This entry gives the dollar value for the stock of all financial assets that are available to the central monetary authority for use in meeting a country's balance of payments needs as of the end-date of the period specified. This category includes not only foreign currency and gold, but also a country's holdings of Special Drawing Rights in the International Monetary Fund, and its reserve position in the Fund.

Topic: Afghanistan$7.187 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$6.901 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Albania$3.59 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.109 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Algeria$97.89 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$114.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Angola$17.29 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$23.74 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Anguilla$76.38 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$48.14 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Argentina$55.33 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$38.43 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Armenia$2.314 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.204 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Aruba$921.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$828 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Australia$66.58 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$55.07 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Austria$21.57 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$23.36 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Azerbaijan$6.681 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$7.142 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Bahamas, The$1.522 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.002 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Bahrain$2.349 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.094 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Bangladesh$33.42 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$32.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Barbados$264.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$341.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Belarus$7.315 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$4.927 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Belgium$26.16 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$24.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Belize$312.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$376.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Benin$698.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$57.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Bhutan$1.206 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.127 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Bolivia$10.26 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$10.08 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina$6.474 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.137 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Botswana$7.491 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$7.189 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Brazil$374 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$367.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Brunei$3.488 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.366 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Bulgaria$28.38 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$25.13 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Burkina Faso$49 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$50.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Burma$4.924 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$4.63 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Burundi$97.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$95.17 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Cabo Verde$617.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$572.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Cambodia$12.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$9.122 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Cameroon$3.235 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Canada$86.68 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$82.72 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Central African Republic$304.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$252.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Chad$22.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$20.92 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Chile$38.98 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$40.49 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: China$3.236 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.098 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Colombia$47.13 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$46.18 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Comoros$208 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$159.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the$457.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$708.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Congo, Republic of the$505.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$727.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Costa Rica$7.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$7.574 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire$6.257 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$4.935 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Croatia$18.82 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$14.24 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Cuba$11.35 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$12.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Curacao$0 (31 December 2017 est.)

Topic: Cyprus$888.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$817.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Czechia$148 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$85.73 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Denmark$75.25 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$64.25 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Djibouti$547.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$398.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Dominica$212.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$221.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Dominican Republic$6.873 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$6.134 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Ecuador$2.395 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$4.259 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Egypt$35.89 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$23.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: El Salvador$3.567 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.238 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Equatorial Guinea$45.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$62.31 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Eritrea$236.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$218.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Estonia$345 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$352.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Eswatini$563.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$564.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Ethiopia$3.013 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.022 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: European Union$740.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$746.9 billion (31 December 2013)

note: data are for the European Central Bank

Topic: Fiji$1.116 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$908.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Finland$10.51 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$11.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: France$156.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$138.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Gabon$981.6 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$804.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Gambia, The$170 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$87.64 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Gaza Strip$446.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$583 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Georgia$3.039 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.756 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Germany$200.1 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$173.7 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Ghana$7.555 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$6.162 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Greece$7.807 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$6.026 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Grenada$199.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$198 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Guatemala$11.77 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$9.156 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Guinea$331.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$383.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Guinea-Bissau$356.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$349.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Guyana$565.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$581 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Haiti$2.361 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.11 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Honduras$4.708 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.814 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Hong Kong$431.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$386.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Hungary$28 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$25.82 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Iceland$6.567 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$7.226 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: India$409.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$359.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Indonesia$130.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Topic: Iran$120.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$133.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Iraq$48.88 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$45.36 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Ireland$4.412 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.203 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Israel$173.292 billion (2020 est.)

$113 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$95.45 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Italy$151.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$130.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Jamaica$3.781 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.719 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Japan$1.264 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.233 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Jordan$15.56 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$15.54 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Kazakhstan$30.75 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$29.53 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Kenya$7.354 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$7.256 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Kiribati$0 (31 December 2017 est.)

$8.37 million (31 December 2010 est.)

Topic: Korea, South$389.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$371.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Kosovo$683.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$708.7 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Kuwait$33.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$31.13 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Kyrgyzstan$2.177 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.97 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Laos$1.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$940.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Latvia$4.614 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.514 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Lebanon$55.42 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$54.04 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Lesotho$657.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$925.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Liberia$459.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$528.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Libya$74.71 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$66.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Lithuania$4.45 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.697 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Luxembourg$878 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$974 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Macau$20.17 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$18.89 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

note: the Fiscal Reserves Act that came into force on 1 January 2012 requires the fiscal reserves to be separated from the foreign exchange reserves and to be managed separately; the transfer of assets took place in February 2012

Topic: Madagascar$1.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.076 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Malawi$780.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$585.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Malaysia$102.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$94.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Maldives$477.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$575.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Mali$647.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$395.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Malta$833 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$677.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Mauritania$875 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$849.3 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Mauritius$5.984 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$4.967 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Mexico$175.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$178.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

note: Mexico also maintains access to an $88 million Flexible Credit Line with the IMF

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of$203.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$135.1 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Moldova$2.803 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.206 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Mongolia$3.016 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.296 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Montenegro$1.077 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$846.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Montserrat$47.58 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$51.47 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Morocco$26.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$25.37 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Mozambique$3.361 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.081 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Namibia$2.432 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.834 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Nepal$9.091 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$8.506 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Netherlands$38.44 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$38.21 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: New Zealand$20.68 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$17.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Nicaragua$2.758 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.448 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Niger$1.314 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.186 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Nigeria$38.77 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$25.84 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: North Macedonia$2.802 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.755 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Norway$65.92 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$57.46 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Oman$16.09 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$20.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Pakistan$18.46 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$22.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Palau$0 (31 December 2017 est.)

$580.9 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Panama$2.703 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.878 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Papua New Guinea$1.735 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.656 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Paraguay$7.877 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$6.881 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Peru$63.83 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$61.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Philippines$81.57 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$80.69 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Poland$113.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$114.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Portugal$26.11 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$19.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Qatar$15.01 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$31.89 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Romania$44.43 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$40 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Russia$432.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$377.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Rwanda$997.6 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.104 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis$365.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$320.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Saint Lucia$321.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$320.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines$182.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$192.3 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Samoa$133 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$122.5 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: San Marino$392 million (2014 est.)

$539.3 million (2013 est.)

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe$58.95 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$61.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Saudi Arabia$496.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$535.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Senegal$1.827 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$116.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Serbia$11.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$10.76 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Seychelles$545.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$523.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Sierra Leone$478 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$497.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Singapore$279.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$271.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Slovakia$3.622 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.892 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Slovenia$889.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$853 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Solomon Islands$0 (31 December 2017 est.)

$421 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Somalia$30.45 million (2014 est.)

Topic: South Africa$50.72 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$47.23 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: South Sudan$73 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Spain$69.41 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$63.14 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Sri Lanka$7.959 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$6.019 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Sudan$198 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$168.3 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Suriname$424.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$381.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Sweden$62.22 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$59.39 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Switzerland$811.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$679.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Syria$407.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$504.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Taiwan$456.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$439 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Tajikistan$1.292 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$652.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Tanzania$5.301 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$4.067 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

note: excludes gold

Topic: Thailand$202.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$171.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Timor-Leste$544.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$437.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)

note: excludes assets of approximately $9.7 billion in the Petroleum Fund (31 December 2010)

Topic: Togo$77.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$42.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Tonga$198.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$176.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Trinidad and Tobago$8.892 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$9.995 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Tunisia$5.594 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.941 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Turkey$107.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$106.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Turkmenistan$24.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$25.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Uganda$3.654 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.034 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

note: excludes gold

Topic: Ukraine$18.81 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$15.54 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: United Arab Emirates$95.37 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$85.39 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: United Kingdom$150.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$129.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: United States$123.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$117.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Uruguay$15.96 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$13.47 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Uzbekistan$16 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$14 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Vanuatu$395.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$267.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Venezuela$9.661 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$11 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Vietnam$49.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$36.91 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: West Bank$0 (31 December 2017 est.)

$583 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Topic: Yemen$245.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$592.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Zambia$2.082 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.353 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Topic: Zimbabwe$431.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$407.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)


This entry describes the formal relationship between a particular nonindependent entity and an independent state.

Topic: Akrotiria special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

Topic: American Samoaunincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Topic: Anguillaoverseas territory of the UK

Topic: Arubaconstituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsterritory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport

Topic: Bermudaoverseas territory of the UK

Topic: Bouvet Islandterritory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Oslo Police

Topic: British Indian Ocean Territoryoverseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London

Topic: British Virgin IslandsOverseas Territory of the UK; internal self-governing

Topic: Cayman Islandsoverseas territory of the UK

Topic: Christmas Islandnon-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development

Topic: Clipperton Islandpossession of France; administered directly by the Minister of Overseas France

Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsnon-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development

Topic: Cook Islandsself-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense in consultation with the Cook Islands

Topic: Coral Sea Islandsterritory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport

Topic: Curacaoconstituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairsconstituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Topic: Dhekeliaa special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

Topic: Faroe Islandspart of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948

Topic: French Polynesiaoverseas country of France; note - overseas territory of France from 1946-2003; overseas collectivity of France since 2003, though it is often referred to as an overseas country due to its degree of autonomy

Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsoverseas territory of France since 1955

Topic: Gibraltaroverseas territory of the UK

Topic: Greenlandpart of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979

Topic: Guamunincorporated organized territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the federal government under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Topic: GuernseyBritish crown dependency

Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsterritory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (Australian Antarctic Division)

Topic: Hong Kongspecial administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Topic: Isle of ManBritish crown dependency

Topic: Jan Mayenterritory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from Oslo through the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service; in 2010, Norway designated the majority of Jan Mayen as a nature reserve

Topic: JerseyBritish crown dependency

Topic: Macauspecial administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Topic: Montserratoverseas territory of the UK

Topic: Navassa Islandunorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of the Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; Haiti has claimed the island since the 19th century

Topic: New Caledoniaspecial collectivity (or a sui generis collectivity) of France since 1998; note - independence referenda took place on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021 with a majority voting in each case to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo; an 18-month transition period is now in place (ending 30 June 2023), during which a referendum on the new status of New Caledonia within France will take place

Topic: Niueself-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue

Topic: Norfolk Islandself-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development

Topic: Northern Mariana Islandscommonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Topic: Pitcairn Islandsoverseas territory of the UK

Topic: Puerto Ricounincorporated organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President

Topic: Saint Barthelemyoverseas collectivity of France

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaOverseas Territory of the UK

Topic: Saint Martinoverseas collectivity of France

note: the only French overseas collectivity that is part of the EU

Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonoverseas collectivity of France

Topic: Sint Maartenconstituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairsconstituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsoverseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina; administered from the Falkland Islands by a commissioner, who is concurrently governor of the Falkland Islands, representing Queen ELIZABETH II

Topic: Svalbardterritory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920), sovereignty was awarded to Norway

Topic: Tokelauself-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelau and New Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves toward free association with New Zealand; a UN-sponsored referendum on self governance in October 2007 did not meet the two-thirds majority vote necessary for changing the political status

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsoverseas territory of the UK

Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugeswith the exception of Palmyra Atoll, the constituent islands are unincorporated, unorganized territories of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System

note: Palmyra Atoll is partly privately owned and partly federally owned; the federally owned portion is administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as an incorporated, unorganized territory of the US; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US Department of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm territorial sea or within the lagoon

Topic: Virgin Islandsunincorporated organized territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the federal government under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Topic: Wake Islandunincorporated unorganized territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities in the atoll are currently conducted by the 11th US Air Force and managed from Pacific Air Force Support Center

Topic: Wallis and Futunaoverseas collectivity of France


Topic: CIA.gov has changed . . .If you arrived at this page using a bookmark or favorites link, please update it accordingly.Please use the search form or the links below to find the information you seek.Thank you for visiting CIA.gov.The CIA Web Team


Topic: Photos of Svalbard

Topic: Introduction
Background: The archipelago may have been first discovered by Norse explorers in the 12th century; the islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was internationally recognized by treaty in 1920, and five years later it officially took over the territory. In the 20th century, coal mining started and today a Norwegian and a Russian company are still functioning. Travel between the settlements is accomplished with snowmobiles, aircraft, and boats.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates: 78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 62,045 sq km

land: 62,045 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 3,587 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: extends to depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain: rugged mountains; much of the upland areas are ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts
Elevation: highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m

lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

other: 100% (2018 est.)
Population distribution: the small population is primarily concentrated on the island of Spitsbergen in a handful of settlements on the south side of the Isfjorden, with Longyearbyen being the largest
Natural hazards: ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Geography - note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area; Spitsbergen Island is the site of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a seed repository established by the Global Crop Diversity Trust and the Norwegian Government
Map description: Svalbard map showing the major population centers and islands of this Norwegian territory in the Arctic Ocean.  Svalbard map showing the major population centers and islands of this Norwegian territory in the Arctic Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 2,926 (January 2021 est.)
Ethnic groups: Norwegian 61.1%, foreign population 38.9% (consists primarily of Russians, Thais, Swedes, Filipinos, and Ukrainians) (2021 est.)

note: foreigners account for almost one third of the population of the Norwegian settlements, Longyearbyen and Ny-Alesund (where the majority of Svalbard's resident population lives), as of mid-2021
Languages: Norwegian, Russian

major-language sample(s):
Verdens Faktabok, den essensielle kilden for grunnleggende informasjon. (Norwegian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA

15-24 years: NA

25-54 years: NA

55-64 years: NA

65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Population growth rate: -0.03% (2019 est.)
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Net migration rate: -5.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Population distribution: the small population is primarily concentrated on the island of Spitsbergen in a handful of settlements on the south side of the Isfjorden, with Longyearbyen being the largest
Sex ratio: NA
Infant mortality rate: total: NA

male: NA

female: NA
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA
Total fertility rate: (2021 est.) NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Physicians density: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: ice floes are a maritime hazard; past exploitation of mammal species (whale, seal, walrus, and polar bear) severely depleted the populations, but a gradual recovery seems to be occurring
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

other: 100% (2018 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago)

etymology: 12th century Norse accounts speak of the discovery of a "Svalbard" - literally "cold shores" - but they may have referred to Jan Mayen Island or eastern Greenland; the archipelago was traditionally known as Spitsbergen, but Norway renamed it Svalbard in the 1920s when it assumed sovereignty of the islands
Government type: non-self-governing territory of Norway
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920), sovereignty was awarded to Norway
Capital: name: Longyearbyen

geographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 38 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: the name in Norwegian means Longyear Town; the site was established by and named after John LONGYEAR, whose Arctic Coal Company began mining operations there in 1906
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
Legal system: the laws of Norway where applicable apply; only the laws of Norway made explicitly applicable to Svalbard have effect there; the Svalbard Act and the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, and certain regulations, apply only to Svalbard; the Spitsbergen Treaty and the Svalbard Treaty grant certain rights to citizens and corporations of signatory nations; as of June 2017, 45 nations had ratified the Svalbard Treaty
Citizenship: see Norway
Executive branch: chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Haakon MAGNUS (son of the king, born 20 July 1973)

head of government: Governor Lars FAUSE (since 24 June 2021); Vice Governor Solvi ELVEDAHL (since 1 May 2020)

elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Longyearbyen Community Council (15 seats; members directly elected by majority vote to serve 4-year-terms); note - the Council acts very much like a Norwegian municipality, responsible for infrastructure and utilities, including power, land-use and community planning, education, and child welfare; however, healthcare services are provided by the state

elections: last held on 7 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023)

election results: seats by party - Labor Party 5, Liberals 4, Conservatives 3, Progress Party 2, Green Party 1
Judicial branch: highest courts: none; note - Svalbard is subordinate to Norway's Nord-Troms District Court and Halogaland Court of Appeal, both located in Tromso
Political parties and leaders: Svalbard Conservative Party [Kjetil FIGENSCHOU]
Svalbard Green Party [Pal BERG]
Svalbard Labor Party [Arild OLSEN]
Svalbard Liberal Party [Terie AUVENIK]
Svalbard Progress Party [Jorn DYBDAHL]
International organization participation: none
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
National anthem: note: as a territory of Norway, "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" is official (see Norway)note: as a territory of Norway, "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" is official (see Norway)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Coal mining, tourism, and international research are Svalbard's major industries. Coal mining has historically been the dominant economic activity, and the Spitzbergen Treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 45 countries that so far have ratified the treaty equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still engaging in this are Norwegian and Russian. Low coal prices have forced the Norwegian coal company, Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani, to close one of its two mines and to considerably reduce the activity of the other. Since the 1990s, the tourism and hospitality industry has grown rapidly, and Svalbard now receives 60,000 visitors annually.   The settlements on Svalbard were established as company towns, and at their height in the 1950s, the Norwegian state-owned coal company supported nearly 1,000 jobs. Today, only about 300 people work in the mining industry.   Goods such as alcohol, tobacco, and vehicles, normally highly taxed on mainland Norway, are considerably cheaper in Svalbard in an effort by the Norwegian Government to entice more people to live on the Arctic archipelago. By law, Norway collects only enough taxes to pay for the needs of the local government; none of tax proceeds go to the central government.Coal mining, tourism, and international research are Svalbard's major industries. Coal mining has historically been the dominant economic activity, and the Spitzbergen Treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 45 countries that so far have ratified the treaty equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still engaging in this are Norwegian and Russian. Low coal prices have forced the Norwegian coal company, Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani, to close one of its two mines and to considerably reduce the activity of the other. Since the 1990s, the tourism and hospitality industry has grown rapidly, and Svalbard now receives 60,000 visitors annually. The settlements on Svalbard were established as company towns, and at their height in the 1950s, the Norwegian state-owned coal company supported nearly 1,000 jobs. Today, only about 300 people work in the mining industry. Goods such as alcohol, tobacco, and vehicles, normally highly taxed on mainland Norway, are considerably cheaper in Svalbard in an effort by the Norwegian Government to entice more people to live on the Arctic archipelago. By law, Norway collects only enough taxes to pay for the needs of the local government; none of tax proceeds go to the central government.
Real GDP growth rate: NANA
Labor force: 1,590 (2013)
Budget: revenues: NA

expenditures: NA
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): NA
Taxes and other revenues: NA
Exports: NANA
Imports: $NA$NA
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar -

8.308 (2017 est.)

8.0646 (2016 est.)

8.0646 (2015)

8.0646 (2014 est.)

6.3021 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Refined petroleum products - exports: 4,488 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 18,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: modern, well-developed (2018)

domestic: the Svalbard Satellite Station - connected to the mainland via the Svalbard Undersea Cable System - is the only Arctic ground station that can see low-altitude, polar-orbiting satellites; it provides ground services to more satellites than any other facility in the world (2018)

international: country code - 47-790; the Svalbard Undersea Cable System is a twin communications cable that connects Svalbard to mainland Norway; the system is the sole telecommunications link to the archipelago (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) began direct TV transmission to Svalbard via satellite in 1984; Longyearbyen households have access to 3 NRK radio and 2 TV stations
Internet country code: .sj

Topic: Transportation
Airports: total: 4 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3

under 914 m: 3 (2021)
Heliports: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 40 km (2020)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces
Military - note: Svalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920; Norwegian military activity is limited to fisheries surveillance by the Norwegian Coast Guard (2022)

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Norway-Russia: after 40 years of on-again, off-again negotiations, the two countries signed an agreement in September 2010, defining their maritime boundaries in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean; the border extends the countries’ land border northward beyond the islands in the Barents Sea and into the Arctic Ocean, but the exact distance northward was not specified; because the area is considered the high seas, the passage of naval and commercial vessels will be unaffected; once their legislatures ratify the agreement, both countries will have the green light for oil and natural gas exploration in their newly defined maritime areas; Russia objects to Norway’s establishment in 1977 of the Fishery Protection Zone around the Svalbard Islands, extending Norwegian sovereignty to the shelf around the archipelago; Svalbard is strategically important – as a gateway from the Berents Sea to the North Atlantic – and its waters provide rich fishing groundsNorway-Russia: after 40 years of on-again, off-again negotiations, the two countries signed an agreement in September 2010, defining their maritime boundaries in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean; the border extends the countries’ land border northward beyond the islands in the Barents Sea and into the Arctic Ocean, but the exact distance northward was not specified; because the area is considered the high seas, the passage of naval and commercial vessels will be unaffected; once their legislatures ratify the agreement, both countries will have the green light for oil and natural gas exploration in their newly defined maritime areas; Russia objects to Norway’s establishment in 1977 of the Fishery Protection Zone around the Svalbard Islands, extending Norwegian sovereignty to the shelf around the archipelago; Svalbard is strategically important – as a gateway from the Berents Sea to the North Atlantic – and its waters provide rich fishing grounds


Topic: Photos of Nauru

Topic: Introduction
Background: Nauru was inhabited by Micronesian and Polynesian settlers by around 1000 B.C., and the island was divided into 12 clans. Nauru developed in relative isolation because ocean currents made landfall on the island difficult. As a result, the Nauruan language does not clearly resemble any other in the Pacific region. In 1798, British sea captain John FEARN became the first European to spot the island. By 1830, European whalers used Nauru as a supply stop, trading firearms for food. In 1878, a civil war erupted on the island, reducing the population by more than a third. Germany forcibly annexed Nauru in 1888 by holding the 12 chiefs under house arrest until they consented to the annexation. Germany banned alcohol, confiscated weapons, instituted strict dress codes, and brought in Christian missionaries to convert the population. Phosphate was discovered in 1900 and heavily mined, although Nauru and Nauruans earned about one tenth of one percent of the profits from the phosphate deposits.

Australian forces captured Nauru from Germany during World War I, and in 1919, it was placed under a joint Australian-British-New Zealand mandate with Australian administration. Japan occupied Nauru during World War II and used its residents as forced labor elsewhere in the Pacific while destroying much of the infrastructure on the island. After the war, Nauru became a UN trust territory under Australian administration. Recognizing the phosphate stocks would eventually be depleted, in 1962, Australian Prime Minister Robert MENZIES offered to resettle all Nauruans on Curtis Island in Queensland, but Nauruans rejected that plan and opted for independence, which was achieved in 1968. In 1970, Nauru purchased the phosphate mining assets, and income from the mines made Nauruans among the richest people in the world. However, Nauru subsequently began a series of unwise investments in buildings, musical theater, and an airline. Nauru sued Australia in 1989 for the damage caused by mining when Australia administered the island. Widespread phosphate mining officially ceased in 2006.

Nauru went nearly bankrupt by 2000 and tried to rebrand itself as an offshore banking haven, although it ended that practice in 2005. In 2001, Australia set up the Nauru Regional Processing Center (NRPC), an offshore refugee detention facility, paying Nauru per person at the center. The NRPC was closed in 2008 but reopened in 2012. The number of refugees has steadily declined since 2014, and the remaining people were moved to a hotel in Brisbane, Australia, in 2020, effectively shuttering the NRPC. In a bid for Russian humanitarian aid, in 2008, Nauru recognized the breakaway Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands
Geographic coordinates: 0 32 S, 166 55 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 21 sq km

land: 21 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 30 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)
Terrain: sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center
Elevation: highest point: Command Ridge 70 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: phosphates, fish
Land use: agricultural land: 20% (2018 est.)

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 20% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 0% (2018 est.)

other: 80% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: extensive phosphate mining made approximately 90% of the island unsuitable for farming; most people live in the fertile coastal areas, especially along the southwest coast
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Geography - note: Nauru is the third-smallest country in the world behind the Holy See (Vatican City) and Monaco; it is the smallest country in the Pacific Ocean, the smallest country outside Europe, the world's smallest island country, and the the world's smallest independent republic; situated just 53 km south of the Equator, Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia
Map description: Nauru map shows some features on this island in the South Pacific Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 9,811 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Nauruan(s)

adjective: Nauruan
Ethnic groups: Nauruan 88.9%, part Nauruan 6.6%, I-Kiribati 2%, other 2.5% (2007 est.)
Languages: Nauruan 93% (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English 2% (widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes), other 5% (includes I-Kiribati 2% and Chinese 2%) (2011 est.)

note: data represent main language spoken at home; Nauruan is spoken by 95% of the population, English by 66%, and other languages by 12%
Religions: Protestant 60.4% (includes Nauru Congregational 35.7%, Assembly of God 13%, Nauru Independent Church 9.5%, Baptist 1.5%, and Seventh Day Adventist 0.7%), Roman Catholic 33%, other 3.7%, none 1.8%, unspecified 1.1% (2011 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.87% (male 1,337/female 1,684)

15-24 years: 15.68% (male 732/female 806)

25-54 years: 42.57% (male 2,115/female 2,050)

55-64 years: 6.97% (male 283/female 401)

65 years and over: 3.94% (2022 est.) (male 133/female 254)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 27 years

male: 28.2 years

female: 25.9 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.42% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 21.1 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.32 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -10.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: extensive phosphate mining made approximately 90% of the island unsuitable for farming; most people live in the fertile coastal areas, especially along the southwest coast
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.18% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.7 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 7.84 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 10.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.93 years

male: 64.38 years

female: 71.62 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 9.8% (2019)
Physicians density: 1.35 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 96.3% of population

rural: NA

total: 96.3% of population

unimproved: urban: 3.7% of population

rural: NA

total: 3.7% of population (2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 61% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 48.5% (2020 est.)

male: 47.8% (2020 est.)

female: 49.1% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.6%

male: 20.9%

female: 37.5% (2013)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources, roof storage tanks that collect rainwater and desalination plants provide water; a century of intensive phosphate mining beginning in 1906 left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland; cadmium residue, phosphate dust, and other contaminants have caused air and water pollution with negative impacts on health; climate change has brought on rising sea levels and inland water shortages
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 12.53 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.05 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.01 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)
Land use: agricultural land: 20% (2018 est.)

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 20% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 0% (2018 est.)

other: 80% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.18% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 6,192 tons (2016 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 10 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Nauru

conventional short form: Nauru

local long form: Republic of Nauru

local short form: Nauru

former: Pleasant Island

etymology: the island name may derive from the Nauruan word "anaoero" meaning "I go to the beach"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: no official capital; government offices in the Yaren District

time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baitsi, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Independence: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Constitution: history: effective 29 January 1968

amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; amendments to constitutional articles, such as the republican form of government, protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the executive and legislative branches, also require two-thirds majority of votes in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018
Legal system: mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Lionel AINGIMEA (since 27 August 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Lionel AINGIMEA (since 27 August 2019)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of Parliament

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27 August 2019 (next to be held in 2022)

election results: Lionel AINGIMEA elected president; Parliament vote - Lionel AINGIMEA (independent) 12, David ADEANG (Nauru First) 6
Legislative branch: description: unicameral parliament (19 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by majority vote using the "Dowdall" counting system by which voters rank candidates on their ballots; members serve 3-year terms)

elections: last held on 24 August 2019 (next to be held in September 2022)

election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 19; composition - men 17, women 2, percent of women 10.5%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and several justices); note - in late 2017, the Nauruan Government revoked the 1976 High Court Appeals Act, which had allowed appeals beyond the Nauruan Supreme Court, and in early 2018, the government formed its own appeals court

judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president to serve until age 65

subordinate courts: District Court, Family Court
Political parties and leaders: Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party [David ADEANG]
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICCt, IFAD, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Margo DEIYE (since 1 December 2021)

chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Third Floor, New York, NY 10017

telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074

FAX: [1] (212) 937-0079

email address and website:
nauru@onecommonwealth.org

https://www.un.int/nauru/
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru
Flag description: blue with a narrow, horizontal, gold stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the gold stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru; the star's white color represents phosphate, the basis of the island's wealth
National symbol(s): frigatebird, calophyllum flower; national colors: blue, yellow, white
National anthem: name: "Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru)

lyrics/music: Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS

note: adopted 1968

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Revenues of this tiny island - a coral atoll with a land area of 21 square kilometers - traditionally have come from exports of phosphates. Few other resources exist, with most necessities being imported, mainly from Australia, its former occupier and later major source of support. Primary reserves of phosphates were exhausted and mining ceased in 2006, but mining of a deeper layer of "secondary phosphate" in the interior of the island began the following year. The secondary phosphate deposits may last another 30 years. Earnings from Nauru’s export of phosphate remains an important source of income. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist; estimates of Nauru's GDP vary widely.   The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. In anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts of phosphate income were invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's economic future.   Although revenue sources for government are limited, the opening of the Australian Regional Processing Center for asylum seekers since 2012 has sparked growth in the economy. Revenue derived from fishing licenses under the "vessel day scheme" has also boosted government income. Housing, hospitals, and other capital plant are deteriorating. The cost to Australia of keeping the Nauruan government and economy afloat continues to climb.Revenues of this tiny island - a coral atoll with a land area of 21 square kilometers - traditionally have come from exports of phosphates. Few other resources exist, with most necessities being imported, mainly from Australia, its former occupier and later major source of support. Primary reserves of phosphates were exhausted and mining ceased in 2006, but mining of a deeper layer of "secondary phosphate" in the interior of the island began the following year. The secondary phosphate deposits may last another 30 years. Earnings from Nauru’s export of phosphate remains an important source of income. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist; estimates of Nauru's GDP vary widely. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. In anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts of phosphate income were invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's economic future. Although revenue sources for government are limited, the opening of the Australian Regional Processing Center for asylum seekers since 2012 has sparked growth in the economy. Revenue derived from fishing licenses under the "vessel day scheme" has also boosted government income. Housing, hospitals, and other capital plant are deteriorating. The cost to Australia of keeping the Nauruan government and economy afloat continues to climb.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $150 million (2019 est.)

$150 million (2018 est.)

$137 million (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 4% (2017 est.)

10.4% (2016 est.)

2.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $13,500 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$13,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$10,667 (2017 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $114 million (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.1% (2017 est.)

8.2% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.1% (2009 est.)

industry: 33% (2009 est.)

services: 60.8% (2009 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 98% (2016 est.)

government consumption: 37.6% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 42.2% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services: 11.2% (2016 est.)

imports of goods and services: -89.1% (2016 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, tropical fruit, vegetables, pork, eggs, pig offals, pig fat, poultry, papayas, cabbages
Industries: phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: note: most of the labor force is employed in phosphate mining, public administration, education, and transportationnote: most of the labor force is employed in phosphate mining, public administration, education, and transportation
Unemployment rate: 23% (2011 est.)

90% (2004 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.6%

male: 20.9%

female: 37.5% (2013)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 103 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: 113.4 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -9.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 62% of GDP (2017 est.)

65% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 90.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Current account balance: $5 million (2017 est.)

$2 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $30 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$110.3 million (2012 est.)
Exports - partners: Thailand 34%, Australia 16%, United States 13%, South Korea 10%, Philippines 9%, Japan 7%, France 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: fish, calcium phosphates, low-voltage protection equipment, air conditioners, leather apparel (2019)
Imports: $90 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$64.9 million (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: Taiwan 52%, Australia 28% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, construction vehicles, tug boats, poultry meats, cars (2019)
Debt - external: $33.3 million (2004 est.)
Exchange rates: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

1.311 (2017 est.)

1.3452 (2016 est.)

1.3452 (2015 est.)

1.3291 (2014 est.)

1.1094 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 99.8% (2018)

electrification - urban areas: 99.4% (2018)

electrification - rural areas: 98.7% (2018)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 15,000 kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 34.216 million kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 400 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 449 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 66,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 66,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 0 Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1,900 (2009 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2009 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 10,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities; geography is a challenge for the islands; there is a need to service the tourism sector and the South Pacific Islands economy; mobile technology is booming (2018)

domestic: fixed-line 0 per 100 and mobile-cellular subscribership approximately 95 per 100 (2019)

international: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: 1 government-owned TV station broadcasting programs from New Zealand sent via satellite or on videotape; 1 government-owned radio station, broadcasting on AM and FM, utilizes Australian and British programs (2019)
Internet country code: .nr
Internet users: total: 6,136 (2019 est.)

percent of population: 57% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 950 (2010 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2010 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 45,457 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7.94 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C2
Airports: total: 1 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 30 km (2002)

paved: 24 km (2002)

unpaved: 6 km (2002)
Merchant marine: total: 3

by type: oil tanker 1, other 2 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Nauru

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the police force, under the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, maintains internal security and, as necessary, external security
Military - note: Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified
Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 133 (mid-year 2021)


This entry gives the percent of children under five considered to be underweight. Underweight means weight-for-age is less than minus two standard deviations from the median of the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards among children under 5 years of age. This statistic is an indicator of the nutritional status of a community. Children who suffer from growth retardation as a result of poor diets and/or recurrent infections tend to have a greater risk of suffering illness and death.

Topic: Afghanistan19.1% (2018)

Topic: AkrotiriNA

Topic: Albania1.5% (2017/18)

Topic: Algeria2.7% (2018/19)

Topic: American SamoaNA

Topic: AndorraNA

Topic: Angola19% (2015/16)

Topic: AnguillaNA

Topic: Antigua and BarbudaNA

Topic: Argentina1.7% (2018/19)

Topic: Armenia2.6% (2015/16)

Topic: ArubaNA

Topic: Ashmore and Cartier IslandsNA

Topic: AustraliaNA

Topic: AustriaNA

Topic: Azerbaijan4.9% (2013)

Topic: Bahamas, TheNA

Topic: BahrainNA

Topic: Bangladesh22.6% (2019)

Topic: Barbados3.5% (2012)

Topic: BelarusNA

Topic: Belgium1% (2014/15)

Topic: Belize4.6% (2015/16)

Topic: Benin16.8% (2017/18)

Topic: BermudaNA

Topic: BhutanNA

Topic: Bolivia3.4% (2016)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina1.6% (2012)

Topic: BotswanaNA

Topic: Bouvet IslandNA

Topic: BrazilNA

Topic: British Indian Ocean TerritoryNA

Topic: British Virgin IslandsNA

Topic: BruneiNA

Topic: Bulgaria1.9% (2014)

Topic: Burkina Faso16.4% (2019)

Topic: Burma19.1% (2017/18)

Topic: Burundi27% (2018/19)

Topic: Cabo VerdeNA

Topic: Cambodia24.1% (2014)

Topic: Cameroon11% (2018/19)

Topic: CanadaNA

Topic: Cayman IslandsNA

Topic: Central African Republic20.5% (2019)

Topic: Chad29.2% (2019)

Topic: Chile0.5% (2014)

Topic: China2.4% (2013)

Topic: Christmas IslandNA

Topic: Clipperton IslandNA

Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA

Topic: Colombia3.7% (2015/16)

Topic: Comoros16.9% (2012)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the23.1% (2017/18)

Topic: Congo, Republic of the12.3% (2014/15)

Topic: Cook IslandsNA

Topic: Coral Sea IslandsNA

Topic: Costa Rica2.9% (2018)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire12.8% (2016)

Topic: CroatiaNA

Topic: Cuba2.4% (2019)

Topic: CuracaoNA

Topic: CyprusNA

Topic: CzechiaNA

Topic: DenmarkNA

Topic: DhekeliaNA

Topic: Djibouti29.9% (2012)

Topic: DominicaNA

Topic: Dominican Republic4% (2013)

Topic: Ecuador5.2% (2018/19)

Topic: Egypt7% (2014)

Topic: El Salvador5% (2014)

Topic: Equatorial Guinea5.6% (2011)

Topic: EritreaNA

Topic: Estonia0.4% (2013/15)

Topic: Eswatini5.8% (2014)

Topic: Ethiopia21.1% (2019)

Topic: European UnionNA

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA

Topic: Faroe IslandsNA

Topic: FijiNA

Topic: FinlandNA

Topic: FranceNA

Topic: French PolynesiaNA

Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsNA

Topic: Gabon6.4% (2012)

Topic: Gambia, The11.6% (2019/20)

Topic: Gaza Strip2.1% (2019/20)

note: estimate is for Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Topic: Georgia2.1% (2018)

Topic: Germany0.5% (2014/17)

Topic: Ghana12.6% (2017/18)

Topic: GibraltarNA

Topic: GreeceNA

Topic: GreenlandNA

Topic: GrenadaNA

Topic: GuamNA

Topic: Guatemala12.4% (2014/15)

Topic: GuernseyNA

Topic: Guinea16.3% (2018)

Topic: Guinea-Bissau18.8% (2019)

Topic: Guyana8.2% (2014)

Topic: Haiti9.5% (2016/17)

Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsNA

Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NA

Topic: Honduras7.1% (2011/12)

Topic: Hong KongNA

Topic: HungaryNA

Topic: IcelandNA

Topic: India33.4% (2016/18)

Topic: Indonesia17.7% (2018)

Topic: Iran4.1% (2010/11)

Topic: Iraq3.9% (2018)

Topic: IrelandNA

Topic: Isle of ManNA

Topic: IsraelNA

Topic: ItalyNA

Topic: Jamaica4.4% (2016)

Topic: Jan MayenNA

Topic: JapanNA

Topic: JerseyNA

Topic: Jordan3% (2012)

Topic: Kazakhstan2% (2015)

Topic: Kenya11.2% (2014)

Topic: Kiribati6.9% (2018/19)

Topic: Korea, North9.3% (2017)

Topic: Korea, SouthNA

Topic: KosovoNA

Topic: Kuwait3% (2014)

Topic: Kyrgyzstan1.8% (2018)

Topic: Laos21.1% (2017)

Topic: LatviaNA

Topic: LebanonNA

Topic: Lesotho10.5% (2018)

Topic: Liberia10.9% (2019/20)

Topic: Libya11.7% (2014)

Topic: LiechtensteinNA

Topic: LithuaniaNA

Topic: LuxembourgNA

Topic: MacauNA

Topic: Madagascar26.4% (2018)

Topic: Malawi9% (2019)

Topic: Malaysia14.1% (2019)

Topic: Maldives14.8% (2016/17)

Topic: Mali18.1% (2019)

Topic: MaltaNA

Topic: Marshall Islands11.9% (2017)

Topic: Mauritania19.2% (2018)

Topic: MauritiusNA

Topic: Mexico4.7% (2018/19)

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofNA

Topic: Moldova2.2% (2012)

Topic: MonacoNA

Topic: Mongolia1.8% (2018)

Topic: Montenegro3.7% (2018/19)

Topic: MontserratNA

Topic: Morocco2.6% (2017/18)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Topic: Mozambique15.6% (2014/15)

Topic: Namibia13.2% (2013)

Topic: NauruNA

Topic: Navassa IslandNA

Topic: Nepal24.4% (2019)

Topic: NetherlandsNA

Topic: New CaledoniaNA

Topic: New ZealandNA

Topic: Nicaragua4.6% (2011/12)

Topic: Niger31.3% (2019)

Topic: Nigeria18.4% (2019/20)

Topic: NiueNA

Topic: Norfolk IslandNA

Topic: North Macedonia0.9% (2018/19)

Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsNA

Topic: NorwayNA

Topic: Oman11.2% (2016/17)

Topic: Pakistan23.1% (2017/18)

Topic: PalauNA

Topic: Panama3% (2019)

Topic: Papua New Guinea27.8% (2009/11)

Topic: Paracel IslandsNA

Topic: Paraguay1.3% (2016)

Topic: Peru2.4% (2019)

Topic: Philippines19.1% (2018)

Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA

Topic: Poland0.7% (2010/12)

Topic: Portugal0.4% (2015/16)

Topic: Puerto RicoNA

Topic: QatarNA

Topic: RomaniaNA

Topic: RussiaNA

Topic: Rwanda7.7% (2019/20)

Topic: Saint BarthelemyNA

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaNA

Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisNA

Topic: Saint Lucia2.8% (2012)

Topic: Saint MartinNA

Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA

Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesNA

Topic: Samoa3.4% (2019/20)

Topic: San MarinoNA

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe5.4% (2019)

Topic: Saudi ArabiaNA

Topic: Senegal14.4% (2019)

Topic: Serbia1% (2019)

Topic: Seychelles3.6% (2012)

Topic: Sierra Leone13.5% (2019)

Topic: SingaporeNA

Topic: Sint MaartenNA

Topic: SlovakiaNA

Topic: SloveniaNA

Topic: Solomon Islands16.2% (2015)

Topic: Somalia23% (2009)

Topic: South Africa5.5% (2017)

Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich IslandsNA

Topic: South SudanNA

Topic: SpainNA

Topic: Spratly IslandsNA

Topic: Sri Lanka20.5% (2016)

Topic: Sudan33% (2014)

Topic: Suriname6.7% (2018)

Topic: SvalbardNA

Topic: SwedenNA

Topic: SwitzerlandNA

Topic: SyriaNA

Topic: TaiwanNA

Topic: Tajikistan7.6% (2017)

Topic: Tanzania14.6% (2018)

Topic: Thailand7.7% (2019)

Topic: Timor-Leste37.5% (2013)

Topic: Togo15.2% (2017)

Topic: TokelauNA

Topic: Tonga0.8% (2019)

Topic: Trinidad and Tobago4.9% (2011)

Topic: Tunisia1.6% (2018)

Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)1.5% (2018/19)

Topic: Turkmenistan3.1% (2019)

Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsNA

Topic: TuvaluNA

Topic: Uganda10.4% (2016)

Topic: UkraineNA

Topic: United Arab EmiratesNA

Topic: United KingdomNA

Topic: United States0.4% (2017/18)

Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesNA

Topic: Uruguay1.8% (2018)

Topic: Uzbekistan2.9% (2017)

Topic: Vanuatu11.7% (2013)

Topic: VenezuelaNA

Topic: Vietnam13.4% (2017)

Topic: Virgin IslandsNA

Topic: Wake IslandNA

Topic: Wallis and FutunaNA

Topic: West Bank2.1% (2019/20)

note: estimate is for Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Topic: Yemen39.9% (2013)

Topic: Zambia11.8% (2018/19)

Topic: Zimbabwe9.7% (2019)


Topic: Introduction
Background: Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown. Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader. Iran holds a strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport.Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown. Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader. Iran holds a strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport.

Topic: Geography
Area: total: 1,648,195 sq km

land: 1,531,595 sq km

water: 116,600 sq km
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Topic: People and Society
Population: 86,758,304 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen, and Turkic tribes
Languages: Persian Farsi (official), Azeri and other Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani, Luri, Balochi, Arabic
Religions: Muslim (official) 99.6% (Shia 90-95%, Sunni 5-10%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian) 0.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2016 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.98% (2022 est.)

Topic: Government
Government type: theocratic republic
Capital: name: Tehran
Executive branch: chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)

head of government: President Ebrahim RAISI (since 18 June 2021); First Vice President Mohammad MOKHBER (since 8 August 2021)
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e Shura-ye Eslami or Majles (290 seats; 285 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by 2-round vote, and 1 seat each for Zoroastrians, Jews, Assyrian and Chaldean Christians, Armenians in the north of the country and Armenians in the south; members serve 4-year terms); note - all candidates to the Majles must be approved by the Council of Guardians, a 12-member group of which 6 are appointed by the supreme leader and 6 are jurists nominated by the judiciary and elected by the Majles

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: traditionally state-controlled economy but reforming state-owned financial entities; strong oil/gas, agricultural, and service sectors; recent massive inflation due to exchange rate depreciation, international sanctions, and investor uncertainty; increasing povertytraditionally state-controlled economy but reforming state-owned financial entities; strong oil/gas, agricultural, and service sectors; recent massive inflation due to exchange rate depreciation, international sanctions, and investor uncertainty; increasing poverty
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,044,310,000,000 (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $12,400 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, sugar cane, milk, sugar beet, tomatoes, barley, potatoes, oranges, poultry, apples
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, gas, fertilizer, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and nonferrous metal fabrication, armaments
Exports: $101.4 billion (2017 est.)
Exports - partners: China 48%, India 12%, South Korea 8%, Turkey 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, polymers, industrial alcohols, iron, pistachios (2019)
Imports: $76.39 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - partners: China 28%, United Arab Emirates 20%, India 11%, Turkey 7%, Brazil 6%, Germany 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: rice, corn, broadcasting equipment, soybean products, beef (2019)
Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IRR) per US dollar -Page last updated: Thursday, Jul 07, 2022