World’s third-smallest country changes its name

The Pacific island nation long known as Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, aligning its English designation with the spelling and pronunciation used in its national language.

President David Adeang confirmed the shift, which restores a traditional name altered during European colonial rule more than a century ago because foreigners found “Naoero” difficult to pronounce.

Parliament passed a constitutional amendment in May 2026 to enact the change.

Plans for a national referendum were later dropped.

“The decision not to pursue a referendum was reached after thoughtful deliberation that Naoero is not a new name seeking acceptance by the people,” Adeang said.

“It is already the identity of the people, is on the national coat of arms, and spoken in the community; and importantly is allowed by the constitution.”

The short-form name is now Naoero, pronounced roughly “Now-ero.”

Citizens will be known as dei-Naoero rather than Nauruan, and the country’s international code will shift from NRU to NRO.

The government has notified the United Nations and other countries of the change, with the transition already underway; the UN and several foreign ministries have begun updating their records.

When he first proposed the amendment in January, Adeang framed the move as a matter of cultural fidelity.

“This proposed change seeks to more faithfully honour our nation’s heritage, our language, and our identity,” he told parliament. In later remarks he described it as “the beginning of renewed national pride” and emphasised that the decision was “not about politics, but about identity, heritage, and preserving the legacy of our ancestors and strengthening the future of our children.”

Naoero, an isolated coral atoll in Micronesia, covers just 21 square kilometres and is home to roughly 12,000 people, making it the third-smallest country in the world by both area and population after the Vatican City and Monaco.

Formerly known as Pleasant Island, it was colonised by Germany, later administered by Australia, and gained independence in 1968.

The name change forms part of broader efforts to reinforce Nauruan identity.

The local language, dorerin Naoero, is classified by UNESCO as severely endangered and is not yet taught in schools, though the government has approved measures to introduce it into the curriculum. Officials say the restoration of the traditional name helps preserve cultural continuity for future generations.

Naoero joins a small list of nations that have reclaimed indigenous or traditional names in recent decades, including Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Türkiye. The government is updating national symbols, aircraft, and ships accordingly as the new designation takes full international effect.