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Nauru

Digital Snapshot – Key Policies and Laws

Nauru’s digital profile is centred on a single national roadmap, the Nauru National Digital Transformation Strategy (NNDTS) 2025–2030, which prioritises connectivity, digitising public services, and strengthening enabling governance (including data protection/privacy, cybersecurity, and electronic transactions as reform areas). Sector governance is anchored in the Communications and Broadcasting Act 2018, which establishes the Nauru Communications Authority and provides the core framework for telecoms and broadcasting regulation.

That policy direction is complemented by a small set of ‘building-block’ instruments. The Communications and Broadcasting (Radio Spectrum Management) Regulations 2024 set out spectrum planning tools (including a National Radio Spectrum Plan and a National Table for Radio Frequency Allocation), which are central to modern mobile and wireless services. For the digital economy, Nauru has the Consumer Protection Act 2024 (relevant to online commerce and consumer rights) and the Command Ridge Virtual Asset Authority Act 2025, which create a dedicated framework for regulating virtual asset service providers.

Nauru has a dedicated Cybercrime Act 2015 (No. 14 of 2015) that criminalises computer-related offences and supports enforcement. Cybersecurity capacity-building also exists institutionally: the government’s Cyber Security Awareness Team (CSAT) was established on 29 November 2019 to provide cyber-safety awareness across government departments. Strategically, Nauru has been working toward a more comprehensive framework through a Cybersecurity Roadmap intended to inform the development of a national cybersecurity strategy and supporting policies/laws. The NNDTS 2025–2030 explicitly flags reforms to develop legislation on data protection, cybersecurity, and electronic transactions, indicating these ‘digital trust’ pillars are still evolving.

Nauru’s platform governance in practice

A national Facebook block (2015–2018): Nauru blocked Facebook in 2015 and later lifted the ban in January 2018, a striking example of platform-level control in a small market. The restriction was introduced in May 2015 and publicly defended by then-President Baron Waqa, who argued that social media could fuel instability; critics, including opposition figures and advocates, said it also reduced transparency and limited communication for people connected to the island’s asylum-seeker arrangements. The ban was lifted on 31 January 2018 after nearly three years, and the US State Department later noted the government lifted restrictions that had been justified under Nauru’s Cybercrime Act 2015 (No. 14 of 2015).

On infrastructure, Nauru has appeared near the top regionally in adopting new connectivity models. The Government reports it inaugurated the Pacific’s first Starlink Community Gateway in December 2024. Nauru Telikom/Neotel’s 5G launch was reported in early 2025, with the article noting that it included a carrier claim of being ‘Oceania’s first nationwide 5G+’.

International bandwidth is also transitioning from satellite dependence toward fibre via the East Micronesia Cable System (EMCS). According to Australia’s AIFFP, the EMCS landing in Nauru took place on 9 August 2025, marking a key construction milestone ahead of full service activation.

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Nauru’s permanent mission to the UN:

The Republic of Nauru is listed as the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Nauru to the UN Office and other international organisations in Geneva, with its mission address at Avenue de Sécheron 10, 1202 Geneva, plus direct contact details (phone, fax, and the mission email). The entry also records Nauru’s National Day as 31 January (Anniversary of Independence) and names H.E. Mr Frederick W. Pitcher as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative, with the appointment date shown as 28 January 2025.

Official website: https://www.ungeneva.org/en/blue-book/missions/member-states/nauru

Follow Nauru’s digital submarine cables

The data is sourced from reputable international agencies and organizations. Hover over each field for source information and explanations.
dig.watch

General profile

Official name: Republic of Nauru

Source: Wikipedia

National internet domain: NR

Source: Wikipedia

Area: 21 km2

Source: Wikipedia

Capital: Yaren District

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 12.8 thousand

The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: Wikipedia

Population growth: 0.88

Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.
The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: World Bank Open Data

Life expectancy at birth: 64.01

Total years (Estimate for 2022)
The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: databank.worldbank.org

Rule of law estimate: -0.02

Rule of Law captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, and in particular the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence. Estimate gives the country's score ranging from approximately -2.5 to 2.5 (Estimate for 2023)
Source: databank.worldbank.org

Regulatory quality estimate: 0.02

Regulatory Quality captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development. Estimate gives the country's score ranging from approximately -2.5 to 2.5 (Estimate for 2023)
Source: databank.worldbank.org

Political stability: 0.88

Political Stability and Absence of Violence / Terrorism: measures perceptions of the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Estimate gives the country's score ranging from approximately -2.5 to 2.5 (Estimate for 2023)
Source: databank.worldbank.org

Economic info

Currency: Australian dollar

Source: Wikipedia

Unemployment (%): 5.06

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)
The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: databank.worldbank.org

GDP (current US$): 154.1 million

The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: databank.worldbank.org

GDP growth (annual %): 0.70

The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: databank.worldbank.org

GDP per capita (current US$): 12.1 thousand

The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: databank.worldbank.org

Inflation, consumer prices (annual %): -0.12

The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: databank.worldbank.org
dig.watch

Digital profile

Internet and social media penetration:

Individuals using the internet, total (%): 82.67

The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: www.itu.int

Social media users: 8.4 thousand

Estimate for 2024
Source: datareportal.com

Male internet users (%): No data

Male internet users as a % of total male population.
The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: www.itu.int

Facebook users: 8.4 thousand

Estimate for 2024
Source: datareportal.com

Female internet users (%): No data

Female Internet users as a % of total female population.
The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: www.itu.int

Instagram users: 1.7 thousand

Estimate for 2024
Source: datareportal.com

Households with internet access at home (%): 85.33

The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: www.itu.int

Linkedin users: 3.7 thousand

Estimate for 2024
Source: datareportal.com

Fixed broadband subscriptions: 9.96

Total fixed broadband subscriptions (per 100 people) refers to fixed subscriptions to high-speed access to the public internet (a TCP/IP connection), at downstream speeds equal to, or greater than, 256 kbit/s.
The displayed data represents the most recent information obtained from sources, typically covering the years 2018 to 2023.
Source: www.itu.int

X users: 385

Estimate for 2024
Source: datareportal.com

Mobile infrastructure and access:

Mobile ownership (%): No data

Mobile phone ownership as a % of total population (Estimate for 2023)
Source: https://www.mobileconnectivityindex.com/

Mobile Infrastructure: No data

Mobile Infrastructure index: High-performance mobile internet coverage availability. It includes parameters such as network coverage, performance, quality of supporting infrastructure and amount of spectrum assigned to mobile network operators (Estimate for 2023)
Source: https://www.mobileconnectivityindex.com/

Gender gap in mobile internet (%): 100

This metric evaluates the disparity in mobile internet access between genders. (Estimate for 2023)
Sources: https://www.gallup.com/ and https://www.mobileconnectivityindex.com/

Mobile Affordability: No data

Mobile Affordability index : The availability of mobile services and devices at price points that reflect the level of income across a national population. It includes parameters such as mobile tariffs, headset prices, taxation and inequality (Estimate for 2023)
Source: https://www.mobileconnectivityindex.com/

Gender gap in mobile ownership (%): 100

Represents the disparity between genders in owning mobile devices. (Estimate for 2023)
Sources: https://www.gallup.com/, https://datareportal.com/ and https://www.mobileconnectivityindex.com/

Top-Level Domains (TLDs) per person: No data

Number of generic and country Top Level Domains per person Estimate for 2023.
Source: https://zooknic.com/

Network performance: No data

Network performance index: Quality of mobile services measured by download speed, upload speed and latencies (Estimate for 2023)
Source: https://www.mobileconnectivityindex.com/

Mobile download speeds: No data

Mobile download speeds: Average download speed for mobile users (originally in Mbit/s) (Estimate for 2023)
Source: Ookla's Speedtest Intelligence

Mobile uploads speeds: No data

Mobile uploads speeds: average uploads speed for mobile users (originally in Mbit/s) (Estimate for 2023)
Source: Ookla's Speedtest Intelligence

Mobile Latencies: No data

Mobile Latencies: Average latency for mobile users (originally in milliseconds) (Estimate for 2023)
Source: Ookla's Speedtest Intelligence

Network Coverage (%): No data

Network coverage (% of total population) (Estimate for 2023)
Source: https://www.mobileconnectivityindex.com/

2G Coverage (%): No data

Coverage % of population (Estimate for 2023)
Source: www.itu.int

3G Coverage (%): No data

Coverage % of population (Estimate for 2023)
Source: https://www.mobileconnectivityindex.com/

4G Coverage (%): No data

Coverage % of population (Estimate for 2023)
Source: https://www.mobileconnectivityindex.com/

5G Coverage (%): No data

Coverage % of population (Estimate for 2023)
Source: https://www.mobileconnectivityindex.com/

Operating system and browser market share estimate

Operating system market share (%):

Desktop, Tablet & Console Operating System Market Share: Estimate for 2024
Source: https://gs.statcounter.com/

Browser market share (%):

Browser Market Share Worldwide: Estimate for 2024
Source: https://gs.statcounter.com/

Android: 58.29

Chrome: 77.40

Win10: 4.28

Safari: 11.27

iOS: 11.45

Edge: 7.78

OS X: 0.48

Firefox: 0.24

Win11: 12

Samsung Internet: 1.08


The UN E-Government Survey

The UN E-Government Survey is the assessment of the digital government landscape across all UN member states. The E-Government Survey is informed by over two decades of longitudinal research, with a ranking of countries based on the UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI), a combination of primary data (collected and owned by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs) and secondary data from other UN agencies.
Source: https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Reports/UN-E-Government-Survey-2024

E-Government Rank: 151

Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI), a combination of primary data (collected and owned by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs) and secondary data from other UN agencies. Estimate gives the country's rank.
Source: https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/data-center

E-Government Index: 0.44

The EGDI is a composite measure of three important dimensions of e-government, namely: provision of online services, telecommunication connectivity and human capacity. Estimate gives the country's score ranging from approximately 0 to 1.
Source: https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/data-center

E-Participation Index: 0.23

The E-Participation Index (EPI) is derived as a supplementary index to the United Nations E-Government Survey. Estimate gives the country's score ranging from approximately 0 to 1.
Source: https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/data-center

Online Service Index: 0.24

The online services index was developed by the UN to evaluate the scope and quality of government online services. Estimate gives the country's score ranging from approximately 0 to 1.
Source: https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/data-cente

Human Capital Index: 0.50

The Human Capital Index (HCI) quantifies the contribution of health and education to the productivity of the next generation of workers. Estimate gives the country's score ranging from approximately 0 to 1.
Source: https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/data-center

Telecommunication Infrastructure Index: 0.58

Telecommunication Infrastructure Index- Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII) Composite Indicator that measures the countries' Telecommunication infrastructure readiness to adopt the opportunities offered by Information and Communication Technology as to enhance their competitiveness. Estimate gives the country's score ranging from approximately 0 to 1.
Source: https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/data-center

Government AI Readiness Index

Ranking: No data

Global Ranking is calculated based on the total score. (Estimate for 2024).
Source: https://oxfordinsights.com/ai-readiness/ai-readiness-index/

Total: No data

The total score is calculated by taking the arithmetic mean of each dimension, followed by the arithmetic mean of each pillar. The final score is the arithmetic mean of the three pillars, with all indicators, dimensions, and pillars weighted equally. (Estimate for 2024).
Source: https://oxfordinsights.com/ai-readiness/ai-readiness-index/

Government: No data

This pillar evaluates a government's readiness and capability to implement AI responsibly and effectively. It includes several dimensions: the presence of a national AI strategy (Vision), regulations for data protection, privacy, and cybersecurity, along with ethical frameworks and accountability measures (Governance and Ethics). It also considers the existing IT infrastructure, online services, and promotion of emerging technology investments (Digital Capacity). Finally, it assesses the government’s ability to change and innovate effectively, including responsiveness to change, effectiveness, and use of procurement data (Adaptability). (Estimate for 2024).
Source: https://oxfordinsights.com/ai-readiness/ai-readiness-index/

Technology Sector: No data

This pillar assesses the country's technology sector and its ability to support AI implementation. It includes the maturity of the sector, measured by metrics such as the number of AI and non-AI unicorns, value of trade in ICT services and goods, and spending on computer software (Maturity). It also evaluates the sector's capacity for innovation, considering factors like time spent dealing with regulations, availability of venture capital, R&D spending, company investment in emerging technology, and research papers published in AI (Innovation Capacity). Additionally, it examines the availability of skills within the population, focusing on STEM graduates, GitHub users, female STEM graduates, quality of engineering education, and ICT skills (Human Capital). (Estimate for 2024).
Source: https://oxfordinsights.com/ai-readiness/ai-readiness-index/

Data and Infrastructure: No data

This pillar evaluates a country’s technological and data infrastructure to support AI implementation. It examines the quality of technological infrastructure, including telecommunications, supercomputing capabilities, broadband quality, 5G infrastructure, and the adoption of emerging technologies (Infrastructure). It also assesses the availability of data for training AI models, considering factors such as open data, data governance, mobile-cellular subscriptions, household internet access, and statistical capacity (Data Availability). Additionally, it considers the representativeness of the available data, focusing on metrics like the gender gap in internet access and the affordability of internet-enabled devices relative to GDP per capita (Data Representativeness). (Estimate for 2024).
Source: https://oxfordinsights.com/ai-readiness/ai-readiness-index/