Nauru

Nauru is a tiny, single island located in the Pacific Ocean that is notable for phosphate deposits. It was annexed by Germany in 1888 and phosphate mining began in the early 20th century under a German-British consortium. After occupation by Australia in World War I and Japan in World War II, Nauru became a United Nations trust territory, then an independent country in 1968. It is the world's smallest independent republic at 21 square kilometers and an estimated population of [Page 902]14,000. While for a time Nauru had the highest per capita income in the world due to its phosphate reserves, it has no arable land and has limited fresh water resources, which requires that all food be imported, and its phosphate resources are expected ...