Census and Surveys

The total population of of the Republic of Nauru as enumerated on 23 September 2002 stands at 10,065 people: 5,136 males and 4,929 females. As the 2002 census was a de facto count, this number includes all persons present on the census night in Nauru. It is made up of 9,872 permanent residents and 193 short-term visitors, tourists and temporary contract workers (non-residents). It excludes residents away from Nauru at the time of the census (even if they intended to be away only for a short time). The Nauru resident population in 2002 consists of 7,572 indigigenous Nauruans and 2,300 non-Nauruans, mainly I-Kiribati, Tuvaluan and Chinese.

The population count reflects and increase of only 146 people from the 1992 census (which counted the total population as 9,919). The chart to the left illustrates Nauru's population growth from 1921 to 2002, highlighting two distinct developments: a continuous increase from the 1920s, reaching almost 10,000 people in 1992, and population growth almost coming to a standstill since the early 1990s, as reflected in the net increase of just 146 people over 10 years.

Selected census tables have been included here which can be accessed through the links on the left. To get a full copy of the 2002 census report including a demographic profile for Nauru from 1992-2002, go to our publicaton's page.