MigrantoImmigrants in Nauru
1.5K foreign-born residents — the #222 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 64% of all immigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Iran | 412 |
| Kiribati | 279 |
| China | 265 |
| Sri Lanka | 155 |
| Fiji | 122 |
| Solomon Islands | 85 |
| Philippines | 75 |
| Australia | 50 |
| Tuvalu | 43 |
| New Zealand | 3 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 61%
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Nauru.
Immigration partially offsets population decline
Despite a shrinking native population, immigration has compensated for 48% of the demographic decline of Nauru.
The share of immigrants from Oceania has declined since 1990
The share of immigrants from Oceania has shifted from 76.8% to 39.1% since 1990.
Iran is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Iran accounts for 28% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 19%.
Immigration sources have diversified since 1990
The top source country's share fell from 46% to 28%, indicating a broader spread of origins.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 2598 |
| 1995 | 2400 |
| 2000 | 2206 |
| 2005 | 2075 |
| 2010 | 686 |
| 2015 | 1104 |
| 2020 | 1286 |
| 2024 | 1489 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Iran | Kiribati | China | Sri Lanka | Fiji |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | 1184 | 504 | 0 | 221 |
| 1995 | 0 | 1095 | 466 | 0 | 204 |
| 2000 | 0 | 1006 | 428 | 0 | 188 |
| 2005 | 0 | 949 | 402 | 0 | 176 |
| 2010 | 31 | 132 | 125 | 216 | 58 |
| 2015 | 372 | 209 | 198 | 39 | 91 |
| 2020 | 356 | 241 | 229 | 134 | 105 |
| 2024 | 412 | 279 | 265 | 155 | 122 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Nauru as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Nauru
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Nauru?
Around 1.5K foreign-born residents live in Nauru, making it the #222-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Nauru come from?
Most immigrants in Nauru come from Iran, Kiribati and China — these three countries account for about 64% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Nauru are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 12% of the population of Nauru — that's 1.5K out of a total population of 11.9K.
How has immigration to Nauru changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Nauru has grown from 1.1K to 1.5K people, a growth of about 35%.
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