Nauru population pyramid 2026
12,101 people in 2026 (projected). Nauru’s pyramid once had nearly four men for every woman aged 30–59, a phosphate-mining workforce; today it is young, with few people over 65.
- 2026 population
- 12.1Krank 227 of 237
- Median age
- 20.2 yearsoldest rank 198
- Fertility rate
- 3.20births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Youthful3.2% age 65+
Nauru population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Nauru age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 36.4% of the population, while 3.2% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 60.4% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Nauru’s age structure as youthful; the guide to expansive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 65.6: about 66 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (60.4 children and 5.3 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Nauru’s population pyramid
A mining island
For most of the twentieth century Nauru’s economy rested on phosphate mining, which drew contract workers, overwhelmingly men, from Kiribati, Tuvalu, China and elsewhere. The 1975 pyramid is dominated by them: at ages 30–59 men outnumber women nearly four to one. As the phosphate deposits were exhausted the workers left, and the UN estimates a net loss of about 4,200 people between 2000 and 2023, a third of today’s population. The medium scenario assumes that net emigration continues, at about 110 people a year in 2026.
Young, and short-lived
What remains is a young, nearly balanced population of about 12,000. Fertility is still about 3.2 children per woman, births outnumber deaths three to one, and only about 3% of residents are 65 or over. Life expectancy, about 61 for men and 65 for women, is low for a country of Nauru’s income, a gap widely linked to very high rates of obesity and diabetes; it has risen only about five years since 1950.
With so few people, the 2026 bulges at 10–14 and 35–39 and the notch at 25–29 each involve only about 70 to 130 people, and a single year of migration can create or erase them. The broad shape is closer to Gabon or Tajikistan than to Nauru’s Pacific neighbours. Under the UN medium scenario the population reaches about 15,800 by 2050 and 20,700 by 2100, and the guide to expansive pyramids describes the shape it keeps for decades.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Nauru’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
In the UN medium scenario births outnumber deaths in every year through 2100. Children under 15 outnumber people aged 65 and older in every pyramid year through 2100.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Nauru is projected to record 286 births (about 286 births a year) and 93 deaths, a natural increase of 193. Net migration adds −111 people, ranking #226 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 7,898 births, 2,000 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −4,175. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of −1,143 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 64.6 years58.9 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 60.7 years54.6 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 12.5 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 19.5per 1,000 births · 64 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 24.6per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 27.1 yearssex ratio at birth 107.2
Women in Nauru are projected to live 3.9 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 64 to 19.5 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #63 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 27.1 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Nauru
The median age of 20.2 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 3.20 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 62.6 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,101 | #227 | Largest first |
| Median age | 20.2 years | #198 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 3.20 | #49 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +0.6% | #123 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 62.6 years | #222 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 3.2% | #209 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Nauru
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10–14 | 1,537 | 12.7% | 794 / 743 |
| 2 | 5–9 | 1,441 | 11.9% | 730 / 711 |
| 3 | 0–4 | 1,436 | 11.9% | 741 / 695 |
| 4 | 15–19 | 1,383 | 11.4% | 732 / 651 |
| 5 | 20–24 | 922 | 7.6% | 478 / 444 |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Nauru has 6,154 males and 5,948 females. That is 103.5 males per 100 females, ranking #31 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 50.9% of the population and females for 49.1%. There are 206 more males than females overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 57.1 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 107.2 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Nauru has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 3,407 in 1950 to 12,101 in 2026, a change of 255%. Over the same span, median age moved from 18.7 to 20.2 years.
The under-15 share changed from 41.6% to 36.4%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 8.8% to 3.2%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Nauru’s population is projected to grow by about 30%, reaching 15,758 in 2050. The median age changes from 20.2 to 25.7 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 3.0 percentage points to 6.2%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 30.0%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The population is still rising at the end of the UN medium projection in 2100, when it reaches 20,663. The page therefore does not assign a peak year beyond the available horizon.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,407 | 18.7 | 4.60 | 56.6 | 102 | 59 | +44 | +3.0% |
| 1960 | 4,608 | 22.9 | 5.34 | 57.9 | 124 | 53 | +76 | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 6,710 | 17.3 | 4.74 | 58.4 | 101 | 52 | 0 | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 7,649 | 23.1 | 3.88 | 58.5 | 227 | 82 | +44 | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 9,622 | 19.2 | 4.02 | 59.1 | 305 | 92 | +20 | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 10,168 | 19.1 | 3.54 | 59.6 | 287 | 80 | −236 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 10,043 | 20.8 | 4.02 | 60.1 | 363 | 82 | −246 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 11,643 | 20.9 | 3.47 | 61.5 | 334 | 88 | −214 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 11,875 | 20.4 | 3.33 | 62.1 | 303 | 89 | −148 | +0.5% |
| 2024* | 11,947 | 20.3 | 3.29 | 62.3 | 293 | 90 | −121 | +0.7% |
| 2026* | 12,101 | 20.2 | 3.20 | 62.6 | 286 | 93 | −111 | +0.6% |
| 2030* | 12,521 | 20.9 | 3.05 | 63.2 | 294 | 101 | −71 | +1.0% |
| 2040* | 14,039 | 23.8 | 2.75 | 64.6 | 329 | 123 | −26 | +1.3% |
| 2050* | 15,758 | 25.7 | 2.53 | 65.8 | 320 | 144 | −23 | +0.9% |
| 2060* | 17,142 | 27.1 | 2.36 | 67.0 | 313 | 165 | −21 | +0.8% |
| 2070* | 18,401 | 29.1 | 2.23 | 68.2 | 317 | 183 | −12 | +0.8% |
| 2080* | 19,500 | 31.3 | 2.12 | 69.4 | 305 | 201 | −8 | +0.4% |
| 2090* | 20,242 | 33.0 | 2.03 | 70.5 | 290 | 226 | −9 | +0.3% |
| 2100* | 20,663 | 34.4 | 1.97 | 71.7 | 282 | 245 | −6 | +0.2% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 741 | 695 | 1,436 | 11.9% |
| 5–9 | 730 | 711 | 1,441 | 11.9% |
| 10–14 | 794 | 743 | 1,537 | 12.7% |
| 15–19 | 732 | 651 | 1,383 | 11.4% |
| 20–24 | 478 | 444 | 922 | 7.6% |
| 25–29 | 404 | 403 | 807 | 6.7% |
| 30–34 | 440 | 395 | 835 | 6.9% |
| 35–39 | 466 | 430 | 896 | 7.4% |
| 40–44 | 408 | 415 | 823 | 6.8% |
| 45–49 | 316 | 289 | 605 | 5.0% |
| 50–54 | 198 | 216 | 414 | 3.4% |
| 55–59 | 171 | 161 | 332 | 2.7% |
| 60–64 | 141 | 154 | 295 | 2.4% |
| 65–69 | 73 | 134 | 207 | 1.7% |
| 70–74 | 39 | 70 | 109 | 0.9% |
| 75–79 | 20 | 34 | 54 | 0.4% |
| 80–84 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 0.1% |
| 85–89 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.0% |
| 90–94 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 95–99 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Nauru’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Equatorial Guinea96% overlap · median age 20.9
- Gabon95% overlap · median age 21.6
- Tajikistan95% overlap · median age 22.4
- Ghana95% overlap · median age 21.6
- Pakistan95% overlap · median age 20.8
- Vanuatu95% overlap · median age 20.3
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Nauru.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Nauru Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/nauru/
MLA
“Nauru Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/nauru/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Nauru Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/nauru/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Nauru in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Nauru's population in 2026 is projected at 12,101.
What is the median age in Nauru?
The projected median age in Nauru in 2026 is 20.2 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Nauru?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 3.20 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Nauru's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 30%, from 12.1K to 15.8K.
What share of Nauru is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 3.2% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 6.2%.
How many babies are born in Nauru each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 286 births and 93 deaths in 2026, about 286 births a year. Births exceed deaths by 193.
What is life expectancy in Nauru for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 64.6 years for women and 60.7 years for men, a gap of 3.9 years in favour of women.
Does Nauru have more immigrants or emigrants?
Nauru is projected to lose about 111 more people through emigration than it gains in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −4,175.
What is the sex ratio in Nauru?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 103.5 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.