12,000, is the world’s third-smallest country by population size, following Tuvalu and Vatican City. The remote island nation experienced significant economic challenges following the collapse of phosphate mining, which was once a major source of wealth. Today, Nauru faces threats from rising sea levels due to climate change, leading the government to seek overseas investment through a paid citizenship program.

President Adeang described the name change as a renewal of national pride and a step away from the colonial past. The decision parallels other countries that have reverted to historical names, such as Eswatini from Swaziland in 2018, and Turkey’s adoption of Türkiye in international recordings in 2022.

Nauru’s decision will necessitate updates to national symbols like aircraft and ships. The government has requested international recognition for the new name, with updates already appearing on the United Nations website, and foreign ministries in Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., and China.