Nauru Population

1. Reported Stateless Persons

Data on the reported stateless population in Nauru to UNHCR’s global trends report only began at the beginning of 2021, and it has demonstrated significant fluctuations over the past few years. The number of stateless individuals was reported as 140 at the beginning of 2021 and slightly dropped to 130 by the end of the year. The most striking decrease occurred over the year of 2022, as by the end of 2022, the reported number had plunged to 6 people. Based on the available research, the statelessness of the recorded population on Nauru was caused prior to their arrival in the country.

2. Stateless Refugee

The entire reported stateless population in Nauru comprises Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Since 2012, the governments of Australia and Nauru have had a contract allowing for Australia to utilise Nauru as a ‘regional processing centre’ for refugees that arrived in Australia via boat. In July of 2013, Australia began forcibly transferring refugees and asylum seekers into Nauru as well as Papua New Guinea. This process has been condemned by UN bodies, NGOs and refugee advocates. As part of this contract and a similar contract with the government of Papua New Guinea, more than 4,000 refugees were sent to Nauru and Manus Island, Papua New Guinea by the Australian government. While Manus Island Detention Centre was closed in 2016, the Australian government has signed a deal with the government of Nauru to keep the detention centre on Nauru open indefinitely for future boat arrivals. The last refugee on Nauru as a part of this policy was evacuated in June of 2023. At least 14 people died as a result of this offshore processing system, half of which were from suicide. The detention facilities have been described as ‘prison-like’. Those who were transferred to Nauru spent at least one year in crowded vinyl tents which reached indoor temperatures of 45-50 degrees Celsius (113-122 degrees Fahrenheit) and subjected the detainees to torrential rains and flooding. Further, personal items including food and sewing needles were routinely confiscated from detainees and sanitation facilities were unsanitary and access to them was restricted.

Source: UNHCR, Global Trends: Forced Displacement from 2019-2022.