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Nauru, the world's 3rd-smallest country, changes its name to Naoero
PBS • • world
Key Points:
- Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero to align with the traditional spelling and pronunciation in its national language, with the international code shifting from NRU to NRO.
- The change reflects a move to honor the nation's heritage and identity, with citizens now referred to as dei-Naoero instead of Nauruan.
- The decision was endorsed by Parliament without a public referendum, as the name Naoero is already widely used domestically and featured on the national coat of arms.
- Nauru, one of the world's smallest countries by population, faces significant challenges including economic decline after phosphate mining collapsed and threats from rising sea levels due to climate change.
- This renaming is part of a broader trend of countries reclaiming indigenous or historic names to move away from colonial legacies, similar to Eswatini and Türkiye.
