Photo: Hadi Zaher · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 06 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Nauru: Development & Human Capital
Is a country turning its resources into better lives?
Nauru is placed 125th of 196 countries on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Social Protection Coverage 65.8 (2025); Maternal Mortality Ratio 273.38 (2023).
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Development & Human Capital
125th
of 196 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
Not placed in the Country Index 2026 overall: measured on too few topics.
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Nauru on development & human capital — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 2 of 3
Maternal Mortality Ratio
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
273.38
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Lower is better
Nauru: 273.38. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 0.11 (Cook Islands) to 992.83 (Nigeria); the world median is 46.65.
- World median
- 46.65
- Best in Micronesia
- 79.76 Kiribati
Key 3 of 3
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.703
HDI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Ranked 124th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office
Nauru: 0.703. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.388 (South Sudan) to 0.972 (Iceland); the world median is 0.762.
- World median
- 0.762
- Best in Micronesia
- 0.786 Palau
02Over time
Which way Nauru is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Maternal Mortality Ratio
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births · lower is better
NauruWorld median
Nauru fell from 278.34 in 2000 to 273.38 in 2023; the world median went from 70.99 to 46.65.
Every year’s figures
Year Nauru World median 2023 273 46.7 2022 317 53.0 2021 266 76.6 2020 309 56.0 2019 267 48.4 2018 269 49.3 2017 259 47.2 2016 248 50.6 2015 253 51.9 2014 240 52.8 2013 247 53.3 2012 255 54.6 2011 260 55.0 2010 297 56.1 2009 300 56.3 2008 302 55.8 2007 303 56.8 2006 304 58.1 2005 328 60.1 2004 324 63.0 2003 323 66.8 2002 321 66.0 2001 299 68.1 2000 278 71.0 Human Development Index
HDI score (0–1) · higher is better
NauruWorld median
Nauru rose from 0.589 in 2005 to 0.703 in 2023; the world median went from 0.696 to 0.762.
Every year’s figures
Year Nauru World median 2023 0.703 0.7620 2022 0.700 0.7610 2021 0.692 0.7450 2020 0.684 0.7425 2019 0.678 0.7515 2018 0.668 0.7520 2017 0.670 0.7480 2016 0.670 0.7500 2015 0.660 0.7430 2014 0.655 0.7410 2013 0.640 0.7390 2012 0.633 0.7350 2011 0.624 0.7250 2010 0.616 0.7250 2009 0.607 0.7220 2008 0.614 0.7180 2007 0.581 0.7100 2006 0.565 0.7045 2005 0.589 0.6960 2004 — 0.6960 2003 — 0.6910 2002 — 0.6845 2001 — 0.6770 2000 — 0.6720
03In context
Nauru beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 196 countries on development & human capital, never a place within the region.
Nauru and Micronesia
Nauru has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 196; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Social Protection CoveragePopulation covered by at least one social protection benefit (%) | Maternal Mortality RatioMaternal deaths per 100,000 live births | Human Development IndexHDI score (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Palau | 81st | 93.2 | 89.42 | 0.786 |
| Nauru | 125th | 65.8 | 273.38 | 0.703 |
 Marshall Islands | 134th | 25.2 | 154.79 | 0.733 |
 Kiribati | 139th | 21 | 79.76 | 0.644 |
 Micronesia | =147th | 20 | 128.75 | 0.615 |
 Guam | not placed | — | — | — |
 Northern Mariana Islands | not placed | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Micronesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 196.
Placed either side on development & human capital
The countries immediately above and below Nauru in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Nauru is ahead of the world, and behind
33 more statistics filed under development & human capital, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median13
Statistics on which Nauru does better than the middle country measured.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.810080.8No earlier reading
Nauru: 100 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5461.3163.546No earlier reading
Nauru: 1.316 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 139th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.988.645.9No earlier reading
Nauru: 88.6 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.756623.75No earlier reading
Nauru: 66 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7452.7840.74No earlier reading
Nauru: 52.78 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 37th of 136 · derived.
Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 14.548.26114.54▲ Improved since 2014
Nauru: 8.261 · world median 14.54 · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.26 to 115.65; lower is better.
Position 139th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1344.4718.134▲ Improved since 2014
Nauru: 4.471 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 135th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.267.71912.26▲ Improved since 2014
Nauru: 7.719 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 133rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1635.2428.163▲ Improved since 2013
Nauru: 5.242 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 129th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8582.0722.858▲ Improved since 2014
Nauru: 2.072 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 122nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0514.6817.05No real change since 2021
Nauru: 14.68 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 100th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.499.198.4No earlier reading
Nauru: 99.1 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0270.039No earlier reading
Nauru: 0.027 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 62nd of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median15
Statistics on which Nauru does worse than the middle country measured.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.118.217.1No earlier reading
Nauru: 18.2 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 69th of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9339.4499.933▲ Improved since 2013
Nauru: 9.449 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 102nd of 193 · derived.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.5990.609No real change since 2021
Nauru: 0.599 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 90th of 169 · derived.
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 13.815.7413.8No earlier reading
Nauru: 15.74 · world median 13.8 · Children under 5 who are stunted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.518 to 52.8; lower is better.
Position 74th of 162 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.13.182.1No real change since 2014
Nauru: 3.18 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.880.675.8No earlier reading
Nauru: 80.6 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 36th of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3412.8413.34▲ Improved since 2013
Nauru: 12.84 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 119th of 195 · derived.
GDP per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 17,26512,13517,265No real change since 2015
Nauru: 12,135 · world median 17,265 · GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,067 to 139,593; higher is better.
Position 114th of 185 · derived.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9710.9550.971▼ Worsened since 2013
Nauru: 0.955 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 113th of 184 · derived.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.25210.074.252No earlier reading
Nauru: 10.07 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 59th of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.918.343.9No earlier reading
Nauru: 18.3 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 907190▼ Worsened since 2015
Nauru: 71 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Statistical Performance IndicatorsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 69.347.9469.3▲ Improved since 2022
Nauru: 47.94 · world median 69.3 · SPI overall score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 27.12 to 94.14; higher is better.
Position 166th of 188 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 916691▼ Worsened since 2015
Nauru: 66 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 74.6362.1174.63▼ Worsened since 2013
Nauru: 62.11 · world median 74.63 · Years a newborn would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 54.46 to 86.37; higher is better.
Position 208th of 222 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare3
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▲ Improved since 2014
Nauru: 100 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2015
Nauru: 100 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Nauru: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Net Official Development Assistance ReceivedOECD Development Assistance Committee · 2023 · world median 2.57914.542.579Moved since 2013
Nauru: 14.54 · world median 2.579 · Net ODA received (% of GNI). OECD Development Assistance Committee, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -0.001 to 101.78.
Position 15th of 130 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 132.213No earlier reading
Nauru: 2.2 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
No current reading for Nauru
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Cereal Yield, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Foundational ID Ownership, Gender Inequality Index, GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2021), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Human Capital Index, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day (last 2012), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day (last 2012), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day (last 2012), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day (last 2012), Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day (last 2012), Productive Capacities Index and Prosperity Gap (last 2012). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Development & Human Capital among Nauru’s 9 topics
Development & Human Capital is Nauru’s 7th best-placed topic of 9. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Risk & Resilience43rd of 1933/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge66th of 1984/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties81st of 1982/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture110th of 1842/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing126th of 2003/4 keys
- Energy105th of 1652/3 keys
- Development & Human Capital125th of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions147th of 1942/4 keys
- Digital & Technology171st of 1983/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Work & Labour, Environment & Sustainability, Gender & Equality, Peace & Security, Mobility & Trade, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on development & human capital
The three countries placed highest of 196, and the leaders Nauru can most readily be measured against.
1
Cook IslandsPolynesia
1st of 196 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Benedict Adam · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Cook Islands1st2/3 keysHighest in Micronesia
Palau81st3/3 keysThis page
Nauru125th3/3 keys
Positions out of 196 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Nauru and development & human capital
On development & human capital
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On development & human capital
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
08Questions
Nauru on development & human capital: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Nauru rank on development & human capital?
Nauru is placed 125th of 196 countries on Development & Human Capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Social Protection Coverage, Maternal Mortality Ratio and Human Development Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Social Protection Coverage figure for Nauru?
65.8 in 2025 (population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 52.1.
What is the latest Maternal Mortality Ratio figure for Nauru?
273.38 in 2023 (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births), according to UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG). The world median in the same edition was 46.65.
How have Nauru’s development & human capital figures changed?
Maternal Mortality Ratio fell from 278.34 in 2000 to 273.38 in 2023; Human Development Index rose from 0.589 in 2005 to 0.703 in 2023.
Which development & human capital statistics are missing for Nauru?
No current reading is published for Nauru on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Cereal Yield, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Foundational ID Ownership, Gender Inequality Index, GNI per Capita (PPP), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Human Capital Index, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Productive Capacities Index and Prosperity Gap. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Poverty lines, inequality and aid received are published here as context rather than as keys, often because they cover fewer countries or are measured too rarely. Development is also not the same as economic size or growth, which belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Development & Human Capital standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The development & human capital method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Social Protection Coverage — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Maternal Mortality Ratio — UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Human Development Index — UNDP Human Development Report Office, CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 33 statistics on this page come from 10 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Nauru’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Nauru (banner) — Hadi Zaher, CC BY 2.0
- Cook Islands — Benedict Adam, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Nauru: Development & Human Capital — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/nauru/development