Government and power in Nauru
Who leads Nauru, how the World Bank's governance indicators score it, how many women sit in parliament and government, what the state spends and taxes, and the official bodies that hold power to account. System of government: Unitary parliamentary republic.
Who leads Nauru?
- Head of state: David Ranibok Adeang (President and Head of State of the Republic of Naoero)
- Head of government: No Prime Minister
- Foreign minister: Lionel Rouwen Aingimea (Vice-President and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Naoero)
Source: Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers for Foreign Affairs: Public List (United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service), list dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.
Governance scores
The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators combine surveys of households and firms with assessments by public, private and non-governmental bodies. Each score runs from 0 to 100; higher means the sources rate governance better. They measure perceptions, and each has a margin of error.
- Voice and accountability
- Measures how far citizens can choose their government, and freedom of expression, association and the media.
- Political stability and absence of violence
- Measures the likelihood of political instability or politically motivated violence, including terrorism.
- Government effectiveness
- Measures the quality of public services and the civil service, and how independent they are from political pressure.
- Regulatory quality
- Measures the government's ability to make and carry out policies that let the private sector develop.
- Rule of law
- Measures confidence in and respect for the rules of society, including contract enforcement, property rights, the police and the courts.
- Control of corruption
- Measures how far public power is used for private gain, including petty and grand corruption and "capture" of the state by elites.
How does Nauru score on voice and accountability?
Voice and accountability: 67.6 out of 100 in 2025, 63rd highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 65.7). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 72.3.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Nauru score on political stability?
Political stability and absence of violence: 86.9 out of 100 in 2025, 22nd highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 81.7). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 83.3.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Nauru score on government effectiveness?
Government effectiveness: 54 out of 100 in 2025, 94th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 54.5). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 52.1.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Nauru score on regulatory quality?
Regulatory quality: 45.6 out of 100 in 2025, 128th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 53.6). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 45.7.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Nauru score on the rule of law?
Rule of law: 63.1 out of 100 in 2025, 73rd highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 65.5). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 64.2.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Nauru score on control of corruption?
Control of corruption: 57.3 out of 100 in 2025, 63rd highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 54). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 58.2.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many women are in Nauru's parliament?
Women held 10.5% of seats in the national parliament (single or lower chamber) in 2025, 162nd highest of 184 countries with data. Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union, via the World Bank.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many of Nauru's ministers are women?
Women held 12.5% of ministerial posts in 2025, 145th highest of 190.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much does the government of Nauru spend?
Central government spending (expense) was 103.6% of GDP in 2020.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much tax does the government of Nauru collect?
Central government tax revenue was 21.4% of GDP in 2024, 31st highest of 92.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow good are Nauru's official statistics?
The World Bank's Statistical Performance Indicator, which scores how well a country's official statistics system works, was 47.9 out of 100 in 2024, 165th highest of 187.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many people in Nauru use the internet?
83.0% of people used the internet in 2024.
Source: World Bank · saved copyOfficial bodies that hold power in Nauru
Government
- Government of the Republic of NauruGovernment news, cabinet and ministry information and official notices.
Laws and the official gazette
- RONLAW (Republic of Nauru Law)Nauru's legislation, bills, gazettes and court judgments.
Government below the national level
- Districts (14) grouped into 8 parliamentary constituencies: No district government; MPs elected from constituencies
How local power works in Nauru
Places in Nauru
Sources
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Voice and accountability (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70f2804fd1e2…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Political stability and absence of violence (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1317de0c85e1…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Government effectiveness (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a775e808dc65…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Regulatory quality (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83b57e36ff8c…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Rule of law (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0bccc3c054e8…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Control of corruption (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3b15a5340cdd…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Seats held by women in national parliament (SG.GEN.PARL.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ae1dc13981a…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Women in ministerial positions (SG.GEN.MNST.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a4e448a5b8bd…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Central government spending (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 808094019f50…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Tax revenue (GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08c94b750f31…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Statistical Performance Indicator (overall score) (IQ.SPI.OVRL), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08ac7cde9129…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: People using the internet (IT.NET.USER.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0d78dc658329…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.