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Nauru, the world’s 3rd-smallest country, changes its name to Naoero
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero to reflect the traditional spelling and pronunciation in the national language, with its international code changing from NRU to NRO.
- The change aims to honor the nation's heritage and identity, with citizens now referred to as dei-Naoero instead of Nauruan, and the name pronounced Now-ero rather than Now-roo.
- The decision was endorsed by Parliament after two rounds of voting, and the government decided a public referendum was unnecessary, stating the name Naoero has always been part of the national identity.
- Nauru, one of the world’s smallest countries by population, faces significant challenges from climate change and economic difficulties following the collapse of its phosphate mining industry.
- The name change is part of a broader trend of countries reclaiming indigenous or historic names to move away from colonial legacies, similar to Eswatini and Türkiye.
