rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific
7. Nauru
Population
14 019 (July 2009 est.)
Age 0–14 years: 34.7%
15–64 years: 63.2%
65 years and over: 2.1% (2009 est.)
Gender
Literacy
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Definition: Not available
Total population: Not available
Male: Not available
Female: Not available
Unemployment 90% (2004 est.) (#200)
Employment by sector
Note: Employed in mining phosphates, public administration,
education and transportation (1992)
88
Currency
Exchange rate
Australian dollar (AU$)
Per US dollar: 1.2059 (2008 est.)
Source:
7.1 Introduction
Nauru is characterised as one of the only
PICTs to have been ‘prosperous’, as calculated
by Western standards of gross domestic
product and gross national income. However,
reserves from phosphate mining (the
main means of wealth) are now all but
exhausted, leaving Nauru with few alternative
sources of income. Consecutive budget
deficits resulted in the government sale of
assets abroad and the need for support in
financial management.
In contrast to other PICTs, Nauru consists of
a single island. As a result of this, many of
the risk factors associated with other island
nations characterised by remote atoll and
island chains are less relevant. Notably, as
part of healthy lifestyles programs, people
are encouraged to walk around the island
with an area of just 21 square kilometres.
Demographics
The estimated population of Nauru is
10 000. 417 The majority religion is Christianity,
with almost 100 per cent of the population
either Roman Catholic or Methodist.
With the exception of international advisers
supporting reform programs, there are very
few residents of other ethnicities living on
Nauru. The expatriate population also now
excludes staff and residents of the recently
closed offshore processing centres for refugees
and asylum seekers.
417 2007 Census data; contrast with data in CIA, The World Factbook, available at:
(accessed
January 2010).