MigrantoImmigrants in Nauru
1.5K foreigners live in Nauru — 12% of the country's population
Immigrants in Nauru by country
The 3 largest groups make up 64% of all immigrants
| 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
61% of immigrants come from Asia
Ask Migo
Tap a question — our AI assistant answers it in chat, with real migration data
Key facts
Immigrants in Nauru in numbers
Immigration offsets population decline
Immigration has made up for 48% of the population decline of Nauru since 1990.
The share of immigrants from Oceania has declined since 1990
76.8% of immigrants came from Oceania in 1990, compared with 39.1% today.
Iranians are the largest group by a wide margin
28% of all immigrants were born in Iran, while the next group accounts for just 19%.
Immigrants come from a wider range of countries than in 1990
The largest group's share fell from 46% to 28%.
The immigrant population has grown 16% since 2020
The number of foreigners living in Nauru rose from 1.3K to 1.5K in four years.
1 in 8 residents of Nauru was born abroad
1.5K of 11.9K residents were born abroad — 12.5% of the population.
Immigrant population in Nauru over time
Foreigners living in Nauru, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 2598 |
| 1995 | 2400 |
| 2000 | 2206 |
| 2005 | 2075 |
| 2010 | 686 |
| 2015 | 1104 |
| 2020 | 1286 |
| 2024 | 1489 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Nauru, by year
| Year | Iranians | I-Kiribati | Chinese | Sri Lankans | Fijians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Nauru
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Nauru
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Nauru?
Around 1.5K immigrants live in Nauru — the world's #222 largest immigrant population.
What percentage 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.
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 immigrants.
How many Iranians live in Nauru?
Around 412 Iranians live in Nauru — about 28% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Nauru growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Nauru has grown from 1.1K to 1.5K, about 35%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Nauru come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Nauru. Their children born in Nauru are not included.
Where to live?
Score countries, regions and cities by what matters to you
Living in Nauru
See the full country overview