Named Pleasant Island by its first European visitors, the former British colony of Nauru is the world's smallest republic.
The tiny Pacific island once generated a per capita income out of proportion to its size. But the source of this wealth - phosphates - is nearing exhaustion, leaving the islanders facing an uncertain future.
While the mining of 1,000 years' worth of fossilised bird droppings has been lucrative, Nauru relies on imports for almost everything - from food and water to fuel.
Moreover, recent financial crises have precipitated a slide into bankruptcy and a dependence on aid. The country had to sell off its assets in Australia to pay off a multi-million dollar debt to a US corporation.
Nauru's government has tried to develop alternative industries, including tourism and offshore banking. A world body, set up to fight money-laundering, removed Nauru from its list of uncooperative states in late 2005.
In 2001 Nauru signed an agreement with Australia to accommodate asylum seekers on the island, in return for millions of dollars in aid. However, Australia ended its controversial "Pacific Solution" of detaining asylum seekers on islands in 2008.
Australia has sent financial experts to Nauru to help it overcome its problems.
President: Marcus Stephens
Marcus Stephens was sworn in as president in December 2007, after his predecessor, Ludwig Scotty, lost a no-confidence vote in the Pacific island's 18-member single-chamber parliament.
However, parliament was deadlocked for months over the budget, with the 18 MPs evenly divided.
To resolve the impasse, Mr Stephens declared a state of emergency and dissolved parliament. His government went on to win a majority in snap elections in April 2008.
Mr Stephens is a former professional weightlifter and multiple Commonwealth Games medallist.
He was elected to parliament in 2003 and served as education and finance minister, but stood down after Mr Scotty was re-elected to the presidency in 2004.
As president, Nauru's constitution stipulates that Mr Stephens will be both head of state and head of government on the island.
Mr Scotty, a seasoned player in Nauru's fluid politics, was ousted once before, in August 2003 and then re-elected less than a year later.
Nauru has no daily news publication.
State-owned Radio Nauru carries material from Radio Australia and the BBC, and Nauru TV broadcasts programmes from New Zealand sent via satellite or on videotape.
The press
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