This Country Profile provides a basic overview of the legal history and institutional structures of the Republic of Nauru, based on research produced by GlobaLex at NYU Law School and the Library of Congress. Under Nauru's Constitution, Islamic law (sharīʿa or fiqh) has no legal status.
Country Background
Nauru is an island in Oceania. It is located in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands. Nauru does not have an official capital, but its government offices are located in Yaren District. The official languages are Nauruan and English. The country's population in 2017 was approximately 9,642 people. Nauru is a predominantly Christian country, with about 93% of the population Christian. According to the most recent census data, there are 10 Muslims in all of Nauru. Nauru is the smallest independent nation in the world. The Nauruan language is unlike other Pacific Island languages, and the origin of the indigenous Nauruan people is unknown.
Constitution & Legal Structure
Nauru is referred to as a parliamentary republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. After its occupation by the Japanese during World War II, Nauru became a League of Nations mandate (later United Nations trust territory). The country gained its independence in 1968, which is the year its current Constitution was adopted. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legal system of Nauru is a mixed legal system based on English common law and influenced by customary laws/traditions.
Constitutional Status of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no constitutional status in Nauru.
Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law
Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Nauru.
Dominant School of Islamic Law
Nauru has no official school of Islamic law.
Sources of Law for Legal Research
Official Publications
Unofficial Databases
References:
For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide. The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].