Nauru Factbook

Nauru has been made wealthy by mining but the resources are running low. Nearly everyone professes Christianity but growing corruption makes many of these professions suspect.

Nauru is a single island located in the South Pacific. The island is only 4 miles in diameter, and most of it is not suitable for living due to extensive phosphate mining.

Approximately 12,000 people live on Nauru. Over 80% are native Nauruan or of other Pacific Islander origin. Many of the foreigners work in mining.

The discovery of Phosphate in the early 1900's brought wealth to the island. Nauru is far wealthier than the other islands in the region. The supply of Phosphate has begun to run out, so the government has diversified into offshore banking and other activities to keep the economy running.

Nauru was a German colony until World War I when Australia took control. Nauru became an independent nation in 1968 as a parliamentary republic. There is freedom of religion.

Most of the population is classified as Christian and over 50% are Protestant. Evangelicals are much fewer in number with approximately 5%. Although many profess Christianity, a large percentage do not demonstrate any degree of godliness. Wealth has brought materialism and a trust in possessions. Corruption is widespread. It is suspected that much of the offshore banking activity in Nauru is related to organized crime syndicates.

There is only one known evangelical church. Pray for the people of this church and for other believers on the island that they may stand against sin and boldly witness to the gospel. Pray for a moving of the Spirit to bring many to a true faith in the Savior.

The foreign workers in the mining industry are largely unreached with the gospel. Pray for the provision of workers to take the message to these people.

Copyright 2006 by Brad Garrison

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