Net migration in Nauru
Nauru: Net migration was -122 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Nauru, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Nauru is -122, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 41.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Nauru peaked at 218 in 1965 and was at its lowest, -252, in 2001.
Nauru ranks 93rd of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Nauru, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 76 | — |
| 1961 | 120 | +57.9% |
| 1962 | 158 | +31.7% |
| 1963 | 181 | +14.6% |
| 1964 | 203 | +12.2% |
| 1965 | 218 | +7.4% |
| 1966 | -32 | -114.7% |
| 1967 | -28 | -12.5% |
| 1968 | 180 | -742.9% |
| 1969 | 132 | -26.7% |
| 1970 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1971 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 32 | — |
| 1978 | 40 | +25.0% |
| 1979 | 48 | +20.0% |
| 1980 | 44 | -8.3% |
| 1981 | 44 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 30 | -31.8% |
| 1983 | -5 | -116.7% |
| 1984 | -2 | -60.0% |
| 1985 | 8 | -500.0% |
| 1986 | 21 | +162.5% |
| 1987 | 27 | +28.6% |
| 1988 | 29 | +7.4% |
| 1989 | 24 | -17.2% |
| 1990 | 20 | -16.7% |
| 1991 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1992 | -121 | — |
| 1993 | -194 | +60.3% |
| 1994 | -196 | +1.0% |
| 1995 | -201 | +2.6% |
| 1996 | -204 | +1.5% |
| 1997 | -209 | +2.5% |
| 1998 | -217 | +3.8% |
| 1999 | -227 | +4.6% |
| 2000 | -236 | +4.0% |
| 2001 | -252 | +6.8% |
| 2002 | -247 | -2.0% |
| 2003 | -199 | -19.4% |
| 2004 | -210 | +5.5% |
| 2005 | -217 | +3.3% |
| 2006 | -224 | +3.2% |
| 2007 | -235 | +4.9% |
| 2008 | -243 | +3.4% |
| 2009 | -249 | +2.5% |
| 2010 | -246 | -1.2% |
| 2011 | -206 | -16.3% |
| 2012 | -38 | -81.6% |
| 2013 | -53 | +39.5% |
| 2014 | -69 | +30.2% |
| 2015 | -86 | +24.6% |
| 2016 | -105 | +22.1% |
| 2017 | -115 | +9.5% |
| 2018 | -131 | +13.9% |
| 2019 | -171 | +30.5% |
| 2020 | -214 | +25.1% |
| 2021 | -137 | -36.0% |
| 2022 | -144 | +5.1% |
| 2023 | -148 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | -121 | -18.2% |
| 2025 | -122 | +0.8% |
Nauru compared with similar countries
- Nauru's -122 is below the median for high income countries, which is 843. (85 countries reporting)
- Nauru's -122 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -462, 26% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Nauru changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | +742.9% | -28 | 180 |
| 1985 | +500.0% | -2 | 8 |
| 1986 | +162.5% | 8 | 21 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 120.8 | -32 | 218 | 10 |
| 1970s | 12 | 0 | 48 | 10 |
| 1980s | 22 | -5 | 44 | 10 |
| 1990s | -154.9 | -227 | 20 | 10 |
| 2000s | -231.2 | -252 | -199 | 10 |
| 2010s | -122 | -246 | -38 | 10 |
| 2020s | -147.67 | -214 | -121 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nauru
More financial sector data for Nauru
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0053 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 77.55 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0039 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 56.63 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0053 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 77.55 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Nauru?
- Net migration in Nauru was -122 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Nauru?
- The highest recorded value was 218 in 1965.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Nauru?
- The lowest recorded value was -252 in 2001.
- How does Nauru rank for net migration?
- Nauru ranks 93rd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Nauru?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nauru data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.