The population of Nauru is expected to grow by 76 in 2026 and reach 12,194 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 111 people yearly. On average there are 293 births and 94 deaths in Nauru per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 1.64 percent per year. The population density of Nauru has changed from 382.5 in 1980 to 568.9 in 2024.
| Current population | 12,179 people at present (Tuesday 3rd of November 2026) | |
| Median Age | 25.6 years |
| Life expectancy | 62.6 years | |
| Population density | 605.1 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12,101 | 76 (0.6%) | -111 | 25.6 | 3.21 | 605 | 12,101 (100.0%) |
| 2025 | 12,025 | 78 (0.7%) | -122 | 25.4 | 3.25 | 601 | 12,025 (100.0%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -121 | 25.2 | 3.29 | 569 | 11,947 (100.0%) |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -148 | 25.0 | 3.33 | 565 | 11,875 (100.0%) |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -144 | 24.8 | 3.38 | 590 | 11,801 (100.0%) |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -137 | 24.7 | 3.43 | 585 | 11,709 (100.0%) |
| 2020 | 11,643 | 56 (0.5%) | -214 | 24.6 | 3.47 | 582 | 11,643 (100.0%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -171 | 24.6 | 3.53 | 579 | 11,587 (100.0%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -131 | 24.4 | 3.68 | 574 | 11,477 (100.0%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -115 | 24.2 | 3.88 | 566 | 11,324 (100.0%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -105 | 24.1 | 4.03 | 558 | 11,150 (100.0%) |
| 2015 | 10,954 | 212 (1.9%) | -86 | 23.9 | 4.08 | 548 | 10,954 (100.0%) |
| 2010 | 10,043 | 27 (0.3%) | -246 | 24.2 | 4.02 | 502 | 10,043 (100.0%) |
| 2005 | 10,049 | -11 (-0.1%) | -217 | 24.2 | 3.38 | 502 | 10,049 (100.0%) |
| 2000 | 10,168 | -19 (-0.2%) | -236 | 23.5 | 3.54 | 508 | 10,168 (100.0%) |
| 1995 | 10,165 | 28 (0.3%) | -201 | 23.0 | 3.81 | 508 | 10,165 (100.0%) |
| 1990 | 9,622 | 232 (2.4%) | 20 | 23.5 | 4.02 | 481 | 9,622 (100.0%) |
| 1985 | 8,551 | 174 (2.0%) | 8 | 26.5 | 4.14 | 428 | 8,551 (100.0%) |
| 1980 | 7,649 | 181 (2.4%) | 44 | 27.5 | 3.88 | 382 | 7,649 (100.0%) |
| 1975 | 6,987 | 64 (0.9%) | 0 | 26.1 | 3.97 | 349 | 6,987 (100.0%) |
| 1970 | 6,710 | 129 (1.9%) | 0 | 23.8 | 4.74 | 336 | 6,710 (100.0%) |
| 1965 | 5,832 | 317 (5.4%) | 218 | 24.3 | 5.48 | 292 | 5,832 (100.0%) |
| 1960 | 4,607 | 167 (3.5%) | 76 | 25.6 | 5.34 | 230 | 4,607 (100.0%) |
In 2025 the population of Nauru was 12,025 and the average age decreased from 25.6 in 1960 to 25.4. Urban population has increased from 10,168 (100.0%) in 2000 to 12,101 (100.0%) in the current year. The population density of Nauru has changed from 382.5 in 1980 to 568.9 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -214 | 24.6 | 3.47 | 582 | 11,643 (100.0%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -122 | 25.4 | 3.25 | 601 | 12,025 (100.0%) |
| 2030 | 12,521 | 119 (1.0%) | -71 | 26.4 | 3.05 | 626 | 12,521 (100.0%) |
| 2035 | 13,233 | 161 (1.2%) | -40 | 27.3 | 2.89 | 662 | 13,233 (100.0%) |
| 2040 | 14,039 | 176 (1.3%) | -26 | 28.0 | 2.75 | 702 | 14,039 (100.0%) |
| 2045 | 14,928 | 173 (1.2%) | -19 | 28.6 | 2.63 | 746 | 14,928 (100.0%) |
| 2050 | 15,758 | 157 (1.0%) | -23 | 29.3 | 2.53 | 788 | 15,758 (100.0%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 65.8 (63.4 years for male and 68.4 years for females). Population density will go up to 787.9 people per square kilometer.
The population growth rate is 0.63% (78 residents, including 90 deaths). The demographics of Nauru constitutes of 5,948 women and 6,153 men, which means there are 1,035 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 47.9% of population (5,793) is 19 or younger, 48.9% of population (5,920) is between age 20 and 64 and 3.2% of population (382) is over 65.