IT is not every day that you'll hear the word Nauru. Did you know that this is the name of a country? This week we'll look at some interesting Nauruan facts.

1 Nauru is the world's smallest island nation, covering just 21 km.

2 British Captain John Fearn, a whale hunter, was the first Westerner to visit the island in 1798 and named it Pleasant Island.

3 The national currency of Nauru is the Australian Dollar.

4 Nauruan is the official language of the island, although English is also widely spoken.

5 Nauru achieved its independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999, as the world's smallest independent republic.

6 It is the only republican state in the world without an official capital.

7 Nauru follows a parliamentary system of government and is one of the smallest democracies in the world.

8 It is the least populous member of the United Nations.

9 A traditional activity enjoyed in Nauru is catching noddy birds, when they return from foraging at sea.

10 Nauru has high literacy rates of about 96 per cent. Education for children from the age of six to 15 is compulsory.

— Melaine Warren