<text><span class="style42"></span><span class="style12">NAURU</span><span class="style42"></span><span class="style14"></span><span class="style42">Official name:</span><span class="style13"> The Republic of Nauru</span><span class="style42">Member of: </span><span class="style13">Commonwealth (special member)</span><span class="style42">Area: </span><span class="style13">21 km2 (8 sq mi)</span><span class="style42">Population: </span><span class="style13">9400 (1990 est)</span><span class="style42">Capital: </span><span class="style13">no official capital; Yaren (no population figure available) is capital </span><span class="style42">de facto</span><span class="style13"></span><span class="style42">Languages: </span><span class="style13">Nauruan (official), English</span><span class="style42">Religions: </span><span class="style13">Nauruan Protestant Church, Roman Catholic</span><span class="style42">GOVERNMENT</span><span class="style13">The 18-member Parliament ΓÇô which is elected by universal adult suffrage for three years ΓÇô elects a President, who appoints a Cabinet of Ministers.</span><span class="style42">GEOGRAPHY</span><span class="style13">Nauru is a low-lying coral atoll. </span><span class="style42">Climate: </span><span class="style13">Nauru has a tropical climate with heavy rainfall, particularly between November and February.</span><span class="style42">ECONOMY</span><span class="style13">Nauru depends almost entirely upon the export of phosphate rock, stocks of which are expected to run out after 2010. Shipping and air services and ΓÇÿtax havenΓÇÖ facilities are planned to provide revenue when the phosphate is exhausted. </span><span class="style42">Currency: </span><span class="style13">Nauru uses Australian currency.</span><span class="style42">HISTORY</span><span class="style13">Germany annexed Nauru in 1888 after a request from German settlers on Nauru for protection during unrest between rival clans. Australia captured Nauru in 1914 and administered it ΓÇô except for a period of Japanese occupation (1942ΓÇô45) ΓÇô until independence in 1968.</span></text>