People in Nauru generally enjoy political rights and civil liberties. Corruption is an ongoing challenge. There are some restrictions on press freedom: journalists performing legitimate work can face criminal prosecution under defamation and contempt laws, while visa application fees discourage foreign journalists from traveling to the island. Domestic and gender-based violence remains a problem, despite efforts to combat it. While most refugees and asylum seekers have been moved out of detention facilities, many lack adequate housing and access to essentials.

• In August, Nauru amended its electoral laws to require candidates to announce their intention to run for a parliamentary seat and disclose any conflicts of interest 12 months before the dissolution of parliament. As a result of the change, contenders for the scheduled September 2025 general elections were left with only two weeks to comply. The same amendments required holders of “offices of profit”—which in Nauru includes postal workers, police officers, and other public servants—to resign from these positions at least 12 months before the dissolution of parliament, up from 60 days previously. That measure in effect forces those jobholders to forgo their livelihoods if they wish to run for office. Harsh penalties, including a AU$5,000 (US$3,400) fine or two years’ imprisonment, exist for noncompliance.
• In March, Australian media reported allegations that Nauru’s president, David Adeang, and other prominent political officials in the country had accepted bribes from Australian business interests as early as 2010. While these accusations have circulated around Adeang and former president Baron Waqa since 2015, neither has been investigated domestically.
• Despite efforts to combat domestic violence in recent years, it remains a problem in Nauru. Fewer than 80 complaints were received between 2021 and 2024 and, of these, approximately 30 percent were closed due to insufficient evidence. Police noted that the low number of cases was likely to reflect victims’ reluctance to report incidents. In July, the Nauru police force launched a specialized training initiative to advance officers’ ability to respond to domestic and gender-based violence.
• The number of asylum seekers detained on Nauru increased to approximately 90-100 individuals in 2024. Civil society groups reported that while most had been moved out of detention facilities, they generally faced difficulty affording housing, food, and basic necessities.

This report has been abridged for Freedom in the World 2025 due to ongoing budget constraints. Freedom in the World is entirely funded by nongovernmental sources such as private foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Please consider making a donation to support future editions of this vital resource.

For additional background information, see last year’s full report.